Hotel Ariston

The blocked balcony did have a nice view, but we couldn't actually step outside. Inside, the furniture was worn out, the bed was broken and uncomfortable, and the heating only came on at night in winter. The place was dirty and uncomfortable. Even though it looks like decent value on Booking and other sites, our stay was poor. I wouldn't recommend it.

The room photos gave the wrong impression, and even the worst one online looked better than the average room we saw. The non-superior rooms are very dated, in a 90s or 00s style. I found that charming, but the upkeep wasn't good, so anyone booking for the chic look will be disappointed. The mattress had stains, the bedding was just a sheet and a very scratchy blanket, the desk light didn't work, there was only one hanger in the cupboard, the wall mirror was loose, and the TV was useless. The main issue was the bed setup. Our “double” was two single beds pushed together, with separate frames that shifted when either person got in and a huge gap between them. Only 7 rooms in the whole hotel actually have a double bed, and those start at €99 a night. This wasn't mentioned until we were in another room and realized a double bed wasn't even offered as a basic facility. Towels and bedding were changed only after 3-5 days. The bathroom door wouldn't lock, the main door was heavy and awkward, and the facilities were very basic. The walls are thin enough that you hear doors opening, closing, and knocking, plus reception sounds even from higher floors. There was constant thudding, knocking, and zipping, though there didn't seem to be any renovations going on. At reception, the response when things went wrong was to send us to our agency, with no responsibility taken. The first receptionist was very helpful, spoke English well, and gave us a map and directions. The other one just told us to use Google Maps, something anyone would try before asking for help. When anything goes wrong, reception won't help and can be smug about it.

The room was freezing, and the bathroom was awful. There were stray hairs on the towels, nowhere to put them, and the toilet paper holder was broken. The shower was mounted too high and couldn't be adjusted, so I couldn't shower without wetting my hair and flooding the whole bathroom. The TV was tiny and too far away to see. Worst hotel experience I've ever had, honestly, and I don't know how this place is legal.

The room was freezing, dirty, and nothing like the photos. You can't shower without touching the dirty curtain. This isn't a 3-star hotel. Avoid it if you want a decent night's sleep.