First the good stuff. Staff were friendly and helpful, including when we hit problems. No complaints about them. Bed linen and towels were spotless and well maintained. Also there was clearly some maintenance work going on in the hotel to possibly improve some rooms, so perhaps in the future the following negative aspects will be improved. So the negatives: firstly, it’s not their fault, but the hotel is located at a busy junction in the centre of town. The noise from not only the traffic, but also from the surrounding shops is relentless. It is very sad that a Hotel famous for and named for its balconies, it is too noisy and dirty for you to open the balcony doors and enjoy them. Earplugs are essential. The hotel itself is a great building, but needs considerable maintenance, and the three rooms I visited were only superficially clean. One room had water pouring down the wall from the Aircon, and well established black mould growing underneath. Second room had broken toilet cistern which leaked. Third also had cistern problems. Staff were helpful and moved me each time without fuss. But after one night there I gave up and move to another hotel, although I’d paid in full. Balcones is advertised as a budget no-frills hotel, but for only £10 a night more, I stayed at the high quality El Convento instead. I Wish this hotel well for the future, it needs some investment and love and it could come back to life as the great hotel I remember from a previous visit 10 years ago.