Hallmark Crown Hotel

The lobby was pleasant, with soft jazz playing, and the receptionist was friendly. Our room looked a little dated by comparison, but had the usual essentials, including fresh towels, drinking water, and toiletries. I’d expected a bathtub, so finding one was a nice surprise. We ended up here quite late after a small Airbnb complication. The family room, with three single beds and one twin bed, fit our family of five perfectly. There were plenty of parking spaces, even on Labour Day eve.

The Family Suite was really spacious, and check-in went smoothly. Breakfast was okay, though there weren’t many choices. Staff didn’t clear our plates until we’d finished and left, which was bothersome as they piled up on the table. The location was okay, close to the Jonker area.

Opening the room door, we were hit by a strong stale smell, like a house with no ventilation. Everything looked old, apart from a lounge chair oddly placed in the middle of the spacious room. We were sure our room hadn’t been renovated. The towels were greyish white, and none of us wanted to use them, so nobody showered. This was a last-minute booking for one night, after my family read on Agoda that the hotel had recently been renovated. We had booked a room with three single beds and one queen bed. If you want the feel of a retro hotel from the 70s or 80s, you could consider it.

The hotel felt old and dirty, and seemed overrated. The toilet flush was broken, but they refused to move us to another room. Instead, a technician spent an hour fixing it while we were stuck in the room. They then did a serious clean of the bathroom, but left it wet and didn’t tell us the repair was done. The flush broke again after a few uses. This was my worst hotel stay. For the same price, there are many better options.