Candeo Hotels Osaka Namba

One of the worst hotel stays I've had. I spent three nights here and was very disappointed with the cleanliness, maintenance, and management. Cockroaches were in the lobby at night, the elevators smelled bad, and the public toilets had a strong unpleasant odor. My room wasn't cleaned one day because guests apparently need to select a “Full Cleaning” option on the TV, but nobody explained that at check-in. The lobby men's restroom was out of service, so guests were sent to the accessible restroom. Its door lock didn't work, which made for an embarrassing and uncomfortable situation. Staff knew about it but didn't seem to do anything. The hot spring and bathing area was the worst part: overcrowded, chaotic, and poorly managed. Children ran around shouting, jumped into the water, and swam in the hot spring pools without any staff stepping in. Hair floated in the pools, there were small insects in the water and garbage everywhere. The showers had used toothbrushes, tissues, and cotton swabs scattered around. The changing area was littered with trash, and hair and waste covered the sink area. I rarely saw cleaning staff tending to the facilities. For what we paid, this was completely unacceptable. The hotel needs to improve cleanliness, facility upkeep, and staff management. I wouldn't return or recommend it to other travelers.

Convenience stores are nearby, and the rooms are decent enough for a good night's sleep. The hotel is close to a shopping complex, about 1 km away. The laundry dryers are a bit weak, though. In my experience, wash and dry small loads each day, or you may spend several hours trying to dry a big load.

The spa was lovely, with city views, and gave me a nice Japanese bathhouse experience. Tattoos are allowed. Breakfast was pretty good, checkout was easy, and the location is ideal for exploring Dotonburi. One note: my review is based on a corner room on a high floor. If you're on a lower floor at the side of the hotel, there may be a construction site next to you.

We were able to check in early, and the staff were friendly. The beds were large and comfortable, and the bathroom was so small, with no counter space, that getting ready with a family in the morning was a challenge. The spa was wonderful, although it didn't look like the photos: the glass facing outside is frosted, apart from a 4 inch gap to look through. Service could have been better too, since they didn't replenish our tea or replace the used mugs. There was only green tea in the room, no coffee. Breakfast was nice, but the only coffee was from a machine that always had a line. The location is great, just a few blocks from Dotonbori's activity and close to the subway. We'd stay again. For the location, it felt like good value. 4/5