Miraflores Boutique Hotel

If you want peace and a chance to relax, this is a great place to stay in San Andres. The cabanas were spacious and clean, with a Jacuzzi and sun beds right outside the door. There was a great pool, and we saw plenty of wildlife, including turtles, iguanas and parrots. Octavia at breakfast and the restaurant, and George at the bar, were especially lovely. All the staff were kind and helpful. It's in a quiet part of the island, about a 15-minute drive from the centre of San Andres.

The grounds are beautiful, and being outside town was pleasant. A golf cart can be arranged through the hotel, and Nelson, the Miraflores taxi driver, was great. Reception staff were friendly, we got a fresh coconut on arrival, and they allowed us to check out 30 minutes late at 12:30pm. We were also moved to another room after raising our concerns, thanks to Dorothy and Tatiana, who handled things promptly. We couldn't have stayed another night in Room 4 and had been looking for another hotel before the move. We also had three strange interactions with the owner, whose presence didn't seem to help the guest experience. The first room, Room 4, a Double Room with Balcony, should not be offered. It was by reception, under the stairs, next to a communal bathroom and between the kitchen and laundry, so it was extremely noisy. There were no hangers, the curtains had mould, the shower pipe was cracked and still had its installation sticker, there was hair all over the bed, and the pillows were old and lumpy. The King Suite with Jacuzzi was spacious, attractive and quiet, and clearly better, with better pillows and towels, hangers, and no mould. But basic standards shouldn't depend on room category. In the suite, there was no hairdryer or iron, the bins hadn't been emptied after previous guests, the ceiling fan didn't work, the bed was extremely hard, the shower heads were poorly maintained, the bathroom smelled of urine, likely from poor cleaning rather than plumbing, and the bedsheet wouldn't stay on the mattress. Mosquito spray was sold through the minibar, but the bathroom wasn't sealed and there was no mosquito net. We heard another couple complain that their jacuzzi was dirty. On arrival, we were given almost no information about facilities, beach access or golf cart rentals, which need to be booked in advance. We only learned that after overhearing another guest complain. The small leaflet had limited information, some of it incorrect, so ask everything upfront. They didn't mention the complimentary daily water either. There's no lunch service, so you have to leave the hotel, and there is no fitness centre, which I would expect at an advertised four-star hotel, even if it only had basic equipment. Service at the restaurant was painfully slow and disengaged, even with very few tables. Tables weren't cleared or properly set. Our first dinner, ceviche and steak, took an hour and 15 minutes; the steak tasted frozen and there was no apology or update. A nearby table complained their steak was overcooked, and the steak knife we requested was visibly dirty. There was no proper billing system, the waitress worked out the total by leafing through the menu. At breakfast, an omelette arrived with tomatoes and no ham despite our clear request, and took over 30 minutes when there were no other tables. Other guests also complained about delayed room service. After that first dinner, we ate outside the hotel for the rest of our stay. The pool area has a nice setup with a bar and toilets, but no umbrellas or shade. The pool didn't seem to be cleaned during our stay, and there was no bar staff for all the hours listed in the leaflet. Our stay began very badly because of the service and room quality. Moving to the suite and spending most of our time away from the hotel made things better, but that defeats the point of booking a boutique relaxation and wellness hotel. For such a small property, these problems are hard to excuse. The facilities need upgrading and maintenance, and the restaurant and service need a complete overhaul. The four-star branding is misleading. We wouldn't return. A suite may be the only room worth booking, and visitors should expect very slow service and plan to eat elsewhere.

Such a gem on the island. The area felt cleaner and quieter than the rest of it, the food was really good, and both the owner and staff were wonderful. Thanks for a great stay.

The service made the stay memorable. Staff paid close attention and went out of their way to make sure we had what we needed. The chef's meals were delicious, and we really enjoyed the bartender's cocktails. Our room was beautiful, comfortable and spotless, so inviting that we wanted to linger longer than planned. The grounds were stunning, with lush surroundings and a peaceful countryside feel, and the pool area was especially appealing and well maintained.