Hotel Fiesta Americana Reforma (Mexico City, Mexico)

Everyone is so friendly and helpful. They are efficient and obviously ‘know their place'. There's a hierarchy here which can be tedious on occasions but, at other times, it works like clockwork.

The building is extremely prominent and imposing and couldn't be better for the sightseeing visitor intent on seeing as much as possible of the city in a relatively short space of time.

Breakfast is good and so are the gymnasium facilities.

The next step down from old world charm is - drab! That's beginning to happen here. In addition to out of date furnishings, there's a noise problem, not helped by the lack of sound insulation. Some rooms are very small and cramped. Corridors are depressing and not meticulously clean. They need to get their act together or give a Mexican wave goodbye to at least one of those five stars.

It's a large and complicated place to find your way around. Better signage would assist visiting guests enormously.

It's a pity that the pecking order makes it difficult for some staff members to make decisions. Problems are referred to colleagues further up the ladder. At this stage, delays kick in because those who are lower down the scale are nervous about 'inconveniencing' their superiors. Quite what the superiors are there for, other than to ensure the smooth running of the hotel is open to discussion. Check in is also regimented and slow.