El Cortecito Inn

I left on the fifth day of an eight-day booking and got no refund for the remaining nights. Staying there had been hell. The bathroom was disgusting, and what looked like semen in the sink clogged the bath during showers, leaving me standing in a tub of filthy water. The breakfast barely deserved the name, just a snack about the size of half a sandwich. The management was a mess: they didn’t even have my reservation when I arrived, and only believed me after I showed them the emails. It seemed like there was no internal system. There were mosquitoes everywhere, and the hotel wasn’t doing anything about them. Stagnant water sat in holes and crevices, and I got bitten many times. I also got an ear infection from swimming in the pool. The shower wasn’t hot, just warm, and the temperature kept changing. Usually it was warm for a minute, then cold. Water pressure was low too. In my case, water only ran from the pipe, and with a showerhead attached almost nothing would come out. Don’t expect a nice vacation here. For only a little more per night, you can find resorts with private beaches and all-inclusive deals starting at $20 above this place’s nightly rate. Eating out here would cost more than that difference anyway. I left for a resort that wasn’t even that expensive, and had a wonderful, relaxing stay. I’d tell people to save their nerves, money, health, and vacation and go to a resort instead. This place should be leveled and turned into a public park.

I stayed a few days. One night when I got back, I found my room door open and all my valuables gone, including my passport. Reception couldn’t speak English, and calling the authorities didn’t help recover anything. Even when locked, the doors can be pushed open. Be aware.

The grounds are beautiful, and lunch at the poolside bar was great. A good spot if you’re after an authentic local experience.

The reception staff, both the woman and the man, respond very slowly and don’t deal with customers properly. Check-in and getting a room took forever. They need to replace both of them.