Santico Art Hotel and Hostel

The host was warm and helpful, always smiling and joking around. I liked the artistic, bohemian feel and the decoration, too. It’s in a calm neighborhood, with banks, shops, buses, trams, taxis, and the metro close by. We stayed in February with my girlfriend and had a great time.

The staff were friendly and responsive, though they weren’t great about taking out the trash. The place is advertised with attractive photos, but what we found looked much worse and felt more like a hostel than a hotel. They offered an apartment with two bedrooms at first, then wanted €350 for three people to stay in a very dark, 10-square-meter room with a tiny window. The furnishings were old and broken, the toilets weren’t very clean, and the internet was unreliable. I wouldn’t mind basic conditions at a cheap hostel, but the price didn’t match what was offered. The restaurant attached to the property also had some very loud, unhappy-sounding women working there. They talked to themselves and swore early in the morning, which could disturb your sleep.

The host left us to ourselves, which I personally prefer. The hostel has an interesting bohemian character, and the location is great. The neighborhood itself isn’t quiet.

The building’s old, but the bathrooms and kitchen are nicely updated, and there’s a summer garden inside the hostel. The owner was pleasant, the location and price were good, and there weren’t any loud guests. It has a distinctive atmosphere, and I’d stay again.