Costa Atlantica Beach Condos

We liked being able to choose between the pool and the beach, and the location made it easy to find restaurants, local spots, and supermarkets. Caricuisine was great for Haitian food, and Citrus had a slightly fancier fusion menu. The beach security team was outstanding: they welcomed us every day, kept an eye on our things when we went swimming, and made sure the locals selling items didn’t become a nuisance. The front desk, housekeeping, and maintenance staff were good too. Freddie was especially helpful with restaurant suggestions, answered texts promptly, and was always polite. Staff were generally friendly and responsive. The apartment was spacious and came with a water cooler and a large tank. Refills cost a small fee, but it was handy not having to carry and restock water ourselves. There’s a full washer and dryer, so bring laundry soap if you need it. You’ll also want kitchen and hand towels, plus your own oils, herbs, and spices, or you can buy them at the supermarket about a seven-minute walk away. The place must have been superb and pristine when it was new, but it’s now showing wear in some areas. Missing tiles, cracked paint, and faded or bleached furniture and finishes didn’t bother me much. The lack of attention to detail did. The sponge by the dish soap wasn’t new for us, and there were no kitchen rags or dish and hand towels. Luckily, I’d asked ahead and brought those from home. The master bathroom garbage was half full when we arrived, and we struggled with hot water throughout the unit, then in the master bedroom for a couple of days. The gym was adequate and had an attached bathroom, but there was no hand soap. They supplied a grill, but it took two units and replacement fuel lines, and still only worked off and on, so we sent it back. The kitchen had plenty of equipment but no cutting board. We had air conditioning trouble in the master bedroom, but made it work and didn’t tell staff until we were leaving. We felt we’d already reported enough issues during our stay. You pay for electricity, so it’s worth keeping an eye on how much you use. If you run the AC at freezer level, you’ll pay for it. Keep an eye on the kids and limit the cooling. The location also has a good view and direct beach access.

The apartment was impressive, with three rooms, lots of space, and direct access to the beach. It also had a washer and dryer, and the beach was nicely equipped. One small issue was ants running along the kitchen wall. I’m not sure how they could fix that. If you’re coming from Europe, bring a converter so your devices can use the electricity.

The front desk staff were great, and the security guards on both the day and night shifts were amazing. The property is right by the beach and a very good restaurant, and I have no other complaints. But I paid for an ocean view and was given a room without one. I showed proof that I’d booked an oceanfront view, but no manager was called or notified. I’d have given five stars if I’d received the view I paid for, so it’s three from me.

The beach and pool were easy to get to, and staff helped arrange rides to and from the airport. The streets just outside the area were in poor shape, flooded easily, and were painful to navigate. They’re too narrow, especially when parked cars block the flow. I stayed a week in a nice, large room with a wonderful ocean view. The bed and most of the furniture were comfortable, and staff were mostly friendly, though they weren’t very knowledgeable when dealing with some concerns. The advertised Netflix access took days to arrive, then stopped working two days later. Maintenance said they fixed the sliding door, but it still wouldn’t seal. The AC was extremely loud, so I turned it off at night. The hot tub never heated up. Maintenance replaced the fuel tanks and said that fixed it, but it didn’t; it probably needed a new heating element, which may have been beyond their ability to repair. Condensation from the ductwork leaked in the kitchen, and after rain the patio drain left about 1-2 inches of water standing there. I was charged $50 for electricity even though I left the AC off half the time and otherwise set it at 74F, so it barely ran during the day.