Hotel Tips

To make the best out of your stay at Hotel Romi, use it as a strategic base. Since soundproofing is this particular weakness in the hotel, book or request upon check-in an internal room or one facing the back courtyard. These rooms will have no view and might be slightly darker but are significantly quieter than those on Rivera Street with all its noise of early morning delivery trucks and scooters bothering sleep. This should not even be negotiated for light sleepers.

Technically speaking, financially, remember the "Tourist VAT Refund" rule. In Uruguay, foreigners paying with a foreign credit card often get the VAT (IVA) automatically refunded on hotel stays and restaurant meals. Make sure you present your foreign passport and pay with your credit card at the hotel to secure this discount that effectively makes the already budget-friendly rate even cheaper. Also, do not rely on the hotel for lunch or dinner; walk to El Buen Suspiro for real cheese and wine or find a Chivito (Uruguay's famous steak sandwich) at some local diner on General Flores.

And last but not least, make full use of the hotel's left-luggage room. The big reason most ferries head back to Buenos Aires in the late afternoon or evening while check-out from hotels is invariably scheduled for some hour of the morning, Romi's staff has become accustomed to this and will happily store your bags free-of-charge until it's time for you wander your final hours through Plaza de Toros(old bullring) or lighthouse without dragging suitcases around. A small service that makes a huge difference in short trips-it gives an extra full day sightseeng!