Lavin Hotel & Suites

We never got inside the property, so we didn’t stay any of the seven nights we booked. Although Booking.com showed check-in was available until midnight, a last-minute message said reception was closed and we couldn’t check in. There was no warning, explanation, or alternative. We came back at 2 pm the next day as instructed, but the hotel was locked, with no staff and no reply. The communication and customer service were terrible, and we had to book somewhere else in a hurry, losing time, money, and peace of mind. Not providing access to a confirmed booking is unacceptable. This place felt completely unreliable and poorly managed. It was the worst hotel experience we’ve had.

The location was good, and the cleaning lady was kind and did her job well. The rest was disappointing: there was usually nobody at reception, no Wi-Fi, and nobody available to answer questions. I only found out where breakfast was by asking other guests. I wouldn’t recommend staying here.

The location worked well for getting around, with the metro across the road, good, inexpensive restaurants nearby, and a small mall about a 10-minute walk away. The apartment is part of a local neighborhood, so you can hear prayers through the windows. Street noise also comes through because the double glazing isn’t great and there’s a gap in the bedroom window. Light sleepers may want earplugs. There’s heating and air conditioning. I paid £200 for seven nights, so I wasn’t expecting a luxury hotel. The apartment was small but had a comfortable king-size bed, a cupboard, a sofa, and a bathroom with a shower and toilet. The kitchen was poorly equipped, with just a saucepan, two glasses, and a teaspoon, no mugs. The kettle didn’t work, but they replaced it the next day. The bathroom could use more attention. The apartment was clean enough, though the cleaner had left the previous guests’ trash for me to take out. To get in, I had to contact the men at the exchange kiosk downstairs for the key and access fob. At checkout, the kiosk was closed and they weren’t there, so I left those with the cleaner. Checkout was at noon. There’s a very small lift, which worked, but the walk has 82 steep, narrow stairs, so be careful. It suited me since I was out most of the time, though the kitchen, windows, bathroom, and cleaning could be improved.

I had to leave earlier than planned because the owner behaved in an extremely inappropriate and unprofessional way. Only sleeping essentials for two people were provided, even though there were six of us, and we asked several times for the rest. This was one of my worst hotel experiences. If respectful treatment and basic comfort matter to you, I’d avoid this place.