City House

I loved the view from my fourth-floor room, especially the big tree beside the balcony, and there was very little noise. The room itself could use an overhaul, though. Paint was peeling from the ceiling, food bowls were cracked, and the bathroom fixtures looked rusty or not properly cleaned. There was a large round hole in the window, maybe left from an old air conditioner vent. It didn’t cause much trouble, but an insect or two could get in. The balcony door’s fly screen was hard to open and needed repair, since it also let insects inside. The air conditioner worked well, but blew over the bed no matter where I pointed it, so I had to sleep with my head at the foot of the bed. Staff had to fix the TV a couple of times. After the second attempt, I gave up on getting an English news channel to work.

The price is good, and for a two-star place I think it’s fair. Just don’t expect top facilities at that rate, you’ll need to pay more for somewhere better. On our second day, we had no electricity for almost 24 hours, so we went to nearby kebab shops to charge our phones. Pay less, expect less. Don’t be irrational.

The place was tiny and looked nothing like the photos. The furniture was dusty, the sink leaked, and both the fridge door and hand shower holder were broken. The bedside lights didn’t work either, though they replaced them. It was clear the room hadn’t been checked or prepared before we arrived. We stayed one night and left.

For what you pay, it’s a warm, clean place with okay beds. They’re not five-star beds, but they’re not bad either. It isn’t as bad as some reviews make it sound.