Hotel Santander SD

The beach is right nearby, and the price was unbeatable. The AC was really good and wifi was complimentary. Parking is very limited, though it wasn’t an issue for us. One odd thing is that the room windows face the hallway. There are curtains, but people can still sort of see in. The beds are stiff, and the pillows are flat. I like flat pillows, but everyone else in my family hated them.

The building looks beautiful from outside, but inside it was dirty and poorly kept. The online pictures are misleading. The sheets were stained, and the towels had turned gray from white. The bathroom and floors were disgusting, the whole room smelled, and the bathroom ceiling was moldy and falling apart. The toilet had no lid. The receptionist asked me to pay cash. Once I saw the room, I was mortified. I tried to leave, but he refused to refund me. I wish I could post the pictures. Unbelievable!

The room was clean and fine for a quick trip, with a comfortable bed, good TV, and AC. Nothing special, but it did the job. We paid for breakfast and were told it started at 7am. When we went downstairs, they said 7:30 instead. At 7:35, they told us the cook might be stuck in traffic. Rather than give us a refund, which felt like a miracle to ask for, they offered lunch if we came back before 12. We were only in the city for the day and had a very busy schedule.

For around $30 a day including breakfast, it’s good value, though I wasn’t expecting luxury. The attached restaurant serves a decent breakfast, and the front desk staff are friendly and helpful. The location is convenient for a quick stay, especially if you have business at one of the nearby government offices. It was easy enough to find even at 1 a.m., and check-in went smoothly. My room was spacious and had two beds. The floor could have been cleaner, there were a few suspicious stains on the chair, and a couple of shower tiles were broken, though those seemed easy to fix.