Araha Resort ARAPANA

My main concern was how uneasy the room made me feel. I was traveling alone, and there was an unmentioned door in the master bedroom that guests aren’t allowed to open. The listing photos didn’t show it, and I kept wondering what was behind it and whether someone could access my room. I booked a studio but felt the pictures were misleading. There’s only a code for entry, given at check-in, and it was uncomfortable not knowing how many people might have access. They sent me 13 emails between booking the night before and check-in, which was at 4 or 5 PM, later than most places. I also had serious cleanliness concerns. The mattress topper was covered in stains, and I attached a video. The sheets looked like they hadn’t been replaced in years. When I moved the nightstand to block the undisclosed door, I found all kinds of filth and bugs behind it, which made me question the cleaning. The bathroom screen was the wrong size for a street-level window, so people could easily see in while you changed or used the toilet. The toilet and sink were so close together that anyone taller than about 5’8” would barely fit. The walls were extremely thin. I could hear people talking and the neighbors’ children screaming, which I also recorded in videos. My room, 102, was directly below a restaurant, and at closing I could hear them pushing chairs under tables. There’s also a public park and playground right across the street, with lots of activity, so it’s definitely not a quiet area. The shower looked like it had a broken glass door, with a curtain rigged onto the metal lining and tied up with rope. It didn’t feel luxurious at all. Since the booking was nonrefundable and I had no ride, I stayed, but otherwise I’d have left right away and asked for a refund. I seldom leave bad reviews, but the noise, the cleanliness, and the misleading photos left me very uneasy. I’d never stay here again.

Really liking it here! We chose the Japanese-style room, which feels more like a small apartment. It has a kitchen, a huge refrigerator, and a washer-dryer. The facilities are very good, the beds are comfortable, and it was a great find!

Both the ocean-view family apartments and the Japanese-style rooms are really good. The apartment setup works well for families, with full cooking facilities, a mini kitchen, a washing machine, and a dryer. Book ahead and enjoy.

The host was great and helped us get around, and the location worked perfectly. The room itself was smaller than we expected and had no windows. There are two buildings, and the main hotel building seems to be the better one. I’d probably return if I could get a better room next time.