Ale Boutique Hotel

A couple of practical things to know: the hotel is shown in the wrong place on Google Maps, so check street view. Taxi drivers often go to the next road, which causes confusion. The street itself is quiet and pleasant, with a good coffee shop nearby where you can work inside or outside, and a playground two minutes away. Supermarkets with basics, meat, milk, and alcohol are also about two minutes away; Tivak, which had everything we needed, was an eight-minute walk. We arrived very late, called the number on the door, and were checked in about 10 minutes later. The gentleman was helpful and spoke good English. It’s one of a few apartments listed on booking dot com, since this type of accommodation is apparently usually listed on another local site, so do your research. We were on the fourth floor, which was a bit of a hassle with two children and a pram. I got the impression families were put on upper floors and single people or groups below, perhaps because of noise, but that’s only a guess. The pool was usually empty, though younger singles tended to leave after sunset. The room kept noise out fairly well: we could hear neighbours in common areas, but not inside. Cleaning could be better, with dust under the bed and in corners, though it wasn’t a major concern unless you want everything spotless. The old hob took ages to heat, so it wasn’t much use for stir-frying. There was a decent range of cutlery, pots, pans, and plates, but no teaspoons and the knives needed sharpening. Also provided were a dishwasher, fridge, microwave, toaster, kettle, and washing machine with about a 5kg load. The AC barely cooled the living room and leaked onto the balcony, so it needs checking. WiFi was weak at times. A residential cat lives there, so bring him a pouch of cat food or some ham if you like; he’ll appreciate it. Staff were friendly and helpful. Some didn’t speak English, while others spoke English and Russian.

This place is disgusting. The ceiling leaks, the pool is full of cockroaches, and the area around it is rotten. My friend even tried to clean it with a hard brush. I’m willing to share a video if you want one.

The apartment was very good in the end, and everything was new and clean. But I had booked one with a balcony and only got it after a long discussion. A Russian woman helped us communicate, since nobody spoke English.

The apartments were clean, but there’s no lift. The WiFi wasn’t working while we were there, and staff weren’t available at night if we needed towels.