The hotel was booked and selected through Ozone and reviews. I'll write a review there too.
I'll start with the advantages:
The location is gorgeous, the place is quiet, but it takes 5-7 minutes on foot to the Sophia Cathedral. The embankment is 2 minutes away. There is a cafe and a shop nearby. Location is exactly 5*
The price for such a location is also good. 2 nights in a room with a balcony on the 3rd floor cost me 10,800rubles at the end of April.
We were given two rooms to choose from. One is nicer, the other has a refrigerator. The choice was in favor of the refrigerator)
Now, something worth working on:
There was only one towel and no water when checking in. What was immediately told to the manager. Returning in the evening, the situation has not changed. Only after the second treatment.
The room itself is already tired. Plumbing, furniture. I didn't like the mattress. The balcony door was closing with difficulty. The headboard of the bed was dusty. Ants were seen. The water was warm rather than hot.
Good enough audibility of neighbors through the doors. Prayers from mosques cannot be heard with the windows closed.
In general, I am not a moody tourist and for this money I give a solid 4*. I recommend.
Positive:
- Friendly, friendly staff.
- The opportunity to choose a superior room if the hotel does not fulfill its accommodation obligations.
- A cat living next door and visiting guests and a dog added comfort.
- A variety of dishes for breakfast.
- I would also like to mention the advantages of the hotel administration, which nevertheless went to the meeting and granted my request related to compensation for the service not provided.
Minuses:
- Problems with the check—in system - the booked room turned out to be unavailable, I had to temporarily stay in less comfortable conditions (and this did not happen to me alone).
- Poor condition of the hotel and rooms: faucets, showers, weak water pressure, hair dryers, refrigerators do not work, even in superior rooms, dusty hood, hair found on the pillows.
- Poor sound insulation, especially in the rooms on the ground floor.
- The Wi-Fi was not working on the second floor. And judging by the reviews, everyone had such a problem, although the employee sincerely "wondered" why he was not working.
- The smell of food in the rooms next to the reception in the morning due to the shared ventilation with the kitchen.
- You can forget about the terrace, it's gone. Although I chose the hotel initially for this very reason.
- Optional staff: you need to walk, remind and demand, which caused discomfort. There was never a time when the issue was resolved without my participation and reminder.
Overall impression:
Negative. The staff is friendly, but tries to cover the hygienic minimum and does not work to anticipate the expectations of the guests. I witnessed much more engagement and loyalty from the management of another hotel where my friends lived and who accommodated me FOR FREE until my hotel could accommodate me in the promised room. And those guys didn't even have the status of stars, but here the Aruna hotel was awarded as many as 4 stars. I cannot recommend accommodation, especially if comfort and predictability of service are important.
As many people write, the pictures are beautiful, even if it is an economical option, there should be neatness and cleanliness. I've been to other hotels and booked an economy room because I only come to the hotel to sleep. But this is the first time I've seen this, I didn't say anything on the spot because I was very enthusiastic about the city and didn't want to spoil my vacation with scandals. Although the staff is friendly, the breakfast is good. But the room is just awful!
As many people write, the pictures are beautiful, even if this is an economical option, there should be neatness and cleanliness. I have been to other hotels and booked an economy room because I only come to the hotel to sleep. But this is the first time I’ve seen something like this, I didn’t say anything on the spot because I was very much in admiration for the city and didn’t want to spoil my vacation with scandals. Although the staff is friendly, the breakfast is good. But the number is just terrible!