Hotel Casa Ariana

Our replacement room was unfinished, with unreliable hot water and WiFi that kept disconnecting. The receptionist was polite and helpful, but all he did was restart the water heater again and again, without looking for a lasting fix. We later found out we’d been moved because the room we were originally assigned had a faulty air-conditioning system. They should have explained the change upfront and offered either a partial refund or the option to cancel. They never did.

For the price, this was a perfect fit. The two people working here were kind and friendly, and could offer directions and advice for whatever we needed. The location was convenient, with the city center nearby and a boat tour on the lagoon just two blocks, about 100 meters, away. The rooms were clean and in good condition, with two large beds, towels, soap, shampoo, a fridge and TV. There was plenty of hot shower water and strong AC, which you need in this heat. The hotel’s front door is locked at 10 pm, but you get a key to come in.

The shower pressure was so low that showering wasn’t very satisfying. Of our three rooms, one had a slight fungus smell, another smelled bad, and the last was pretty bad. Also, Booking.com hadn’t registered that we were a group of eight, so we had to pay extra when we arrived.

I didn’t stay there, but visited while I was staying at a nearby Airbnb. Friends who’d first been staying in the same Airbnb invited me to see where they’d moved to. I was really impressed: the rooms were beautiful and very, very clean. From the outside it looks unassuming, but inside it’s very modern.