CITY HALL II by Aston&Wolf

The location is good, fairly close to both the Guggenheim and Casco Viejo. Check-in and check-out were easy, and at first the hotel looked modern and well kept. But the whole place was unstaffed, making it hard to get help. There was no housekeeping, no staff on site, and the luggage room was unlocked and unsupervised. The neglected condition made this possibly the worst hotel stay I've had. Around 10 p.m. on our first night, we found the bathroom door wouldn't stay closed, so there was no privacy. The lock had been removed. I contacted the property and asked them to fix it the next day. They replied that a previous guest had gotten trapped in the bathroom, as if that explained everything, but offered no solution. I asked when it had happened, why the lock hadn't been fixed, and said we needed a door that would stay shut. They said a technician couldn't come until the following week. They tried a temporary fix with a plastic suction cup, but it had already fallen off by the time we got back. We had to put a chair in front of the door for privacy. The next morning, we woke to dripping water. I checked that the bathroom faucet was off and saw water coming from an overhead light fixture instead. There were other signs of water problems, including stained and damaged ceiling areas. I sent them a video over Whatsapp because there was no onsite staff, but they never responded.

The staff were friendly and helpful, and the place had all the facilities we needed. Most of the town's sights were nearby. Just note that there isn't a traditional reception. You need to complete online check-in in advance, then the staff send you a code for the building and your room.

Between The Guggenheim and Casco Viejo, this place has a fresh, fairly new feel, and you check in with a code. It was reasonably priced and suited a short stay in Bilbao. I didn't like the pillow, though that may just be personal taste. It made a real difference to my sleep. The photo was taken less than a 5 minute walk from the accommodation.

Really stylish and super clean. It's in a quiet spot, but still very close to the center.