Saona Lodge

The idea behind this place is lovely, and there’s real potential here. The banana trees in the common area and the island itself could make for a charming stay. We were happy to be near farms and locals, and the beach is less than a five-minute walk away. I haven’t photographed the dirty parts, so I’m sharing the positives I noticed. Unfortunately, based on visitors’ pictures from two or three years ago, the place seems to have deteriorated. We booked ten days but left three days early because of hygiene problems. The water quality seemed questionable, the WC didn’t flush properly, and the bed net was torn and very dirty despite our knowing to expect mosquitoes. The common area was so dirty we couldn’t use it. There was no cutlery or coffee machine, and the fridge looked broken and as if it hadn’t been used since 1956. The host was friendly but didn’t speak any English. There was no cleaning service. I swept and mopped our room myself for a week, and when I asked for fresh sheets, they arrived more than 24 hours later, just as we were leaving unexpectedly. There was nowhere to hang clothes to dry after washing them. We only had breakfast during the first few days because there was no variety, with eggs every morning, and the hygiene seemed seriously questionable. We expected more care with the food, including making sure deep-fried ants weren’t served with the eggs. The place needs a refresh, kitchen utensils and daily cleaning. We really wanted to like it, but it looks like upkeep has stopped.

We booked four nights, but left with our bags after just one. We couldn’t rest because of mosquitoes and rodent noises. The bathroom was filthy, old and poorly maintained, and the kitchen was so dated you couldn’t even make coffee. There was a small pool on the terrace, but its water was green and full of frogs. Fabricio did nothing all day, and the photos on booking sites are very old and don’t match what’s there now. This place should be closed immediately.

I liked the hotel’s setup, especially the outdoor bathrooms and hearing nature at night from bed. The host was kind and really helpful. It’s a little farther from the village center, but you can walk to everything in five minutes.

We had a GREAT New Year’s Eve here and plan to come back soon. Our indoor room had a fridge, AC and TV, though we never turned the TV on. We LOVED having our own private outdoor bathroom. The staff were friendly and exceptionally attentive. Make sure to book a boat with them to get to the island, or you’ll pay 15k pesos for the trip.