Addar Hotel, Jerusalem

In all the years I have been travelling in the Middle East, I can honestly say I have never been treated as poorly by a hotel as during my very brief (but all too long) stay at the Addar Hotel. I checked in to the Addar with my wife and sister-in-law in mid-April. Upon getting in to the rooms and starting to unpack, we quickly realised that several of the lights in our rooms did not work, that one room's bathroom had not been cleaned, and that the other had a balcony door which would not close properly. More seriously, my wife and I we also discovered that our entire suite - bathroom, bedroom and living area - was completely infested with ants. We quickly decided that it would be best to move immediately to an alternative hotel. I explained the situation to the receptionist, and asked for a refund on the two rooms. I was told immediately that this was not possible: that once a booking had been made then there was no possibility of a refund. I pointed out that this could surely not apply where the rooms had been found to be so manifestly unsuitable, and asked to speak to the manager. Astoundingly, I was told that 'the manager does not speak to guests', and that there was no-one to whom I could complain. Exhausted after an hour of argument, I eventually gave up when the receptionist told me that if I walked out without paying, he would be made to pay the cost of the rooms from his own salary. I was unwilling to give in to what was in effect blackmail, but given that I was still not allowed to speak to the manager, I had little option. I have a feeling that the hotel's conduct was actually illegal - surely one cannnot be forced into paying for rooms which are manifestly unsuitable? Sadly I had neither the time nor the energy to pursue the matter with the police, but I hope to do so when I return to Jerusalem later this year. In the meantime, I have written to the hotel to complain on no less than four occasions. I have received no reply. John Harte, London