Penzion Benatky

The river setting and view are lovely, and the price is low, but €40 a night didn’t feel worth putting up with how dirty the room was. I’ve rarely felt so uncomfortable trying to sleep somewhere. The place is old, and the smell might improve with a proper clean. Staff and the outdoor area are only accessible until 8 pm. The restaurant looks nice but was closed, and after seeing the room I wouldn’t have wanted to eat there anyway.

The Wi-Fi wasn’t working, and the staff didn’t speak English or another foreign language. Our room hadn’t been cleaned before check-in: there were long hairs from previous guests in the bathroom, mold on the walls, and their receipts still on the table. We’d booked a double bed but got twin beds, and they wouldn’t change it. And that’s not all.

Getting to the railway and bus station takes about 20-25 minutes on foot, but the pension is only three minutes from Spa island. For our first visit to Piestany, we stayed here and found the room spotless, with a comfortable bed and everything ready for us. Reception explained what we needed to know.

We got help even after 6, and the service was very good. Breakfast was good too, and eating beside the water was really pleasant. The room was decent and clean, though some details weren’t finished well. There were three dead insects on the dirty counter, the shower door track was filthy, and toilet stickers were still on it. The mattress cover kept slipping, so within an hour you’d be lying on the mattress. No AC or heating, so I imagine winter would be very cold.