Hotel Marimba Punta Cana

Absolutely horrid. If I could give zero stars, I would. The receptionist sat on her phone in the waiting area for 15 minutes while I waited to check in. She had no uniform, so I thought she was another guest. When she finally checked me in, she was rude. The room was filthy. There was mold everywhere, chipped walls and ceiling, stained and torn sheets, and grime and limescale all over the sink and shower. The outlets and cupboards were broken, the chairs were dirty, and the bed frame was broken and propped up with a piece of wood. There was hair and dirt in the bathroom and tub drains, and the tub itself was very dirty. No hot water in the room, and no water or anything else provided. The WiFi didn't work in the room, either. Breakfast was a joke: half a slice of toast and a cold egg. There was no hot water for tea, and I was told to use cold milk from the fridge or not bother them. When I asked for a room change, reception kept ignoring me. I heard her tell another staff member in Spanish, "just ignore this stupid foreigner and they will not disturb you." There was also very strange noise from reception at 3 a.m. I wouldn't recommend staying here.

The front desk woman was a huge help. I came from a hotel up the street that had lied about confirming my reservation, and within five minutes of booking online here, she found me a room without any trouble. I think I paid about $28 a night, so you get what you pay for. It's no Hilton or fancy resort. My room was clean, but there were no towels, and part of the bathroom ceiling was falling down. The AC worked, the shower was okay, and the bed was fairly comfortable. There was no safe or fridge in my room. For a budget stay, I'd say it's a good spot, and the location is nice.

The location is the only thing going for this hotel. I just checked out after one night. Check-in took ages, and the receptionist seemed busy with her own things. The room was clean, but the lock was so hard to open that I thought they'd given me the wrong key. There were gaps around the door, big enough to see through from either side, and you could hear everything outside. The air conditioning was blasting cold when I arrived, with no remote or switch to turn it off. It got so cold at night that I had to shut off the main breaker, which also killed all the lights. For one night, it was okay for the price I paid, but I wouldn't recommend it.

The location is the best part, with banks, restaurants, and a supermarket all within walking distance. It's a small, clean hotel, and the rooms are plainly decorated but fine for the price. The staff were helpful. Breakfast came with an egg, two pieces of bread, a small piece of cheese, coffee, and a drink. The pool water didn't look like it was cleaned regularly, so I stayed out of it. For the price, it's okay.