Budget Hotel Ben

The location was great, even though it’s at the edge of the red light district, and that helped make the stay tolerable. The room was overpriced for the tiniest one I’ve ever seen. There was barely room to move or fit our two carry-on suitcases. A floor mat would’ve helped keep the bathroom floor dry.

I’d be very cautious about booking here. They changed my stay dates without asking, and acted as though I’d requested the change. I happened to catch it while checking my emails. After I told them I hadn’t made the change, they reverted it, then cancelled my booking the very next day. They suggested I could book again, but at much higher rates. It felt like a deliberate scam to me. I called and emailed to ask what was going on, and their response was basically, “Yes, that’s how it works here.” It left me wondering whether someone could arrive to check in and be told there’s no room unless they pay more. This was an extremely frustrating and unprofessional experience, and booking here could ruin your trip.

The bathroom was greasy and nasty, the blankets stank, and calling the room a bit dusty would be an understatement. We even found train tickets from 2-3 months earlier under the bed, which makes me wonder how long it had been since anyone vacuumed. By far the most disgusting place I’ve ever visited. The man at reception seemed high the whole time, and during his shift he either smoked weed or watched Netflix.

There’s no lift, so getting luggage up the stairs can be a real hassle. The rooms are basic and the facilities feel dated. Staff are generally helpful, though not very smiley, and the place doesn’t have much charm or comfort to make you want to hang around. It works for a short stay or overnight stop, but expect something functional rather than enjoyable, with nothing special. It is budget-friendly and conveniently placed for public transport and nearby attractions.