We decided to stay at the hotel because it was considered very prestigious and beautiful. It was quite expensive, and our expectations were also on par with the nightly rate of over sixty thousand rubles for two, including breakfast only. I read the reviews and was dreading going.
I can honestly say that all the reviews are real.
So, first things first.
1. The hotel is beautiful, the views are stunning, as are the grounds. The hotel is historic, and the atmosphere is excellent.
2. We had a room with twin beds, but for some reason the system wouldn't let us book a double room. I asked for an upgrade, and they did. Everything was great.
Well, that's all.
And now, back to reality.
All communication at the hotel is disgusting; they treat you with displeasure. It's as if I arrived as an unexpected guest; they display a terrible display of laziness, fatigue, and unwelcomingness. Not a single person behaved well in their interactions with guests, except for one young man who delivered our suitcases. I even gave him a tip; he was genuinely polite.
The others behaved terribly.
Upon arrival, we ran into a difficult situation with our luggage. It didn't arrive for us. It's not the hotel's problem, I understand. But we were tired and exhausted. They showed us to our room. They didn't offer us water.
There was coffee and a welcome for guests. They didn't offer anything. I went and poured water for my wife and myself.
The reception staff was terrible, everyone's faces were exhausted, there was no happiness or joy in being there. Just a look, as if I were asking them to do me a favor.
The room. It was a bit dated, but that's the style. There was a mosquito canopy over the bed. They closed it for us. We slept under it. In one night, we were seriously bitten by mosquitoes. Really. Two of us. So badly that we haven't recovered from them for a week. At first, I thought maybe it was bedbugs. No. Probably not. We slept in fear the second night. We were afraid they'd bite us too. We understand, this is Africa. But we weren't sleeping outside. We probably should have poisoned them. Overall, it was a terrible experience.
Room cleaning. To be honest, it was perfect. They cleaned three times a day. That's the only service here.
Breakfast. Breakfast wasn't exactly delicious. The omelette was cooked on an old stove, and when you eat it, you can taste the old oil and the flavor. Overall, the food wasn't very tasty. But it was edible.
Restaurant. The restaurant is outside; you can't eat inside. It's incredibly hot during the day. I have to say that the food there is very tasty. But the service was terrible. It took a really long time.
On the first day, my wife and I went to dinner. The waitress was disgruntled, slow, as if exhausted by her work. It was like we were forcing her to work there. Honestly. It was disgusting. Simply awful. I didn't want to be there. You can't work like that. You can't. I didn't come to the cafeteria. We pay not just for food, but for service and a pleasant experience. And it was as if they threw the food at me with a disgruntled look. It was as if we'd eaten in a fast food market.
And I'd like to add: there are five guys on duty outside the hotel selling goods and changing money. They're simply harassing. My wife cried at my place. They chased us. I tried to drive them away as best I could. These people are insane. They harassed us to the point that my wife was simply afraid to leave the grounds. And they're on duty right outside the hotel, knowing that wealthy people live there.
I'd like to address the manager and the entire staff. A historic hotel shouldn't be the only advantage of staying here. It was precisely because of your work that I had such a terrible experience.
And only the guy who delivered our suitcases was happy. The others seemed obliged to meet us, and their whole demeanor showed dissatisfaction with their work, their unwelcomingness, and their complete lack of politeness!
This is unacceptable!
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