Hotel Ariston & Ariston Patio in Prague

I stayed at Hotel Ariston Prague and, despite a friendly welcome from Erin at reception, the overall experience was far below expectations. The price paid does not match the quality received. The hotel has a convenient location, close to the main train station and a tram stop, and the lobby offers water, coffee, and cake during the day, which was a nice touch. But that’s where the positives end.

When we arrived at our room (305), the hallway had a strong smell of tobacco, the carpet was extremely dirty and stained, and there was an abandoned housekeeping cart, a water bottle, and towels left on the floor. Above the room door, there was a visible hole in the wall, likely from past water damage. Inside the room, things got worse: stained walls, dusty baseboards and doors, a broken fan (no air conditioning in standard rooms), loud street noise even with windows closed, hair on the floor, wall cracks, and a TV with only a few channels—most of them without picture, which seems to be a known issue throughout the hotel.

We asked at reception to change rooms, but the staff said the hotel was fully booked. Still, they offered an upgrade for an extra €10 per night, which didn’t make sense. They promised to leave a note for the next shift. The following morning, after a reasonable breakfast served in a former theater room, we spoke to Vanessa at reception (she had no name tag—we had to ask). She looked tired, disengaged, and had no information about our request. Only after we insisted did she agree to contact the manager.

Later that day, they finally moved us to room 205, located in the hotel’s second building across the street, which doesn’t have a nearby pedestrian crossing. This new room was quieter, slightly cleaner, and included a few amenities missing from the first. However, the TV still didn’t work, there was still no AC (only a fan, though better than the last one), the shower doors wouldn’t close properly due to missing wheels, and the bathroom door was damaged, likely from moisture.

Except for Erin, the staff were not welcoming or helpful. This is not a 4-star hotel—it’s closer to a 2 or 3-star property. I’ve paid less for a better stay at an Ibis. Based on other reviews, maybe we were just unlucky, but the room conditions and poor service made the experience unacceptable.

To be fair, on the day of check-out, the receptionist was polite and kind enough to offer us a one-hour late check-out, which we appreciated. Still, I won’t return or recommend this hotel. I genuinely feel ripped off.