Tabist Sasebo Palace Hotel

The staff were supportive and helpful, and it works well if you need somewhere affordable to stay. The second floor looked updated, but the third didn't. I can't say how the other floors are.

The staff were extremely friendly and helpful, but the hotel felt lower quality and more expensive than other places we stayed in Japan. There was only a fan in the room, no air conditioning. In this day and age, I think air conditioning should be standard in a hotel in Japan.

For less than $50 a night, I was happy with the room. It's small by American standards, but I had enough space to lay out my suitcase, which was all I needed. Most staff spoke some English, and they showed me how to use the thermostat and open the window. One cleaning lady even helped tie my dress one morning. They took my key when I went out and gave me a coupon for a free drink per person when I came back. There were choices like orange juice, coffee, and beer, though I've forgotten the others. When I asked for a taxi, it always arrived in under five minutes. A staff member would come outside with me and explain to the driver where I wanted to go. If I left the do-not-disturb sign up during cleaning time, they left a package outside with extra shampoo, conditioner, body wash, a toothbrush, nightgown, towels, and slippers. When I let them clean, they did a thorough job each time, cleaning the whole room instead of only making the bed like some American places do. The bathroom looks small, but that's common here. I loved the deep tub. I could get my shoulders, knees, and feet in the water together. I'd gladly stay again, and recommend it 100%.

I was there for 11 days while PCSing. The room was clean, the location was decent for the price, service was good, and parking wasn't too bad. The hallways had an old, odd smell, though, and the sheets looked old and had some minor stains. The reason I'm giving one star is the cleaning fee. They charged me for something I'd already cleaned and that was no longer visible, then made up excuses not to refund me. I'm disputing the charge with my bank.