4/10 Poor
Verified traveler
9 Saf., 2020
Disliked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
A unique experience in Costa Rica
Travelling around CR for nearly a month we wanted to book somewhere near the party town of Puerto Viejo to bring in the New Year. So, we paid way over the odds to get this place for 5 nights. Our initial impressions were terrible - smelly and uncared for. However, the owner was quick to swap out our broken fridge and fix the hot water, and so we decided to stay and make the most of it. But not a friendly, welcoming chap!!
Each of the two bedrooms had two double beds taking up nearly all the floor space, so we laid our cases on one bed each (nowhere to hang up our clothes, not even any drawers). There was a 4" space between the bed frames, so shins got bruised if we got up in the dark. The mattresses and pillows smelled the way you might find in a backpackers hostel so we slept on our own large beach towels. The good things about the place were: 1) on the edge of the rainforest, which to be fair, could account for the damp, dank smell, and the howler monkeys, 2) the hot water for showering, although we never could get the kitchen sink tap/faucet to work - see previous reviewers. 3) Great WIFI.
The worst thing was the total lack of communication from the owner during/after our stay. We paid in cash, but he refused to confirm this to Hotels.com despite several phone calls and emails. And we were awakened by loud shouting/fighting (from the owner?) 3 out of the 5 mornings. Frightening! The fact he wanted cash or charge 8% for card was another 1st !! Pura Vida NOT!
Verified traveler
Stayed 5 nights in Dec 2019