Apartamentos Puerto Bello

There were several cockroaches in our room. We reported them, but the night staff ignored us and shrugged, even using live translate. The night staff can only hand out keys and check booked guests in or out, so they couldn't help with problems. The views are okay, and most rooms except those on the ground floor have a sea view, but there was rust and dust throughout. Getting up the hill is tough if you're not very mobile. Parking was awful. There are around 100-150 rooms and only 12 spaces, plus lots of yellow lines where you can be towed or fined. Twice I nearly had to park at Mohamed mall because there was nowhere to park. The rooms are dated and tired. There's no fan, ceiling fan, or air conditioning. In 2025, they charge for a safe key and WiFi. The bedroom windows open onto the walkway, so anyone can see in or steal things. The balconies are okay and have clothes dryers. They supplied only a grimy coffee machine, and you have to ask for a kettle. The pool was closed one day because of a national holiday. The internal stairs are steep, and the lift barely works. The beds aren't nice to sleep on, and the sofa bed is like a rock. Each side of the bed has only one pillow, one synthetic duck down and the other foam-filled. Of course, you can pay for more. I won't ever come back. Anyone rating this higher than one or maybe two stars has no class or self-respect.

Our booking was cancelled five days before we were due to fly, leaving us without a place to stay. We found somewhere else, but because of the short notice it cost nearly twice what we had paid. There had been no issue when we booked. The cancellation message said, “we've over booked.” There was no real apology or help finding another place. That was disgusting. Afterwards, the property replied that booking.com had moved us at no extra cost. The £1,100 extra I paid because of the short notice tells a different story. booking.com offered only €60 to offset the difference, nowhere near what I had to pay. I understand things can go wrong, but please accept that you didn't help at all and it cost me far more than it should have. Don't make things up to make yourselves look better.

We booked two rooms weeks in advance, but they weren't close to each other. The bottom-floor rooms look onto the car park instead of the ocean. The back-shift receptionist didn't speak English, making registration almost impossible. The receptionist also didn't tell us that bus transfers pick up from the centre of Puerto Rico, so we missed ours and had to pay for a last-minute taxi to the airport. This should be clearly explained somewhere in the hotel. It's a good, cheap base in Puerto Rico. The rooms are clean and a decent size, with a coffee machine, microwave, and the usual self-catering essentials. There's a small supermarket at reception with the things you need. Upper-floor rooms have a nice view, and the pool area suits a hotel of this size. The beach and Shopping Centre aren't too far, though getting there is a little hike.

The location suited us: it's about a seven-minute uphill walk, including one set of stairs, to the old shopping center. Taxis are easy to find and usually cost around €3.85 each way. The Puerto Bello Apartamentos aren't luxury accommodation, but they're good value for the price. Our stay was pleasant overall. The rooms get a little warm, but it's manageable. There's no air conditioning, and TV and WiFi cost extra, as you'd expect at this price. Some guests say they paid a €100 deposit on arrival, though we didn't. The lovely pool is well maintained and generally closes around 8-8:30 pm. Cleaners come every couple of days to change towels, refresh sheets, and tidy up. The small shop on site is convenient, though its prices are slightly marked up. The lift is quite slow, but useful for taking luggage upstairs. A night guard adds a sense of security. Parts of the complex have been refurbished recently, especially reception, and it looks like other upgrades are happening gradually.