El Palmar de San Pedro

The rooms are on the small side, but that seems fair for the price. They have air conditioning and a fan, and the beds are very comfortable. Service from both staff and owners was excellent. The pool and jacuzzi were great, and so was the lounge area with its armchairs and sunbeds. I ordered the complete steak sandwich at the restaurant, and it was fantastic. I’ll definitely be back.

We spent two hours waiting, got nowhere near dinner, and paid 36,000 pesos to leave hungry. The calamari we ordered as an appetizer was the only thing that came. We’d asked for the mixed grill for two while we waited for it, but after we finished the calamari, they asked if we planned to order anything else. When we explained we were waiting for the grill, they claimed we’d said we’d order it later. They finally said it would take 15 minutes, then told us it was coming when we checked again. Another 10 minutes passed, and after that they said it would be about 10 more. By then, frustration had killed our appetite and my drink was still warm, so I asked for the bill and left. They showed no consideration for how unhappy we were, and even charged a cover fee for the shared calamari plate. We couldn’t even finish the beer because it had gone warm. There was no dinner to photograph. Thanks for ruining my last day of vacation.

Claudia was incredibly friendly when we arrived and explained everything. The pool and maintenance guy was kind and attentive too, a real pro. The facilities are beautiful, and the pool is a dream. I’d suggest offering a free hot water dispenser, since they charge for it and don’t let you drink it inside the bar, so you end up drinking mate all the time. Apart from that, I have nothing to complain about. The service was excellent, and I’d definitely return!

The breakfast was awful and served reluctantly, staff service was mediocre to nonexistent, maintenance and cleaning were terrible, and the pool was dirty. There’s no proper parking, just an awning on the sidewalk with the street completely open. They even charge guests for hot water. Water pressure and hot water are a problem throughout the complex. If people are showering in other rooms, there’s no water in yours. We stayed three nights over Carnival, and the first room had no water. They denied the problem and made excuses. On the last night they moved us, but the new room had no hot water. The owners provide terrible service and don’t take responsibility. Rooms are a lottery: you might get very little space, a broken fridge, or sagging mattresses. Choose your own adventure.