Petit Palace President Castellana

I'm staying here now, and this has been a huge disappointment. The AC only blows hot air. Reception said the system is set to heating only this time of year, so the room is really uncomfortable. The walls are yellowing, the wallpaper is peeling, and the wood fixtures are rotting. The room and hallways smell musty and feel poorly maintained. This doesn't deserve four stars.

The photos say enough. The shared areas look completely neglected, with weeks of grime in the elevators and filthy furniture, including a chair covered in stains. It feels like the hotel hasn't had a proper deep clean in a long time. Maintenance and hygiene are practically nonexistent. Unacceptable.

Getting around was easy, with food, shopping, and transport all a short walk away. The staff were pleasant and helpful, the AC worked well and could be adjusted, and the room had big windows, good curtains for sleeping, shelves for clothes, and a full-length mirror. The layout made good use of space. The bathroom was comfortable, with strong shower pressure. Sheets and bed were adequate, and the basic necessities were there. Everything appeared clean. What let it down was the worn condition. The lobby felt shopworn, the hallway shabby, and many surfaces in our room were scratched. A large crack ran through the translucent partition between the bedroom and bathroom. The sink area was just inexpensive formica boards over the plumbing. Wall mounted towel holders and the hand shower fittings were loose, the towels felt flat, and some switches did nothing. The bedside lights didn't work at all. The hotel gets plenty right, but it feels tired and needs a thorough refresh to be more welcoming. Most of all, the quality doesn't justify the price.

The location is the one redeeming feature. We moved to another hotel after a single night. The rooms weren't very clean, with dirt stains around the place and bugs in cracks in the walls. The pillows and mattress were uncomfortable, the AC didn't work well, and the staff weren't helpful. I'd put this at two stars at best, more like a Holiday Inn Express, which is fine if that's what you expect. It isn't the four-star hotel advertised, so if you're looking for more, stay away.