Prisma Hotel

The travel agency was informed right away because of how far this place fell below what I expected, and I think its real quality and classification need a professional reassessment. I've traveled widely and found the whole stay disappointing. The breakfast buffet looked neglected and carelessly set out, with little variety; a lot of it seemed stale or questionable, the hot food was barely warm, and the coffee was almost undrinkable. Some areas felt more like a primitive hostel hut than a rated hotel, with worn furniture, poor cleanliness, and an overall neglected look that suggested weak maintenance and quality control. Staff seemed stressed, poorly coordinated, and inadequately trained. They responded reluctantly or with very short answers, and even basic courtesy wasn't assured. Good service doesn't depend on star count, but here it was entirely absent. The place misses essential standards in several areas. I wouldn't recommend it to demanding or internationally experienced guests, and even two stars would be generous under these conditions.

The room Wi-Fi didn't work, and the service ruined what was otherwise an okay hotel. At 7:30 am I called reception to book another night. They quoted $55 and said we could pay at breakfast. Then at breakfast they said they'd made a check-in mistake the day before, charging us the one-person rate instead of two, even though both of us were there at check-in. They wanted more money for both the previous night and the extra one. We had booked through booking.com and showed them the listing still had the same price for one or two people. While we were discussing it, the hotel conveniently stopped appearing on booking.com, and staff then claimed it was completely sold out. The boss said the employee who made the mistake would have to pay the extra $13.66, which felt like a manipulative guilt trip. We called booking.com, who said they couldn't charge us extra after we'd already stayed the night and completed check-in. Terrible.

Good location and service, but what's the point if you can't sleep? The walls are paper thin, so expect to hear every passing car, and there are lots of them. You'll also hear late arrivals and early departures clomping on the stairs, which happen often. If you're really lucky, someone will use a hair dryer at 4 am. Earplugs won't block it all.

The worst place I've ever stayed, arranged through G Adventures. The main problem was the appalling customer service, especially from the evening shift man on the 30th and 31st of October. He was the rudest person I've encountered in hospitality, wouldn't look up from his computer while talking, and flatly said “No” when I politely asked whether our two single beds could be joined or if a double room was available. No apology, effort, or care. He told me to check again the next morning, but my Rainbow Mountain tour left at 4 am. When I asked again after returning, he was just as rude and again said “No,” then blamed me for not coming down sooner even though I had been on a pre-sunrise tour. The building is old and dated, with no ventilation or air conditioning. The shower swings from boiling to freezing without touching the tap; the bathroom tiles are uneven and sharp, and the whole place feels as if it's falling apart. I also got stuck in the tiny lift after it came to an almighty halt. It took a while for us to be freed, and it was terrifying. The so-called included breakfast is a joke: about four sad choices, and you have to pay extra for a second egg. Unprofessional, arrogant, and disrespectful. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone, even for one night. If G Adventures considers this acceptable accommodation, they need to rethink their partnerships.