Calle 8 Suites

The deposit issue took up far too much of our limited vacation. They asked for cash and promised a receipt, but despite repeated attempts to follow up and waiting around, it never arrived. At checkout, the deposit was nowhere to be found. The owner and caretaker belittled our attempts to get it back, and we only recovered it by calling our credit card company and the booking website. I’m surprised the overall rating is so high. The apartment was cramped and nothing like the advertised pictures. We expected what we had booked, then were told the photos we’d received showed the top floor, not our assigned unit. Listed basic amenities were missing or poor. The linens felt oily and smelled musty, as though they hadn’t been washed since the previous use, and cleanliness overall was lacking. Other apartments held parties, and the poor construction, rushed layout, and noise meant we could hear everything at all hours. There are much better places out there; don’t let this one nearly ruin your trip like it did ours.

The landlord wanted a deposit of 600000-1000000 pesos, even though I’d rented through a platform like Booking. They wouldn’t sign any document confirming they’d received the money or stating the terms. The A/C in my room was leaking. They said they’d fix it, but never did, and I basically had a pool in the room. Pretty bad experience.

I’ve traveled a lot and had never been treated this badly. A drunken host greeted us and insisted on a cash security deposit. I didn’t have cash, but I did have three cards, and they wouldn’t accept them. I was about to call the police to avoid dragging it out, then he contacted the owner, who made the situation worse. We were forced to leave at 9:00 pm. Luckily, Bali Hotel, just a few meters away, welcomed us for half the price, and the people there were exquisite. I reported what happened to Booking.com and hope they remove this place from the service.

The location was excellent, and the staff member who greeted us was exceptional. Recommended.