Hotel Montecarlo Santiago

The location is the only thing this place has going for it. I’m staying here now, and it’s been a bad experience. I found other nearby hotels for similar prices. If you’re a woman traveling alone, definitely skip this place. Booking.com reviews seem deceptive to me, and it looks like several friends from Chile may have left positive ratings to boost the score. The front desk staff were rude and didn’t seem interested in helping. At check-in, I’m certain one staff member pretended my card wasn’t working because he wanted me to pay cash. He pushed hard for cash, but my trip had just started and I wanted to save cash for emergencies. After three tries with two different cards, I realized he simply didn’t want me to pay by card. My card company showed no error, and when I went to lunch after check-in, the card worked fine. The staff member also resisted giving me a receipt, which I had to ask for twice. He asked if I knew Spanish; when I said I didn’t, he gave me a very judgmental look. My room wasn’t properly cleaned, with hair on the floor and bathroom floor. The room felt a little claustrophobic, like a cave, and the lighting was poor. The bed was extremely soft, and the single bed I got wasn’t wide enough. There was a table and chair, but the chair cushion had sunk in so badly I couldn’t sit on it. The charging point also wasn’t close to the bed, despite the Booking.com listing. The listed amenities seem inaccurate in several cases. The shower was very small, and even though I’m not a large person, it was hard to move around and shower properly without banging an elbow or foot against the sides. Its sliding door leaves a very narrow entrance, so you have to step in very carefully to avoid slipping or injuring yourself. The shower head and handle are very high, close to the ceiling. There’s no drinking water, and it costs a lot to buy it at reception. There’s no laundry service. The WiFi is so weak it’s almost like having none, and cell service inside the building is poor. I was told by several female restaurant wait staff nearby that the neighborhood isn’t safe to walk around alone after dark. The hotel staff didn’t warn me that December 14 was election day, that many places might be closed, or that we shouldn’t wander near park forestal in the evening. I went out for dinner, and some restaurant staff kindly helped me. There are nice restaurants in the neighborhood, which is a plus, but they close early. There’s also a small grocery store about a 7-minute walk away for water or snacks, and the restaurant wait staff were very sweet and kind. Breakfast was decent, considering the rest of my stay. I don’t understand why this is rated 3 stars. It should be 1. Don’t stay here. There are better options.