Eva G.
December 9, 2024
I decided to give The Social Hotel a shot out of curiosity about its so-so rating. It’s close to my workplace, so convenience played a role in my choice.
At first glance, the hotel was very ordinary—nothing particularly “wow” for a 4-star rating. However, I was pleasantly surprised to see Fibber Magees inside the hotel, which gave me confidence in having a good spot for food and drinks.
I was given a room on the 4th floor, and the staff was upfront about potential noise coming from the higher floors, due to a Russian club on the 16th floor. I appreciated their honesty. The room itself was quite spacious compared to neighboring hotels. The curtain was slightly broken (not a big deal as it still closed), the bathroom was decent, and the bed was clean with no dust or questionable pillows. I also requested slippers and a toothbrush, which were provided right away—so that was a plus.
That said, I found it bizarre that the telephone in the room didn’t work properly. There were no direct options to call reception or housekeeping, and I couldn’t hear any sound from it. When I brought this up, I was told the hotel doesn’t have in-room dining/service. I found this surprising for a 4-star hotel.
On my way to look for a place to eat, I also noticed a huge water leak coming from their fire exit, from the stairs, which was causing significant flooding in the hallway of the mezzanine floor. It was quite concerning to see something like that left unresolved.
The price is on the cheaper side, which made me understand why the hotel operates the way it does. The breakfast buffet, however, was very basic—almost empty—and it seemed like no one else was dining there either.
Unfortunately, what really disappointed me was a serious security issue. Another guest managed to enter my room! Thank the universe, I wasn't naked! I heard the door beep, and to my shock, a man entered. We were both surprised, and he quickly apologized, clearly confused. Initially, I thought it might be housekeeping, but no—it was another guest.
I reported the incident to reception during checkout and asked repeatedly how this happened: Was the door broken? Was he given the same room key by mistake? The receptionist couldn’t give me a clear answer. I even told her to check the room door immediately for the safety of future guests. I had to leave for work, so I don’t know if the issue was resolved.
I truly hope the hotel addresses this security concern and makes the necessary improvements to live up to its 4-star claim. This experience made me feel like I was staying in a 2-star hotel disguised as a 4-star, and that’s quite disappointing.