Hostal Ariz

It's noisy.

A basic, clean pension with friendly staff.

The man who welcomed us was warm and especially helpful about getting into the city center. Driving around there is more complicated, so taking the metro is easier, and it reaches the Old Town in under seven minutes. There are plenty of bars nearby, and parking was easy enough in the quiet area. I was in Bilbao with my parents. The room looked a little dated, but it was perfectly adequate for one night. It was very clean, and the cleaning staff came every day. I just wish it had a window for some fresh air. We had a pleasant stay.

We paid €190 for two nights, July 14-16, 2024, but after staying the first night, July 14-15, we wanted to cancel the second, July 15-16, and get €95 back. We checked out on the morning of July 15 and left the keys at reception, since the building was unoccupied. The room we were given didn't have a room and was a staff room. It had almost no windows or ventilation, so there was no air movement. The two existing 10x10 vents opening onto the building's internal well didn't work. The listing didn't say there were no windows, and the photos showed them covered by curtains. Holes in the wall had no mosquito nets, making it impossible to open them for ventilation without cockroaches and mosquitoes getting in. We found a dead cockroach at the head of my son's bed. The room smelled strongly of cigarettes, and the closet smelled of chemicals even with its door shut, so airing it out wasn't possible. The windows were also too small, and escape routes in a fire or other emergency were unclear. This room was unsuitable for occupancy. I messaged the owner right away on the WhatsApp number he had provided and also contacted him through Booking. He said I had booked through Booking, not directly with him, and that I should resolve the matter with Booking.