B&B HOTEL Salamanca Centro Artheus

The mattresses were the only letdown. Most beds in Spain seem harder than those in the US, though. The cleaning crew did a great job, and many of the bathrooms have jet spa tubs. You’re on the north side of historic Salamanca, close to the Holy Week processions but far enough that they don’t keep you awake. The urban gallery is right across the street. Breakfast was an excellent spread.

The mattresses were really uncomfortable at first, and there was paint peeling from the bathroom ceiling and a broken internet socket. Once we reported it, the staff fixed everything and replaced the mattresses the next day. Still, I expected more from a four-star hotel. There’s no smart TV, spa, or much to do inside the hotel. The TV is barely visible, its signal keeps cutting out, and it’s hard to work out because there are no instructions and it isn’t intuitive. We also had no working toaster when we went to make breakfast, even after calling twice. They brought a replacement the next day. There were spiders in the room, and stains on the sofa made it unpleasant to sit on. The digital key failed for a day, so I had to call again and get a code to enter the apartment. On our last night, a party in the next apartment kept us from sleeping. There’s no soundproofing, and light comes in around the window, even with the glare of the green emergency light. The blind isn’t enough. A shutter or bedroom sliding door would help block the light and street noise. We’d requested two single beds in the special requests section because my son and I were traveling together, but the request was ignored and we had to share a double bed. There’s no mop, just a brush and dustpan. The half-screen shower lets water flood across the bathroom floor, with nothing to mop it up, and it splashes everywhere. No wonder the laminate flooring is starting to come loose. The kitchen, at least, is very well equipped: dishwasher, washing machine, capsule coffee machine, toaster, juicer, induction hob, large fridge with freezer, and kitchen utensils.

Ms Christine deserves special thanks for looking after our big group so well at breakfast this morning. The other staff and the manager were friendly and helpful too. The hotel is charming and just a ten-minute walk from Plaza Mayor and Salamanca’s many historic sights. The bathroom was a great surprise compared with the usual old-style European hotel, with modern facilities and plenty of amenities. We had a very satisfying stay and would love to come back.

The bed was hard as a rock, like sleeping on a board. That’s the one thing keeping this from a five-star review. I’d stay again, though, and hope they fix the beds. Everything else was great. The hotel was clean and had central AC, which kept the room comfortable during a heat wave. Its location was handy for restaurants, shops, and historic sites, all within walking distance.