The Leven Guesthouse

There’s no parking, paid or free, and the nearby streets are permit holders only this time of year. We got no check-in instructions either. After knocking a few times, the door opened, and we guessed our room by trying the lock boxes. We tried contacting OYO and the sister hotel but got no answer. The rooms were OK, but kitchen equipment was limited and dirty. There was no hairdryer or shower essentials, hardly any hand soap or loo roll, so we had to buy our own for the week. That would have been fine if we’d known. The bathroom mirror is very high, and there are no others in the property. The bed was an adequate size and had a TV, though it faced an odd angle from both the bed and sofa. There are no locks on the bedroom or toilet doors, so be prepared for that. In the ground-floor room, the windows face the street and the blinds don’t close fully. Too much hassle for us, especially with other, nicer hotels around.

Once inside, the apartment was spacious and clean, though clearly in urgent need of maintenance. Outside, the building looked derelict and shocked us on arrival. Neither Agoda nor the owners had sent check-in details or contact information. We eventually got through to Agoda by phone, then spent over 20 minutes on hold while they tried to reach the owners. We were told someone would come and let us in, but nobody did. Eventually the owner spoke through the intercom and explained how to enter the apartment. It took more than an hour altogether, with no apology for the missing information or the inconvenience.

We enjoyed our stay. There were nice views of the promenade, and the location was great. The guesthouse was clean, tastefully decorated and had the basic necessities, with both space for privacy and places to socialise. A clothes hanger in the wardrobe and a bin in the toilet would be helpful.