El Lago Waters Motel

The photos can’t be trusted. There were cockroaches everywhere, dirty curtains, an empty vending machine, and a restaurant that never opened, despite its sign. The whole place felt like a ruin, and with maybe three people working there, it seemed there was only one cleaner, an elderly woman expected to clean all three floors. No matter how hard she worked, she couldn’t keep the place clean. Reception was open only from 10 AM to 5 PM. After that, you had to call, but nobody answered. Kids ran through the hallways, and when I complained, reception said there was nothing they could do. I knew the hotel had poor ratings when I booked, but its location made me think it might at least meet basic standards. I was wrong. Honestly, I’d have had a better time camping in a tent. I went with my two children, including my teenage daughter, and we were put in a room with no privacy. A large Arab family was right outside, cooking in the shared area, and barbecue smoke came into the bathrooms. Because of the glass door, they could easily see inside with the slightest movement. I complained and was told all the rooms were booked. When I checked online and showed them rooms were available, they said only one room remained and they wouldn’t rent it because its glass was broken. They showed it to me, and I said I didn’t mind if it meant having some privacy and not being stared at all the time. Paying around $195 a night for this place is unbelievable. You’d be better off sleeping in your car.

Honestly, don’t stay here. The advertised photos on booking.com made the place look not too bad, but when I arrived there was hardly anyone at reception. I had to call a number to get into the room. It smelled absolutely horrible and looked nothing like the pictures. The bathroom was disgusting, so I asked for another room. The replacement was much nicer than the first, and apparently it had been renovated a few years ago. Still, the cornice was coming down, there was mould throughout the shower and bath, the balcony tiles were broken, and a sock was covering the fire detector. Save your money.

The room was clean and comfortable enough, and I found no bugs or hair in the room or bed. There were stains on the couch and wall, though, and it bothered me that the pillows on the single beds touched the wall. I got the AC working after reading the reviews, by putting the card in the electric holder. The walls are thin, so I could hear muffled noises and the pipes when other people showered. The bathroom let the room down. Paint was peeling, there was water damage in the bath and a few strands of hair. The water pressure was very strong, though not uncomfortable. They supplied shampoo, bodywash, conditioner and extra towels. A few repairs would make the bathroom better. There’s a pool, but I wasn’t interested in it. I’d booked this place at random for a solo holiday and hadn’t checked the reviews first. It wasn’t as bad as many of them said, but it wasn’t great either. The area around the motel seemed sketchy, especially the parking, though my beaten-up car made me less concerned about theft. The whole place looked old. I couldn’t tell whether the kitchen was open, since I went out to eat. Vivian at the counter was extremely nice, and check-in was quick. There’s no elevator, so it isn’t very accessible. The railings felt dangerous, with big gaps a small child could fall through, and they were quite low if you needed support. The paintings were nice. The location is extremely good, within walking distance of the town square. It has potential to be a 3- or even 4-star motel if it were looked after. The staff are nice, the rooms are well organized and the location is good, but the appearance and bathrooms need work. If you want a cheap stay and don’t mind funky bathrooms, it may suit you. Otherwise, I’d pick another hotel, especially if you have a good car.

The room was gross and smelled like crap, and it looked nothing like the photos online. The toilet kept running, and as the water filled, it leaked into the bowl. I asked for a refund, but they refused, saying we’d been there more than three hours. I’ll never return to that motel. It felt like a halfway motel, and I had a bad feeling as soon as I drove up. The owner should post pictures of the actual rooms instead of advertising misleading ones. You should be ashamed. You lost two people on 28/03/2026.