The Boston Guest House

We had a few calm hours at the guesthouse on the afternoon of 20 April, and the gate was working when we left. That came after several frustrating problems over our three nights. At check-in on 17 April, around 17:30, the staff were friendly and helpful. We dropped our bags, showered, and left at 18:15 with everything fine. When we returned after 22:00 on 18 April, the gate remote opened the gate but wouldn't close it. Reception was locked, and my text went unanswered, so I called. Staff helped us get the gate working, and we went to bed around 23:00. The next morning at 06:45 the shower water was ice cold. We reported it downstairs, and I was able to shower at 07:00, by which time we were running late. There was supposed to be coffee and tea in the room, but there wasn't. Downstairs, one staff member asked with an attitude whether we'd booked breakfast. We said no and just wanted coffee, which we understood to be included with each room. We left with coffee in our travel mugs. On the evening of 19 April, the gate again wouldn't open or close. We rang the bell for help, and staff seemed annoyed, as if the problem were our fault. We were annoyed too but kept calm. The next morning, we got up early to avoid more trouble, but the water pressure was extremely low, DStv stopped working, and the aircon, which had worked on both warm and cold settings, would now only stay at 18°C. I started to feel like we were being toyed with or sabotaged. The worst part was returning around 21:45 on 20 April. Everything was dark and quiet, and other guests had parked in the space staff had told us at check-in was ours for the whole stay. We'd previously been told to knock on the attendant's room door if calling didn't work. We did that, and they eventually answered, clearly frustrated. The gate was open and wouldn't close, and our car was outside. When I asked which button opened the other side, I got a rude, hard-to-describe response. The attendant left us outside, but I managed to open the gate myself. On the morning of 21 April, I finally got a hot shower. As we packed, there was none of the help we'd received at check-in. Staff were awkwardly waiting in the kitchen for us to leave. We exchanged abrupt, sarcastic thanks, returned the key, and left relieved the unpleasant stay was over. I truly hope never to encounter the building, staff, or guesthouse again.

I spent four days and three nights there and was very unhappy with the service. I regret choosing this guesthouse. The housekeepers were in their nightclothes during the day and, as I saw it, drunk while on duty each day. One day we found our coffee cup in the bathroom and the basin hadn't been cleaned. Breakfast seemed to be prepared straight after they got out of bed, without washing, showering, or brushing their teeth. On our last day there was no hot water, so we checked out without showering. The photos don't match what it's like, and I wouldn't recommend staying here.

The Boston Guest House is a lovely, quiet place, close to Spar and other shops. Liam fit us in at very short notice. Thanks for accommodating us, it's a great spot.

The rooms are spacious, with antique furniture, and the beds are really good. The aircon worked perfectly too. This guesthouse is much nicer than some of the others in the area.