"I have been here before" vs "I was here before"

[subhajit123]

Hi there, "I have been here before" or "I was here before", Which one should I use in the context? Do they both mean the same?

1. This city has changed a lot. I have been/was here before and I am here again. I can clearly see the difference.

And one more similar question, suppose I have come to a hotel that I have been befoe. And when I go to the reception the counter, the hotel manger asks me, "Hi sir, is it your first time here? Can I reply "No, I have been/was here once before."?

If the the sentence "I was here before" does not fit the given context, Could someone please an example sentence where it can be used?


As usual, if there is anything ungrammatical in my writing, please correct it.

 

[Tarheel]

Perhaps:

This city has changed a lot. The last time I was here was ten years ago. I can clearly see the differences.

Presumably, the person you are talking to already knows where you are.

At the hotel
A: Is this your first visit?
B: No, I have been here once before.

(You could say "I was here once before" also.)