Hotel Nord

The metro, a supermarket, plenty of places to eat, and a bank for currency exchange are all close by. I stayed four days during the Grand Prix and found the rooms neat, clean, and well maintained. Even though it’s a 2-star hotel, the service was good, and reception were especially friendly and helpful. What more do you need?

The staff are lovely and the price is low, though the service itself is just average. It’s in a popular neighborhood near a metro station, with everything you need close at hand. The downside is that it’s a long way from the city center. There are good points and bad points.

I came for the football, and the stadium is about a 20-30 minute walk depending on your pace. Elvin greeted me politely and got check-in done quickly and easily. The staff were friendly and available around the clock to help. Breakfast had a mix of foods. It was the same each morning, but it was included in the price and pleasant enough to come down for. The hotel’s taxi driver was friendly, spoke more than a little English, and drove us around the city with care and speed. You might wonder how the hotel got its 4 stars when you see the sign above the door. After a few nights here, though, I was happy with the stay.

The staff are friendly, and their English is easy enough to understand. The rooms are liveable, but they aren’t very clean, and the bathrooms have no exhaust fans. The windows facing the road look out onto apartment blocks and sit so high you have to climb on a chair to open them. The food is bleh, with the same menu every single day.