Gavina D'or

The apartment itself was already an oven, and when we opened the door we were hit by a nauseating smell of insecticide or some other substance that might be toxic to living creatures. With no air conditioning and not even a decent fan, that was the final straw. It was August 15, so we put our faith in the Virgin Mary and went to the nearest bazaar to buy two desktop fans. The agency said they could lend us a fan, but only if we paid in advance. And on weekends, there’s no help from Perry because the offices are closed. Getting the keys was a hassle too. We had to go all the way to the office to collect them, and when we got there, they told us we’d been given the ground-floor apartment instead of the apartment with a view we’d agreed on. The fridge and freezer didn’t cool, the mattresses felt practically post-war, and the closets had an unbearable damp smell. A disaster and an outrage. If you want an obstacle course of absurdities and discomfort, this is your chance.

They said we’d have parking, but we had to go ask for a space and they never gave us a remote. The booking didn’t say there’d be an extra charge for my service pet, yet they charged an exorbitant tourist tax of €10 a night for it. As shown in the image, they said they wouldn’t make any transactions on my account, but they charged us anyway. We stayed four nights and five days. They promised the keys for 1 pm on the first day, then handed them over at 5 pm. We cleaned the apartment ourselves and had everything out by 11 am on the last day, even though they told us to leave at 10 or 11. Still, they deducted €40 for “late check-out,” despite making us wait four hours for the keys. They also withheld €300 from our deposit, which they shouldn’t have deducted unless there was damage. The receptionists couldn’t help or resolve anything, and it felt like all they cared about was money. I’m giving one star only because I can’t give less. Terrible service, complete garbage, and they ruined my whole vacation.

The views were perfect, and the location was great. Being in San Juan, it was a quiet area, and the apartment was fine. But the beds were horrible. You go there to rest and leave needing a physiotherapist. The back pain days later was real, and a major disappointment. Parking was very cramped, though acceptable. You can bring pets, I suppose for a fee, as I learned from the neighbors. There was no air conditioning in the rooms we stayed in. A fan cost extra. That feels like a huge disgrace: they don’t invest in renovations, and then you have to pay to avoid dying of heat. We’ve never experienced anything like it. Check-out should also be later, around 11 am or noon, since check-in is at 5 pm. We’ll come back once they replace the beds and install air conditioning in all the apartments. Until then, we’ll look elsewhere.

The apartments need updating. Some doors are broken or don’t close properly, and the beds and mattresses are awful, all saggy. The sofa bed is so uncomfortable you can feel every spring. If they fixed those things, this would be a five-star place. We spent a few days there with friends. The best parts were the unbeatable beach views, the really cool pool, and the quiet area.