easyHotel Basel City - contactless self check-in

The location is all right, though the old town is a 20-minute walk away or reachable by tram. In the room, the pillows were uncomfortable and some spots, especially between the two mattresses, hadn't been cleaned. A few lockers can apparently be opened without a code. When the remote and lockers weren't working, service didn't respond or offer help.

The staff I met were all polite, professional, and helpful. Most were at Hotel Alexander, a few meters down the street. There you can also find the breakfast buffet, with typical European choices like boiled eggs, sausages, vegetables, cold cuts, cheese, breads, cereals, and toppings. The nearby restaurant serves Ukrainian and Georgian food, which was yummy. Bus 30 stops under the bridge just a few meters from the hotel entrance, and connects the SSB with the Ban Banhofs. Ban Banhof is also walkable, nearly in a straight line. They gave us an area map and a transport pass. I followed the check-in directions without any trouble. If there aren't blank key cards, use the phone provided to contact staff, who may be at Hotel Alexander. WiFi instructions are posted around the lobby. The free luggage lockers worked well for me and fit everything except the biggest bags. My room was clean, thanks to the staff, and had what I needed to sleep and wash up. It came with a fan, which made the unpleasant temperature and humidity bearable. It was midsummer, so I didn't try the radiator. The shower, sink, and toilet are all in one small space; towels, a hair dryer, and liquid soap dispensers were supplied. There was no elevator. I had street-side Room 13, with a small balcony and two chairs and a table. Traffic and people made some noise, but it died down at a reasonable hour and didn't start up again until a reasonable time. The Google map location is accurate, though trees hid the sign from the direction I came in. The lobby and restaurant share an entrance. Room lighting was adequate and all the fixtures worked. I found two working power sockets, one by the TV and one at the head of the bed, beside a light switch. The hotel stop is visible from the entrance if you look left across the street. The breakfast buffet is also at Hotel Alexander, at the end of the block after turning right from EasyHotel. Nearby, its big facade and outdoor-seating restaurant are easy to spot.

For a Swiss city, what you get here is actually outstanding for the price. If all you need is somewhere to sleep, it works perfectly. It may feel too small if you're staying a long time with family. Check-in was automated and quicker than most people. The rooms are small, but I wasn't promised a big one. The bathroom is tiny yet has the shower, toilet, and sink I expected. WiFi was fast and reliable, there's a store nearby for food, and public transport stops right in front of the hotel. I was told there'd be one window and ended up with two.

The location is really good, but the bathroom setup wasn't okay for me. There were two of us in Room 33, and I don't understand why we had to use the toilet in front of each other. A bathroom without a door is unacceptable. I paid for the more expensive room, which was described as “only” faulty, yet it had no balcony, barely a window, and no door on the tiny bathroom.