Villa City Center

The photos on Booking.com made this place look attractive and value for money. The reality is that it is dated, dirty and in need of major refurbishment. We arrived after 7.00pm and were charged 10 Euros for checking in late – we had no control over flight times and yet the first thing I was asked was when I would pay. We were given Room 52. It was dowdy, cramped, dirty, smelt stale and the furniture looked like it was made in the 1970’s. The room was so hot but had no air conditioning. There was a portable fan in the room which was so noisy it kept us awake. The bed was so low to the floor you almost fell over trying to get into it. There was only one bedside cabinet. As for digital television, it was broken and sat on top of a chest of drawers with only one Hungarian channel. It looked like it was made in the 1980’s. The “bathroom” was tiny and looked like it was made in the 1970’s. The shower head kept sliding down the rail where it was so old. The waste on the sink was clearly blocked as it took 15 minutes for water to drain away leaving scum all around the edge. The floor had no mat and was like a skating rink – deadly. There was mould all-round the inside of the shower and the sink. Breakfast was served right by the check-in desk and was nothing special. The dining area was cramped and dated. I placed my hand on the table and it stuck to it because it hadn’t been cleaned. For hot water, there was a kettle balanced on a shelf which, if you picked it up, the base fell off. The staff weren’t interested in you – they were impolite and ignored you. The icing on the cake was the two staff at breakfast sat by a rear door checking their mobile telephones and smoking - the smoke wafting into the dining area yet there were “no smoking” signs everywhere.! There was no way we were going to stay and, having made representations, were charged £45.50 for cancelling the booking. The guy didn’t even look me in the eye when I complained. Avoid this place at all cost, it just isn’t worth the money. This place should refund me – you know who I am and Booking.com should look into it and consider removing it from their website.

Pros: easy walk to the lake for my 76 year old father ; right in the main street full of shopping and Cafes for my young adult children; reception staff is helpful; early check-in was allowed; a 4pm check out was accommodated with appropriate fees (but less than a full night). Cons: liquid soap provided in a dispenser in shower but no shampoo: an older building which becomes obvious in the bathroom; reception staff doesn't speak English but German is fine. Tips: ask for a room with street frontage as these rooms have a balcony and they are much larger than the back facing rooms. Their bathrooms are twice the size, too. Watch out for the additional tax that is mentioned in the "small print" of the online booking and which is payable at the hotel, not online. This fee is not unique to this hotel though.

We spent 2 nights in the hotel but this was forgettable. The site is really an average. The rooms are dusty, the beds are not so comfortable. The walls are thin so you can hear everything your neighbour does. The breakfast room is tiny the good thing is you can go outside to the street front. But in summer only.