The Berkeley House

The breakfast was the biggest letdown. The honey by the tea and coffee looked like thin liquid made from dyed white sugar, the coffee had little aroma and wasn't hot enough in its thermos, and the bacon was oddly pale with white flaky residue, as if microwaved. The sausages were too salty and burnt, and seemed to have been microwaved and reheated. Mr. Microwave might be the kitchen's most skilled chef, lol. The room itself was fairly spacious and clean, and the bathroom's hot water helped ease my fatigue. But the old wooden floor creaked underfoot and seemed poorly maintained, and the Wi-Fi signal was weak. Given the price and location it may still be an acceptable option, though I can't say how it compares with other hotels.

After a long hike, I tried the shower and found the water pressure ridiculously weak. I've stayed in cheap hostels and guest houses, but this was the worst. Then I saw that both towels provided were dirty, with a previous guest's hair on them, though luckily I had my own towel. The sheets were stained too, suggesting they hadn't been changed. I raised my concerns after checking in, and the property offered a full refund, which I accepted before leaving. They didn't try to fix the problems. I found somewhere else to stay, much better for almostthe same price. I'm sharing this because it's disrespectful to charge people a decent amount for this experience. Basic cleanliness and maintenance are minimal expectations.

The location is handy for the center, grocery store, shops and train station. Rooms are small but adequate if you're mainly sleeping and heading out. There's no AC or ceiling fan, but you can open a window for cooler air. The room has a kettle and hairdryer, free Wi-Fi, and a telly I watched for a while. Floors creak, and you might hear neighbors or road noise. Breakfast was fine, though you may not get a smile from the host. I prefer not to be disturbed, so I was fine with no fresh towels or bed-making, but upkeep and cleaning could be better. I noticed dust on the headboard and stains in the carpet, plus a leaky shower door, black spots in the corners where water pools, and inadequate caulking. There are layers of 'landlord special' over the mold and mildew instead of removing it properly. Water pressure may be strange, though they fixed it once I reported it. The bathroom faucet could use an aerator: I could hear nearby guests turn it full blast, then try to reduce the flow. The curtains aren't fully blackout, and more bathroom shelves would help where there's space. It needs a professional deep clean regularly to keep mold away, including taking off the shower doors, and there are lots of small touch-ups that could be done daily. The fancy-looking metal key also locks the door from the inside, so keep it handy in an emergency. An armchair home inspector.

I don't really understand the bad reviews. For an affordable price, this place was perfectly fine and good value. The room was simple, clean, tidy and had everything we needed, and everything worked. There was usually just one person at check-in, which was fine. I'd recommend staying here.