Las Canas

The pool and grounds are kept very nicely, but the apartments can be a real letdown. If you rent from a private owner who has renovated, you may get a great unit. In the others, the kitchen is poorly equipped, there can be ants and cockroaches, sheets may be stained, and there's nowhere to put your clothes. Hot water was usually missing, and we went two and a half days without any water at all. The restaurant barely seemed to exist, and when it was open, much of the menu wasn't available. The bar doesn't open until 2 PM, and there's very little music because the seniors want to nap. The place felt like a retirement home. Pool chairs need replacing, the gym is a joke, and the apartment TVs are old. Wi-Fi was poor except around the lobby. They also shut off the electricity to save money, and the property badly needs repairs. I rented for three months but found somewhere else in Sosua after two. Don't trust the photos, they looked like they were taken when the place first opened or five or six years ago.

For more than $70, this was the worst option I've found in Sosua at that price. I paid less and got more elsewhere, so don't be taken in by the online ads. My renovated apartment had no dresser or shelves for clothes, and the modern shower sent water all over the bathroom floor. There was only a hot plate, and I was afraid to use it. The manager was rude, inconsiderate, and impatient, among other things.

The staff and people were nice, and since I speak Spanish, I was mistaken for a local and got local taxi rates. For tourists, the commute is overpriced. The rooms don't look like the pictures, and the shower water is cold. Nobody speaks English, so you'll need Spanish. It was okay for a short trip, but next time I'll pick a hotel chain for the comfort or even just the basics I need. If you're trying to cut corners, this place might suit you.

Monte Vista is the name this condo hotel goes by now, and it has one of the area's biggest pools. It's set among the tropical hills of Sosua, a quiet spot for walking and taking in the countryside, with horses and cows roaming around. I often walk into town just to enjoy the scenery. The shuttle makes it a short drive to four beaches in Sosua. There's also a restaurant, cafe, physio, and a gym that's being expanded.