Agua Clara Eco Suites

I’d stay here again. The room was quiet, the AC worked well, and the shower had hot water. I had a small housekeeping problem, but it was sorted out. Getting around takes some planning: rent a car, take a taxi, or walk a short distance to the Arubus stop. A $2.60 USD bus ride takes you to beaches and tourist spots. There’s also a free shuttle to the airport in the morning.

We booked 11 nights and left after two, then had to find somewhere else to stay. Agua Clara refunded only half, so those two nights in this dump cost me $790. The parking in front of the office is dirt, and the place seemed like a work in progress. The website showed a duplex with a couch, kitchen, and inside staircase for six. We booked for five, but on arrival they said the revised reservation was for three, because I’d changed the original booking before the other two travelers confirmed their flights. We got two separate rooms and were charged extra for the other two people. The rooms were cramped, with only about 24 inches around the bed and suitcases on the floor, making it hazardous to move around. There were no closets, dressers, toilet paper holders, soap dishes, or bathroom hooks for clothes or towels, and there was just one roll of toilet paper. One room had exposed ceiling wiring and the kitchen faucet was loose. The door instructions said to leave the entrance door and bathroom window open while cooking. Really? How did this place get a Certificate of Occupancy? As other reviewers said, it felt like a ripoff. The photos don’t show the unpaved parking area. We were the only foreigners there, while the other two renters looked like locals. Don’t book this place.

The rooms smelled bad, the pool was filthy, and the WiFi was rubbish. The toilet leaked for more than two days after I reported it. On our last day I had to lift the porcelain cover and pull the lever to flush it. The place is very isolated, and there are other island stays at the same price with better quality. We were told the day before that checkout could be as late as 12, but at 11:45 a receptionist knocked and asked us for $10 USD because we were supposedly late. The return airport shuttle also stops at 10:30am, with no notice about that, so we paid $15 for a taxi. We had a big argument with staff as we left. It was supposed to be a holiday.

The office shuts at 5 pm, and there’s no one to contact if something goes wrong. There’s no taxi or bus line in the area, either, and the hotel isn’t on the main strip. If you want to be somewhere nobody can find you, this is the place. I was very disappointed. We checked out early and paid for another hotel. Expedia should visit properties before recommending them in package deals.