Hotel Royal Colonia

I booked Hotel Royal for a day trip from Buenos Aires to Colonia. Check-in is at 2pm, and the price was very affordable. It was nice to have somewhere to rest and freshen up while wandering around town. The room felt dated, and for some reason it reminded me of being on a cruise ship. For a day trip, especially if you need a cheap place to stay, it's not a bad option.

The bathroom had mildew on the ceiling and around the shower pipe, and the ceiling fan was broken. Our small third-floor room faced a busy main road, so it was noisy. The air conditioner was extremely loud too, and its broken flap sent air straight at the pillows. We left disappointed.

Breakfast was okay, though scrambled eggs cost an extra $8 USD. That felt steep when a whole 30-egg pack at the store right beside the Hotel costs the same. The rooms were tiny and uncomfortable, with no privacy from noise: we could hear the street, toilets flushing in other rooms, and everything going on outside our room. Even ordinary conversation carries, so other guests can hear you too. The satellite receiver was broken and the TV had no sound; we had to switch it ON and OFF several times to get it working again.

The sea-side rooms have a fantastic view, and the location is excellent. The staff were very friendly, with people who spoke both Spanish and English. Our room had some problems, though: the toilet leaked all night, and there were only two charging points, both behind the bed, so we had to move it a little.