Lafayette - Montevideo, Uruguay 

We stayed at the Lafayette for three nights as part of a tour of South America including Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil. The hotel is in need of a complete revamp. Rooms are in desperate need of redecoration and the pool appears to have a dirt line all around the edge just above the water level. However, the bar area is not bad and the restaurant is good and clean. Breakfasts were more than adequate with plenty on offer. Sadly, the reception staff tried to sell us tours before we had even checked in which was off putting. The hotel is located in a quiet street which is fine except street lighting is poor. As we walked back to the hotel at around 10.30pm one evening my wife had her handbag, which contained a small amount of cash her cell phone and cosmetics snatched from her arm. The offenders making good their escape on a motorcycle. The police didn't want to know and the hotel staff were not overly concerned either despite the theft taking place right outside. Now that type of crime can happen anywhere in the world and is hardly the fault of the hotel but future guests should be aware of the dangers. We tried not to let the incident sour our experience of the hotel but unfortunately it is just run down and in need of an injection of some serious money for renovation. There are good points though. Free internet access and the standard of the kitchen and restaurant being two of them.

Las primeras impresiones del hotel son buenas. Conseguimos una suite ejecutiva a través de Internet, por el mismo precio que una habitación doble normal, por la que pagamos unos 68 euros por noche. La habitación era enorme, muy bien organizada y limpia. La piscina es normal pero siempre estábamos sólos en ella así como en la sauna. El personal era excelente, hablaban inglés y siempre mostraban voluntad de ayudar. Nos consiguieron un coche en alquiler sin ningún problema. El desayuno también era bueno. El hotel está bien ubicado, a sólo 10 minutos de la Plaza Independencia, donde se encuentran la mayoría de los bares y restaurantes. En definitiva, me volvería a quedar aquí cuando vuelva a Uruguay. Muy agradable.