Hotel Gala

The only upside was the parking, though it was barely useful since there are plenty of free spots on the same street. The facilities were practically nonexistent. The wifi didn’t reach our room, and the closet kept falling on us. It was about 4 degrees outside, and we were given a very thin blanket with nothing extra. There was no heat during our stay, so we were cold at night. The pillows and mattress were awful, though by then that hardly mattered. The bathroom smelled strongly of mold, and the shower had no hot water at all, only cold. There was no shower gel, only half a roll of toilet paper, and the towels smelled as if they hadn’t been washed. Very expensive for the conditions and lack of facilities.

The relaxed, friendly feel of the place seemed to rub off on the other guests, who were friendly and easy to talk to as well. It’s an easy 10 minute walk to the center, and for the price each room is a bargain. The rooms were clean and had the usual things you’d need. The whole place has a cared-for 1950s look, even though the building is clearly much older, and it’s been upgraded where needed. I gave service four stars because someone isn’t always there, but the owner can be reached by phone and entry is arranged before you arrive. That worked fine for me, and means they don’t need full-time staff driving up prices. I wouldn’t stay anywhere else in Oradea, which is also a highlight of eastern Europe for me.

I liked the design of this Gala hotel. I think the building may be historic, though I don’t know who lived there. The staff were nice and smiling, but the receptionist wasn’t ready to change money and give me the balance. The room key didn’t work properly, the bed was very narrow, and the breakfast and coffee were average. If you’re after a nicely designed hotel, come here. For better service, go somewhere else.

The room was really nice and clean, and the bed was comfortable. Having private parking across the street is a big plus. The TV remote didn’t work. The bathroom was horrible design-wise, dark and ugly, and the shower leaked onto the floor. Water also came out of the wall where the shower head screws in. It’s an okay budget place near the city center, but the bathroom was very bad.