Hotel Aline

The bed was super comfy, and the small bedroom had everything we needed. We shared a toilet, but it worked fine and we never had to wait. The hotel is close to the main attractions and is cheap and cheerful. They could provide another towel for the floor after showering. It's worth the money for a short stay.

After four nights, I came away thinking the place has either deteriorated since the reviews and photos from seven years ago or the rooms vary a lot in quality. November prices were much lower than October, but I still wouldn't call it inexpensive. The saving grace was free, fast internet and the location: it's a 10-15 minute walk to both the station and city centre. The room was clean enough, nothing leaked, the shower had hot water, and the bed was made and toiletries replenished daily. The room was spacious, with a fan we used on a warm night, working lights and two free power points, one beside each side of the bed. There was a balcony door in good condition that opened to fresh air, rooftops and a partial mountain view. The cupboard had plenty of hangers, though I wiped them down before using them. One kettle was shared at the end of the corridor, and the vending machine sold inexpensive water and soft drinks. We had twin beds, a shower and sink, but no toilet in the room. The shared sink and toilet worked and were clean, though their room was run-down and uninviting. There are two toilets, one with a bidet and one with a washing machine. One morning there was no toilet paper, and staff hadn't arrived yet, so I was glad I'd brought my own. We didn't get the bath mat shown in the photo, just towels. Our bedroom door stuck and made a lot of noise. The bedside table was dirty when we arrived, but a staff member cleaned it promptly and also replaced my mattress with a softer, level one. The original had creaky springs and sloped to one side. The bedside table, chairs and shower cubicle were all worn, especially the shower tiles. It looked nothing like the brand-new bathroom in one of the photos. The lift, building and corridor also need work and look quite shabby. We've met three staff members in four nights. I was glad the first man we met was able to replace my mattress; I'm not sure the others could have done that. A one-star hotel I stayed at in Madrid was luxurious, spotless and in much better condition by comparison. I included the building's condition in my room rating because it affected the whole experience.

The location was perfect, and the price makes it hard to find anywhere nearby that's comparable. If you don't mind hostel-style accommodation and want a good deal, this could work well. We travel a lot and have stayed in plenty of hostels, so it wasn't the worst, but the description could have been more honest about what to expect. This felt more like a private-room hostel than a hotel, on the top floor of an old building that seemed empty and a bit abandoned. The rooms were extremely dated, with mismatched furniture that looked donated. Still, they were very clean, and the nice woman who looked after the place did a great job keeping them tidy and making the beds every day. We booked a room with a shower and assumed, wrongly, that it also had a toilet. There were just two shared bathrooms for about 14 rooms. The shower was in the corner of our room, but there was a movable partition for privacy.

The rooms are small, and check-in and check-out times are later and earlier than at most places. A pipe burst during my stay, which also showed the place isn't in top condition, but every problem was fixed quickly, including the ceiling pipe. I'd recommend it for a night or two at most. The steak and pizza place downstairs was wonderful.