Hotel Veinticinco

I stayed in room 111. It's clean, and the staff are very friendly and ready to help. There's a supermarket one block away. The shower needs attention: the water flow is weak, the faucets are hard to turn, and there's no shelf for your things. Check that the water is on when you use it, or ask staff to turn it on. The refrigerator is too small for the number of guests, so bring a marker to label anything you put inside.

The hotel has a nice feel and a good location, but it could use a few touches that would make guests feel looked after. The noise was constant, even at night. With wooden floors, you can hear EVERYTHING from one room to another. They should let arriving guests know there are certain hours when people can talk so loudly.

I picked Hotel 25 because it was across from the back room. The rooms are spacious and clean, with cable TV and free Wi-Fi, and the staff are polite and friendly. There's no breakfast service, which seems a shame since they have a kitchen. I was woken three times by doors slamming, loud voices and the doorbell ringing whenever someone came in. The walls are thick, but sound still carries from other rooms, the hallway and reception. Nearby there's a Disco supermarket and a few shops, though it isn't quite the city center and feels a little farther out. The corner is crowded with people selling secondhand things, including people who drink mate. Walking there feels uncomfortable, especially at night when many people are drinking and look shady. For a relaxing stay, I'd choose somewhere more central.

The Santa Lucía River nearby is a popular freshwater spot in summer, but its flooding can be rapid and unpredictable. People need to be very careful there, as it has claimed many lives. The 25 de Agosto Florida station is in a small, forgotten town, much like its railway, where the line splits after many years of travel. One branch heads west toward San José, Soriano and Río Negro; the other continues to Durazno, Paso de los Toros, Tacuarembó and Rivera.