Hotel Viator

For €500 I got a private bath-bedroom for a week, cheaper than most hostels where you'd share both the room and bathroom. It was comfortable enough, clean, and well located, with great food nearby, a bank with an ATM, and a metro stop just steps from the entrance. The hotel did its job, and the staff were kind of dismissive, though I hardly dealt with them. It's not for every traveler. I had to haul my bags up to the fifth floor because there's no elevator, and there was no air conditioning during seriously hot summer weather.

The location was good, but the price really wasn't worth it. The pictures didn't match what I found, and the doors slammed noisily. You could hear everything, including people on the phone early in the morning, so it was hard to rest. The shower rooms were separate and so small there was nowhere to put dry clothes or change without getting wet. I stayed two nights, which was enough to know I wouldn't return.

The receptionist was aggressive and very rude, and I felt scared and extremely insecure. The hotel looked completely different from the pictures. I was genuinely shocked by how the stay went.

The daily towel replacement and having the trash emptied were nice touches. For a solo traveler with little luggage, it could be fine for a short stay, and the location is handy for public transport. The room size works for one person, but not more; there are no elevators, sinks are in the rooms, and toilets are shared on each floor. There are very few showers, and they're tiny. The hallways also get very dark at night.