Aurora

The one-star Aurora Hotel has everything we love in a budget hotel, from a top-notch location on bustling Corso Buenos Aires to attentive family owners. But the large, American-sized bathrooms really made us swoon!

The Aurora Hotel’s 16 rooms come in shades of blue and yellow, with simple utilitarian furniture and white-trimmed doorways. Flat-screen TVs were recently mounted throughout, and rooms are also equipped with air conditioning, soundproof windows, a telephone and free Wi-Fi. Some rooms overlook the noisier Corso Buenos Aires, while others look out to a pretty side street or the courtyard.

We savored the large-and-in-charge private bathrooms (hey, who doesn’t love a little extra wiggle room when you’re doing your hair?), with their new appliances and light, fresh color schemes.

From lobby to roof, the Aurora Hotel is smart and basic, and not much seems to change from visit to visit. The Casellas family stills runs this modest property—as they have for about 20 years. (If you don’t meet Mama Anna at reception, you’ll likely be introduced to Papa Donato.)

Breakfast is available for an additional charge.