The Baron Karbala

We left and chose another hotel, which was the only reasonable option. Despite having prior confirmation, arrival turned what should have been a simple, professional process into needless complications. The way we were treated showed little hospitality and made us feel unwelcome. The property may look fine at first, but appearances don't count for much without professionalism.

The hotel is beautiful, with stunning interiors and a luxurious, relaxing feel. All the staff were kind, helpful, and accommodating, which I appreciated during the night I stayed at Baron with my wife. Our fifth-floor room had no windows or other ventilation, and the AC was quite loud. There was a strong sewage smell from the bathroom the whole time, despite it being clean, so it seemed like a plumbing problem. One toothbrush wasn't in a sealed packet, which didn't feel hygienic, and the washed and ironed sheets still looked a little dirty. It's a lovely hotel with great potential and excellent staff, but the rooms need better maintenance and attention to detail.

The shrine is a quick bus ride away, with buses running every half hour, or about a 30-minute walk if you'd rather go on foot. The hotel is new and clean, and the food was excellent.

It was noisy at night, and I definitely wouldn't recommend this hotel. The reception phone was rarely answered, and usually there was just one staff member who couldn't manage several customers at once. When my mother became very sick, we asked them to call an ambulance. They said they had their own doctor, but after waiting more than an hour and contacting them many times, they didn't help or call the doctor. They also failed to post a note explaining that the bus stop changed on weekends. We waited about 2 hours before contacting the hotel and finding out about the change.