B&B El Mercat

The location is hard to beat, just a minute's walk from Mercat Central Market, and the owner replies to WhatsApp messages almost instantly. You get Wi-Fi, a TV with Netflix, air conditioning, and a kitchen for guests. The shared shower rooms have hairdryers, shower gel, and shampoo. For the price, I can see the appeal, and I'm writing this in the hope the owner will make the place more welcoming, not to hurt the business. I have mixed feelings about the stay. There were problems with noise from both the street and the neighboring room, even with the window shut. A bad smell hung in the air, especially around the kitchen, and opening the fridge made it unbearable. I was wary of using the plates, glasses, cutlery, and other items. The water dispenser wasn't working and needs repair. There also wasn't a floor towel in the shower room, so it was left wet and unpleasant for the next guest.

Being near Mercat Central was convenient, and there was a kitchen with a fridge. The beds were comfortable, too. But our room was dirty, with a greasy handprint on the wall and stains on the spare bedding. We never saw any staff while we were there, so couldn't ask for clean bedding or towels. The shared bathrooms had no hand towels, and the toilets didn't flush properly. I also didn't feel it was safe to go out at night because of some rough characters nearby, so the location gets only three stars from me. Unfortunately, this wasn't a great place to stay.

The cheap price and good location didn't make up for the problems here. After picking up the keys from the locker outside, I wanted to rest after travelling, but the place smelled musty as soon as I went through the steel door. My room was small, with no en-suite, so I had to leave it to use one of the three bathrooms. The towels were the thinnest, cheapest, smallest ones I've ever seen, and the pillows weren't fit for purpose. I ended up buying a cushion at a local shop. There's no kettle or water in the room either. The bathrooms were clean, though the low-quality toilet seats were unstable. The walls are paper thin, so I could hear everything said in the next room. Street noise carried on all the time, and there was no double glazing. I'm older, and this place isn't for me. Maybe it suits young people who just want to get drunk and crash, but I couldn't wait to leave the next day. I'd pay more and steer clear. Also, this isn't a B&B, it's a hostel, and no breakfast was offered. The ad photos are staged to make the place look inviting.

For a few nights in the city center, this is an affordable choice if you're not fussy and can keep your expectations low. The rooms are basic and have air conditioning and a TV, with shared bathrooms in an old building. It was noisy, but I still slept fine. The bathroom didn't feel very fresh, though it was clean during my stay, which is a downside of sharing with others. Check-in was very easy. Jose, the contact person, got in touch beforehand with clear instructions and kindly arranged my late checkout. Service gets five stars from me for that. It's casual, low-budget accommodation.