Hotel Monaguillo de Getsemani

Fabian made our stay memorable. He was incredible at arranging rides and excursions, sharing great recommendations, and keeping communication easy. The whole staff were kind and so helpful, and breakfast was available every morning. Hotel Monaguillo is on a busy street, with food, bars, and clubs close by. We also loved unwinding on the rooftop, with its jacuzzi and small pool, after long days exploring the city.

We had to wait outside twice because no one was there to open the hotel gate. It wasn’t a long delay, but guests should either have a key or find the gate open. The rooms are spacious and, tucked toward the back, surprisingly quiet despite the hotel being in the middle of Getsemani district. Breakfast is the usual mix of fruit, bread, and eggs. One roll had sausage hidden inside, which wasn’t ideal for us as vegetarians. Luckily, we cut it open before taking a bite. Up on the roof there’s a small plunge pool and a hot tub. They aren’t really heated, though the sun warms them up.

The pool and jacuzzi are small, but they’re a lovely thing to have after a full day exploring town and the neighborhood. Breakfast was good, and our room was a decent size. The hotel itself is small and well located in Getsemini. I wish there had been hangers for used towels, a shower in the toilet, and a way to opt out of room cleaning or towel replacement.

The location worked well, and the warm hot tub upstairs was nice, but the room had no hot water. It was tiny and claustrophobic, with just one window that wouldn’t open, and nights were noisy, though that was expected. Our TV never worked. I reported it on each of the first three days, was repeatedly told it would be fixed, and eventually gave up. The shower clothesline was broken too, and they never repaired it. Breakfast was only okay. Instead of the little buffet shown in the pictures, you choose from a small menu, and the bacon was undercooked every time. Don’t count on getting a drink from the rooftop bar, there was nobody up there after breakfast.