Guesthouse in Lak'Ech

We expected to be able to say, “It was awesome,” but the owner openly lied on Booking. The photos show the owner's house, not the tiny, flimsy, old house guests actually stay in. Some Booking photos aren't of this property at all. We weren't told there was no bathroom. The toilet is two earthen pits in one room, barely separated from the house, so everyone inside can smell urine and feces. You have to cover it with cat litter. The toilets have no door between them, and the outer toilet door doesn't lock. We arrived exhausted after traveling hundreds of kilometers, then found out we couldn't wash for three days and would have to relieve ourselves technically outside. The house was unbearably cold. Going to the toilet at night was almost impossible and felt dangerous to our health. There are two old gas heaters that seem a little dangerous, and the house is too large for them to warm properly. They won't help much if your group has more than two people. I'd give the service a higher rating, but I don't understand why the owner doesn't disclose these obviously important things on Booking. It was like hell.

Our family of three felt at home in the nostalgic country-style room. The bed was comfortable, and we could lie down whenever we wanted. The owner was very friendly, and we enjoyed sharing dinner around the hearth. He's handy and likes DIY, and had renovated the room with a lovely layout. The price was reasonable, so it felt like a place we could stay without worry.

This place is expensive and has no facilities. It's freezing, with no decent toilet, and in winter it feels like sleeping in a makeshift hut outside. I can't understand the high ratings, though I suppose people who know the truth do. Booking.com has lots of photos that don't show what it's really like. You've been warned.

The inn is very quiet at night, surrounded by nature, and I slept soundly. There are plenty of insects, as you'd expect. A big spider turned up in my room and surprised me, but the host said it was helpful because it eats cockroaches and centipedes. I left it alone, and it disappeared without me noticing. This dog-friendly private rental was nicer than I'd expected. We arrived while looking sideways at sheer cliffs, and I was a little nervous about what to expect. The owner had renovated the building next door, and it's a whole house with a living room, bedroom, kitchen, toilet, and shower room. It comes with dishes, pots, pans, a microwave, a few towels, and on my visit, tasty herbal tea bags and a single-serve instant curry. Bring pajamas and food, and a warm jacket for the big temperature change between day and night. The compost toilet was comfortable and almost odorless, but don't accidentally put toilet paper in it. The bath is shower-only, though you can use the day spa at a nearby hot spring inn. The inn and parking area were hard to find, so I called just before arriving. There are two adorable medium-sized dogs, and apparently several cats too. It was raining, so I didn't get to see the cats. I had such a comfortable stay, but regret not taking any photos. I've found a place I definitely want to visit again.