Luca

I felt right at home here. The history, room, and patio all made a great impression, and the comfort and attention to detail were impressive. The staff at Luca Hotel were fantastic, always helpful, available, and in a great mood. My stay was perfect.

I was there for almost a week and got a real Dominican experience in Ciudad Colonial. The staff were especially friendly and helped solve any problem that came up. I booked through Expedia, but they didn’t help when I needed an issue resolved. Ana and Ignacio From Luca Hotel sorted everything out for me and handled it professionally, which you don’t often find at other hotels. Five out of five. I’d book directly with them.

The location was the one good thing. The apartment was in a poor general state and smelled bad, with maintenance and cleaning clearly neglected. There was mold in the shower, stains on the floor, and a broken faucet. It didn’t seem to have been cleaned at all: rubbish hadn’t been emptied, sheets hadn’t been changed, and hair from previous guests was everywhere. Under the sheets we found shocking filth. The mattress protector was covered in mold. We didn’t check the mattress, but it was probably moldy too. They’d covered it with a sheet and let guests sleep there. We also found a dead cockroach in the kitchen. We were really distressed to learn we’d been sleeping on mold, since it could seriously affect our health. This place should not have been rented out. The cleanliness issues were unacceptable, and I question their cleaning and ethical practices. They promised me a refund because of the problems, but weeks have passed and I still haven’t received it. Now they’re ignoring my messages. I’d strongly advise against booking any of their locations.

Breakfast was a highlight. We had the Dominican option and fresh fruit, and both were quite good. The yard didn’t make a great first impression when we arrived at night; it felt a little sketchy and could use better lighting. By morning, I could appreciate the hotel’s charm more, though some parts need work to avoid feeling run-down. The room had two French doors, but both were blocked, so I couldn’t open them as I’d hoped. We arrived late and check-in went fairly smoothly, but the staff member came across as aloof and off-putting. I was with my partner, and he directed the conversation to them while barely acknowledging me. That made me uneasy. Breakfast being included was a plus, and the stay was decent overall, but communication and customer service could be better.