Riverside Apartments

The location was the best part. I could walk to Satori Sushi and downtown Santa Teresa, and liked the river and trees around the apartment. The AC worked, though I had to set it quite low for the bedroom, and the stove heated quickly. The hosts were forgiving when I said I had dropped a plate, and usually replied within a few hours about other issues when they weren't at fault. The condition of the place was a rough start. During my roughly 21-day stay, there was gecko droppings on dishes, towels, and sheets, a dead roach on the floor, and a damp, moldy smell. When I told Pat and Guli, Guli pointed to the listing's note about animals and said someone had cleaned the afternoon before. They got defensive and didn't offer to clean. I spend a lot of time in Costa Rica and this was my fourth visit to Santa Teresa. I don't believe geckos leave that much droppings in one afternoon. I asked for fresh towels, but those were damp too and had gecko droppings, like they'd come from old storage. I also saw two large roaches during the stay. They seemed much more common than on my previous three visits, so I think this was an apartment issue rather than just Santa Teresa, as the listing suggests. The shower head was hidden in the photos. It was so clogged with mineral buildup that water came through just one hole in the handle. A link sent after booking mentioned the known issue, but I found it late and wish it had been cleaned before I arrived. I picked some buildup away with my fingernails, but it clogged again within about three days. The temperature could be adjusted, but sometimes suddenly became very hot, and we repeatedly burned ourselves. There's a narrow bridge on the way in. A minivan could cross it, but I'd be cautious with anything wider. The river can rise above the bridge, so watch where you park and use the emergency brake. After I left, Pat asked me for $30 the next day because I had left two or three dishes unwashed, trash in the bin, and a bag of organic waste in the freezer. Pat said the cleaner had spent several extra hours. It reinforced my suspicion that they clean after guests leave but may not clean again before the next arrival. That felt especially ironic given how dirty the apartment was when I arrived. Airbnb support seemed confused too, and confirmed those things were covered by the cleaning fee and weren't in the checkout instructions. Another review said cleaning was done twice during a shorter stay. No cleaning was offered during my 21 days, even after I raised the issue. After seeing so many positive reviews, the experience surprised me. It felt closer to the 3.2 Google rating. I wondered if many of the good reviews were from the dry season, when the apartment and linens may be cleaned more often. Because I felt the hosts were dishonest at the start and end of my stay and avoided responsibility for cleanliness, I wouldn't return. I'd especially avoid it in rainy season.