Ikonik Jean Medecin Hotel

For the price, even $25 a day would feel like too much. The street nearby looks like a cheap bazaar in the Far East, with dingy, dirty, cheap-looking shops and restaurants. This isn't a four-star hotel; at best it feels like an overpriced hostel. The reception is a tiny black-painted plywood desk with a computer, in a small area that smells of dirty carpet. The entrance corridor is dark and painted black, and the rooms are small and dark. Avoid it.

The rooms looked nice and the beds were comfortable, and most staff were friendly and did their best to help. Still, this was probably the worst Marriott I've stayed at, and calling it a four-star hotel set the wrong expectations. We ran into a lot of problems. The loudest issue was on the fifth floor, where a machine made noise from midnight every night and kept us from sleeping. We also discussed checkout more than once with staff, but our room keys were disabled early, causing a scramble and making us miss our train. The window lock was broken when we arrived and needed a handyman to fix it. The location is close to the train station, though the McDonald's right below and rowdy streets are worth bearing in mind. I'd ask for a higher-floor room at the back. Inside, 4G and 5G reception were poor. Wi-Fi signal was OK, but the firewall blocked many websites, which was very frustrating. There's only one slow elevator, and staff and cleaners use it too, so waits can be long. Breakfast was lackluster. It might not have bothered me as much if the place weren't advertised as four-star. The AC couldn't be set to a comfortable temperature and made the room too cold. Most staff were helpful, except one woman at breakfast who clearly didn't want to be there.

We liked this hotel overall, and the helpful staff and clean, attractive rooms made a good impression. Since we booked at the last minute, we moved rooms and ended up trying three types. Oddly enough, our favorite was the smallest one. It was cute and cozy, though with two people and big bags it could be too tight. The medium room was our least favorite because its window faced an interior part of the building, leaving it dark, even though it was quiet. The king room was nice if you want more space. We'd definitely recommend the hotel.

The neighborhood is busy, as you'd expect around a train station, so it isn't the place for a quiet, tranquil stay. I felt safe there, despite what others have said. The location is convenient, though it can be noisy. We were on the third floor and had no trouble, so anyone sensitive to sound might want a higher floor. We really enjoyed the room: clean, spacious, nicely decorated, and with a very comfortable bed.