City Lodge Hotel Bloemfontein

Flora, a kind and resourceful waitress, went out of her way to help my family and me settle in. We enjoyed the pool, which had a good depth for the whole family, and breakfast was good. The corridors smelled fresh, as if the carpets were vacuumed regularly. There was no fridge in the room, and the bed was stiff and uncomfortable. The toilet wasn't clean, with brown scale buildup. An evening gate attendant kept stopping us to scan the license disc or license even though we were guests coming and going several times. The women at reception were very good, but some of the men, including Tshepo, need to improve their attitude.

We had a pleasant overnight stay at the City Lodge. Both rooms were comfortable and clean, and there were no issues with them, though a fridge and bottled water would have been welcome. Reception greeted us warmly, as did our restaurant waitress. The food was a mixed bag. The pizza seemed to be a frozen one that had just been heated, and it was only okay. The three pasta dishes tasted very good, but the portions were tiny for R155. The plate had a large indentation for the pasta, which barely made a mound. We raised it with the manager, who offered another portion on the house. They should increase the servings or bring the price down. That was our only complaint.

The room had underwear between the bedding, which made me think the linen hadn't been changed after the previous guest. That's unhygienic and unacceptable. We reported it and were moved, but the manager never gave us the formal apology we expected the next morning. The TV remote was filthy too, with visible dirt buildup. The poor hospitality continued when we left. We were struggling with our luggage and nobody offered to help or even held the reception door. At check-in, the staff didn't offer a smile or warm greeting, and made us feel like an inconvenience. I've stayed at many hotels over the years and haven't encountered such a lack of warmth and professionalism. The staff need hospitality training. City Lodge Bloemfontein failed to meet even basic guest care expectations. We stayed at a City Lodge for the first time, and unfortunately it was our last.

The rooms were so comfortable and clean, and the staff were friendly and accommodating. It was truly my best stay in a long time. I'd highly recommend it if you're travelling from far away.