Balin Hotel - Special Class

The deposit was another problem. At checkout, staff said we hadn’t paid the 50 EUR, and only gave it back after a long argument and I showed the written receipt I’d made sure to get at check-in. The rooms were nothing like the Booking.com photos or description. We’d booked two “Deluxe” rooms advertised as 22 sqm, but got cramped rooms around 14-15 sqm including the hall and bathroom. A window looked straight onto a concrete wall just inches away. The rooms were dirty, with old stained carpets, hair everywhere, and visibly unclean pillows and sheets. The bathroom was only 1.5m x 1.5m, too small for a proper shower. We also found the basement restaurant wildly overpriced. Two Campari drinks came to almost 50 EUR, and one coffee was about 20-30 EUR, triple what you’d pay elsewhere nearby. The management seemed indifferent and was disastrous to deal with. Two women serving breakfast were the only decent staff we encountered, though they seemed to be foreign workers. The rest were unprofessional. I strongly advise people to avoid this place. It felt like a tourist trap, dirty, cramped, and dishonest. A complete waste of money.

That basement bar is best avoided. The drinks, cocktails, and shisha were really poor, while the prices were higher than Monaco. I paid 35 euro for a Margarita made with suspicious ingredients. Not fun at all.

They served me coffee as soon as I landed, and when I was checking out the man at reception brought me water without me asking. The ladies serving breakfast were lovely, and reception stays open around the clock. The hotel is near shops and restaurants, and the bathroom facilities were clean. Everything was very tidy, well kept, and clean, with welcoming, respectful, helpful staff. The one issue was the TV didn’t work, and the signal needs fixing. For now I’d give it four stars.

The room had plenty of space for the two of us, and we liked how the hotel was in a quiet neighborhood while still close to the main attractions. Public transport was only a short walk away. We also really enjoyed the free breakfast. My sister and I had such a lovely stay. The staff were warm and always willing to help, and the service felt flawless. The receptionists and restaurant team greeted us with smiles and made us feel at home. A special thanks to the manager, who said hello every morning and checked whether we had feedback or needed anything. Everything went beyond what we expected, and we’d happily come back and recommend it.