Obel 62

I arrived at 11am for a two-night stay and asked about checking in early. I was told no rooms were available and that it would cost £20. I went out for breakfast, came back at 12:30, and paid £40 cash for early check-in. They gave me a twin room, which I hadn’t asked for. When I raised that and the earlier charge with reception, there was no apology or acknowledgment, just a new key. The next room was worse. There was a used piece of underwear in the wardrobe, which was unsanitary and completely unacceptable. I reported it, but the receptionist said she couldn’t leave reception and refused to come and look. The wardrobe was dusty, the fridge was dirty and mouldy, the bath was rusted, and the shower head was scaled and needed cleaning. The shower gel was nearly empty, the sink tap was loose, and the water stayed cold even after I followed the instructions. The bedroom heater switch was faulty, so there was no heat in the room. The whole experience was far below acceptable standards, and the lack of proper service or even an apology made it worse. I demanded a full refund, but I’ve been ignored.

I’d stay here again, mainly because of the location and the size of the apartment. Mine was number 702, and I didn’t see the issues mentioned in many of the bad reviews. The main downside was hearing traffic from the motorway bridge behind the building, even with the windows shut. The beds were comfortable, though the pillows weren’t very good. The apartment had everything you’d need, and the water was hot whenever I showered, even before pressing the button to heat it up. If you have to pay a cash deposit on arrival, it should be returned when you leave instead of several days later.

The photos are so misleading. I’ve been crying since I got here and feel completely gutted. I was scared to leave a review before getting my deposit back, which says everything. The place is vile, with stains in every room and on every wall, visible dust, and dirt everywhere. There was no heating and no hot water, and it was freezing. The sink was clogged, there was limescale in the bathroom, and dust and stains on the bed. The blankets they provide stink of dog and smoke. I’m on a work trip and was sleep deprived, but couldn’t even shower. The man at the desk told me to press the boost button for hot water and wait two hours. It still didn’t get hot, and the shower was freezing. I had to wash the pots before using them, then the second sink clogged with bits in it. When I went downstairs to ask how long the water would take, the receptionist had gone home. Anyone could walk in, with no security. They offered to move me to another room twice, but I felt so uncomfortable there that I needed to leave. There’s a £100 deposit to send by bank transfer, and it takes 72 hours to be refunded.

I never actually stayed at this Belfast apartment, and in the end that may have been for the best. The customer service was the worst I’ve experienced. I booked Obel apartments by Beehosting five months before an event in Belfast. Four days before it, they messaged me on WhatsApp asking me to cancel through booking.com. Have they heard of the thousands of scams people face online? My booking.com page still showed the reservation as confirmed, so I had to call them to check whether the message was real. They said there were problems with their apartment and, since they were fully booked, couldn’t put me somewhere else. They should at least have made the refund easy. Don’t waste your time staying here. Pay a little more for a hotel and avoid dealing with rude people who act like they’re doing you a favour.