NEW ABANDO by STAYNNAPARTMENTS

The bed was much better than I expected, firm in just the right way and piled with solid, comfortable pillows. My room was on the first floor, though, with no view, so it felt dim and a bit depressing. Fine if you mainly need somewhere to sleep and don't plan to spend much time in the room. Also, there's no door between the bathroom area and the room, so sharing with a friend could feel awkward unless you're very close.

The room had a huge, comfortable bed, good pillows, a strong shower, plus a mini fridge, safe and coffee machine. We also really liked the interior and the city view. My 17-year-old sister and I stayed two nights in a double room, and the location made it easy to walk to the old town, market and Gran Via. We felt okay in the area, though we stayed alert. I’d been nervous after reading recent negative reviews, but our stay was generally good. Entry codes seemed reasonable given the pandemic, and there was a lock, though I didn’t check whether it was a double lock or whether the codes changed between guests. Bilbao art lodge might consider a double lock if there isn’t one. The slow automatic lights made the entrance and apartment quite dark at night, and the information brochures needed refilling. There wasn’t much of a personal hospitality touch, but we enjoyed our stay and looked forward to that bed every night.

There was no duvet in our room when we arrived, and with nobody on site to help, we contacted the person in charge. They said nothing could be done that night and told us to use extra sheets and towels as blankets. We spent the night cold, and they didn’t sound sorry about the mistake. They also refused any partial compensation for the lack of such a basic room item and gave no reason. After I said I’d leave a bad review, the person in charge blocked me from reviewing on booking.com by falsely claiming I hadn’t stayed there. A complete lack of integrity.

I stayed in the Sope room, which has a king-sized bed. The room was a bargain for the price, even though it’s small, and the location works well. Bilbao is easy to get around on foot, and the trains are close by for getting elsewhere quickly. The bed wasn’t comfortable by my standards, and the walls are thin. Still, I’d stay here again if I come back to Bilbao.