Local 4 Dreams Guesthouse

I was really put off by the negative reviews. Sure, there can be downsides anywhere, but it felt like the people running this place care and do their best to make guests comfortable. The staff are extremely friendly, and the room was clean and big enough, with air conditioning. The price is really good, too. They put out fresh homemade cakes every day for free, and you can have coffee or hot chocolate as well. Oksana makes the cakes, and they’re amazing. You can tip her if you like, and I think you should.

Getting in and out was easy, and the bus stop and train station are very close. They also gave us free water and coffee or tea bags, which was nice. But the bathroom smelled so strongly of sewage that we couldn’t stand it, even with the windows open. Street noise came through the closed windows and kept us from sleeping peacefully. And all those rules posted on every bit of wall in the room and kitchen were a lot. Being unable to use the kitchen after noon, or cook anything because it might be “smelly,” felt ridiculous.

The owner was nice, and both check-in and check-out went smoothly. The metro station was very close and connected to the city centre. I stayed three nights in a double room, and for one person the size was perfect. But there was nowhere to put clothes, so they had to go on the floor or stay in my suitcase. My room faced a main road, and the noise at night kept waking me up even though I always wear earplugs. There was no air conditioning either. It’s OK for a solo traveller staying a few nights, but I wouldn’t choose it for a longer visit.

The staff were very kind and even offered homemade cakes for breakfast. The bed was hard, and the bathrooms weren’t clean. The shower door wouldn’t close properly, and the water pressure was poor.