Chisinau Hotel

It’s a grand building in a great location. The food was poor, though the service itself was fine. Our room had an electric heater, but it took 15 minutes for the hot water to come through. The woman at reception was cold and unwelcoming; the man we met later was much friendlier and let us in late at night.

The outside has a magnificent avant-garde look, and it’s apparently the cheapest hotel in Chisinau. Inside, though, it feels rotten and badly neglected. The paint is coming off the walls and there’s mold. I’m genuinely concerned about guests’ health and safety.

The rooms vary a lot by type, and most floors seem to be closed off in whole or in part. Hygiene should be alright, but watch out for the neighboring “clubs” when walking home at night. We stayed in a “Lux Plus” room a while back. The suites have their own kind of luxury, with ferns giving them an exotic feel. The fridge might not work, but you can try ordering a cold beer from the bar if someone is still around and you can persuade them. Think of the place as an immersive museum, a glimpse of what a wealthy Western tourist might have experienced 40 years ago, minus the listening devices in the walls. From the outside, it’s clear you’re not getting a Hilton experience. The staff aren’t paid much, so don’t expect them to go out of their way. Meet them halfway, carry your own bags, and don’t ask too many questions. You can ask for a discount if the breakfast kitchen is temporarily out of order, but they won’t agree.

The staff were friendly and let me leave my bag in the luggage room for the whole day after checkout. My room had air conditioning and a nice view, and everything was clean. The rooms are dated in a charming way, in a building with a classic Soviet style. Hot water can take up to 20 mins, and the WiFi barely worked, which was my main complaint.