Bluesea Noja

The receptionist with dark hair and a bandaged arm gave us wonderful service. She was polite, well mannered, and clearly very good at her job. The hotel is also close to the beach, around 100 meters or less. The building itself feels very old. Our room was dusty enough that we had to ask for it to be cleaned, and there was lint everywhere. The light switches were also mentioned as an issue. In the bathroom, the bathtub was very high and slippery, the shower gel and shampoo felt industrial, the towel rails were rusty, and there was a leak in the ceiling above the toilet. The area around the tub was black and the tiles were filthy. Vents connect to the neighboring toilet, so there was no privacy at all.

Cockroaches were everywhere, and there were no insect screens. The bathroom had mold and rust, while the room had no air conditioning and only one usable power outlet if we unplugged the refrigerator. Noise carried through the night even with the new doors. The leaky doors let light in all night, and there was an unidentifiable sound, maybe a vacuum or hairdryer. The bar downstairs stayed open, and security in an orange vest talked loudly on the phone outside at night. Staff seemed completely overwhelmed and hysterical. I wouldn't recommend it.

The rooms are dated but clean, the location is convenient, and the staff are very friendly. The food itself wasn't bad, but breakfast was the same price as at more highly rated hotels, and there seemed to be far too few people working. They couldn't keep food stocked, clean tables, or attend to guests at the entrance. Everyone on shift was trying their best, but there was only so much two hands could do. The owners should take responsibility for that poor showing.

The pool is a nice place to cool off, and it gets sun all day, so the water is quite acceptable for Santander. Some shade would help, though. The staff are attentive and sort out problems quickly within the hotel's rules. They've clearly put effort into making things more comfortable, but the bathrooms still need renovation. Don't expect luxury here, just a good location and somewhere to sleep.