NORA Hotel Berlin

I really liked this place. It's in an excellent location, and the rooms are clean, well-equipped, and have comfortable beds. The staff were polite and kind, helped with everything I needed, and answered my questions quickly. It felt very safe.

I booked through Booking and they charged my card straight away. I canceled, but six weeks later they still owed me 340 euros. They keep writing that they'll refund it, but I haven't received the money. I can't keep chasing them, and I'm getting a lawyer. Terrible experience, I'd never book there. I canceled on February 2, and they promised a refund on February 6. Twenty-four days after cancellation, my card was still charged. Each time, they told me, "thank you for your patience, we will proceed with the reimbursement as soon as possible." It's unacceptable, and replying that this is normal procedure would be better avoided. When I canceled for free through Booking, I got an email saying my reservation was canceled because the payment was still pending, even though I'd paid the full amount a month earlier. Even if it wasn't intentional, that's very unprofessional. It's interesting that they reply to criticism, but there was still no refund.

The bathroom was in bad shape, with dirty walls that needed cleaning or paint. Dust had also blocked the ventilation, leaving the room damp and moldy. Before the cancellation deadline, I called to confirm the balcony and was told my booking had one. When I arrived, there was no balcony, and I was told the room was 107, though it was 503. That was the first letdown.

The location was fantastic, and the room had what we needed. We slept well despite the lively street, with only the elevator occasionally audible. The bathroom was much bigger than expected, and the little present left on the bed was a nice touch. We wanted to book again this year, but the nightly price had nearly quadrupled, which was really unfortunate for us. A few things need attention: the advance entry code didn't work, so we had to call. We'd paid for late checkout, but the cleaners still came early. The sponge was already used, which felt unhygienic for washing our bowls. There were large stains on some walls, maybe coffee, I hope, and the room was dusty. A few lamps didn't work either.