Best Western Vilnius

After driving 800 km, I arrived expecting to park my car as easily as I usually can elsewhere. I couldn't find an available space among the roughly 12-14 spots by the hotel. When I asked the staff, they said I could use parking at the nearby shopping mall. ;( I was drawn in by the relatively low price, but it turned out to be a mistake. I'm writing this as a warning: if you need hassle-free parking, decent Wi-Fi for Teams calls, and good-quality rooms, I wouldn't choose this hotel. I got none of those things.

Breakfast was good, with hot and cold dishes, waffles you could make yourself, and plenty of sweet options. The two single beds were firm but comfortable, and both the room and bathroom were surprisingly spacious. It seemed like a pleasant older building, not something built in the last decade. The walls are thin, so loud neighbors carry through. There was a kettle tray, but no fridge or room safe. Also, if you use the luggage room, be aware that its door is unlocked and reception doesn't keep an eye on it.

I was first given a very noisy room, but reception changed it for me. The stay was great after that. The hotel is nicely located, and my room was large with a comfortable bed. The huge bathroom had both a shower and a bath, plus a heated towel rail. Breakfast offered a great mix of standard and local dishes.

The room door was the most alarming part of my stay. I left early for a conference and came back at 8pm to find it half-open. I always check hotel doors, and this one takes extra effort to shut properly, so I'm sure I'd secured it. Since I had left before housekeeping arrived, it seemed clear that the cleaning crew had left it open. I later saw that the inside security lock had been removed completely, so I had no way to ensure my privacy or safety. Nothing was stolen, but that kind of breach is unacceptable, especially under the Best Western name. When I reported it, the receptionist was dismissive, suggested I might have left the door open myself, gave a minimal apology, and said housekeeping had probably been too busy. I asked for the manager to be informed and never got a follow-up. The next day, cigarette smoke filled the second-floor corridor. I reported that too, and was told housekeeping would look into it the following day. That response left me feeling unsafe throughout the stay. There were other basic problems as well. When I entered my assigned room late at night, it smelled strongly of sewage, and the odor and stale air stayed with me. The bathroom was worn and didn't seem properly cleaned. Housekeeping appeared to do little more than make the bed, and even the unused coffee mugs were dirty. I had booked a large double bed but was given two single beds pushed together, which was very uncomfortable. This was one of the worst hotel experiences I've had in years. Cleanliness, basic facilities, security, and the staff's response all fell far short of what I expect from a 4-star Best Western, or even a budget hostel.