Helga
Google
I honestly don’t know what to write as a review, because I don’t want to give a low score — everything was fine overall — but it definitely wasn’t at the level this hotel aims to be.
The positives:
The room was comfortable, the amenities were great, and the housekeeping team is clearly doing an outstanding job. Hats off to them — they’re the unsung heroes of this hotel. The staff were kind and pleasant, though they could show a bit more effort. Still, considering how hard they seem to work to try and cover all shifts, they were kind.
The food was extremely delicious — genuinely one of the highlights. Everything from the bar menu to breakfast was top-notch. Special praise to the kitchen staff. The only small issue was that the chicken soup had a few inner parts that should have been cleaned out — otherwise it was perfect.
The not-so-great:
The main issue is a lack of finesse for a hotel presenting itself as four-star. We stayed only one night during a layover and specifically chose this place for the gym and pool. We did not wish to sightsee, but only to get in a good night sleep and a great workout. Unfortunately, the fitness room felt like a time capsule — most equipment were already witnessing the hotel’s opening in 1990, and about half didn’t work properly. But again fine for a one time workout. On the top floor, where the cardio machines are, there’s no airflow or AC, so it gets uncomfortably stuffy when more than a few people are there. The windows also don’t open, which doesn’t help.
The pool, on the other hand, had so much chlorine that it could probably double as a bathroom cleaner without any added chemiclas. It was also advertised that there were quiet hours before 9 a.m. and after 8 p.m. when children aren’t allowed. We waited until 8:30 p.m. to swim, only to find several kids splashing and throwing balls around, some unsupervised. However we could still do a few laps, so again fine. Later, I checked the hotel’s website and saw that quiet times aren’t actually mentioned there, but they are listed on the third-party booking site I used. The hotel should definitely clarify this to avoid false advertising in the future.
Another point — during breakfast, some staff were openly eating from the buffet. That’s not an issue in itself, as they deserve a nice meal too from the hotel, but they should definatelly do it while keeping the standards. I even saw a staffmember who came out from the kitchen, lick his finger, and then proceed to grab some food.
The biggest concern:
The reception staff, while friendly and polite, clearly lack some training. Upon both check-in and check-out, they were smiley and welcoming, but loudly announcing guests’ room numbers in the lobby is a serious breach of privacy and safety and is an absolute no no in every hotel around the world. I am certain everyone heard them announcing our room number, just as well as we heard the room number of the family with small children checking in next to me and that’s something the hotel really needs to address immediately. I do not believe they wish to take responsibility if somebody with ill intentions would like to use this to their advantage
Overall:
The hotel is fine. With proper staff training and attention to detail, it could easily become an excellent place to stay — especially once the wellness area matches the quality of the renovated rooms.