We chose this property because it looked very cozy, stylish, and beautifully decorated in the photos. In fact, we selected it over several nearby hotels that were cheaper, specifically because of the atmosphere and design shown online.
However, upon arrival, we realized that the room did not match the photos at all. It felt more like student accommodation rather than the cozy and aesthetic space we expected. There was no decoration presented in the listing.
When we contacted Trip.com, their team immediately stepped in and handled all communication and negotiations with Ark. Unfortunately, the property itself was not willing to resolve the issue properly at first. I truly appreciate Trip.com’s efforts as they consistently tried to help and support us throughout the situation. Honestly, if we had booked directly with the hotel, I doubt anyone would have responded or attempted to assist us.
Only the next day, the hotel informed us they could “decorate” the room. We were required to leave the room so they could fix the issue caused by the incorrect listing. The result was still far from what was shown in the photos. Despite the inconvenience, Ark did not offer any compensation.
Trip.com kindly offered Trip Coins as a gesture of goodwill, which I really appreciate, especially since they were trying to resolve a problem created by the hotel itself.
On the fourth day, housekeeping arrived. We asked them to return in 30 minutes so we could prepare and leave the room while cleaning was done. After waiting outside for over an hour, we came back only to find that the room had not been cleaned at all. When we informed the staff, they offered to clean it immediately, which again forced us to leave the room because it was very small.
During our stay, we had to leave the room multiple times so the hotel could address issues that should never have happened in the first place. We paid to stay comfortably in the room, not to repeatedly wait outside while problems were being fixed. Even after room cleaning it wasn’t properly cleaned.
Another surprising detail was the very limited provision of basic amenities. We were given only one roll of toilet paper for two people for four days (until housekeeping). When we asked for additional rolls, we were told that we needed to go down to the reception each time to request a new one.
Even after all these inconveniences, Ark did not offer any compensation or assistance. There was also no help with luggage at any point during the stay.
Before booking, I recommend considering these points carefully.