St Charles Inn

PG is my hometown, and I’m always happy to visit. I used to recommend St. Charles Inn whenever someone was heading south, but after staying there a couple of weeks ago, I regretted it. For the $67 I paid, I’d have been more comfortable in a hostel or somewhere nicer. The room was worn out and outdated, the shower was tiny and filthy, and I had to share the cramped space with roaches while hearing rats run around above the ceiling. I was furious, but held back from saying anything because I have a lot of respect for the owners. It’s frustrating to see them post pictures of decent rooms when I got such a bad one, especially as a local. They should renovate those old rooms or stop putting guests in them.

We got stuck in PG for three nights over a weekend when the boats weren’t running. The staff were so kind, checked on us, and helped find an affordable room for the whole stay. The attached breakfast place was great when it was open, and there are good restaurants within walking distance, including fi wli food, ashas soul kitchen and graces. The place isn’t fancy, but it has strong WiFi with several routers, AC, good showers, and hammocks for relaxing. Two things made it hard to give five stars: the night manager played movies and clips on and off through the night, apparently just below our window, and it woke us up a lot. Also, the breakfast spot was closed Sunday and Monday without any notice, so we had to make last-minute plans on the day we needed to be somewhere early. If you end up in PG on days the boats don’t run, Saturday and Sunday, it’s a decent place to stay.

The recliner chairs on the different balconies were a nice touch. My bed was comfortable, the AC worked, and the mosquito nets were kept in good shape. It costs a bit more than some places in town, but I thought the helpful staff made it worth the extra.

The location worked perfectly for us, close to food and the bus stop, and the price felt right. The AC was good, too. The owner is lovely, so try to arrive before 5pm to meet them instead of the less friendly security man.