Sunset View

My boyfriend and I picked *DuDu Homes* for its great view and location on the Malecón. The building, pool, gym, and views looked just like the beautiful pictures. We really wanted to like the place, but the room was a cute letdown: dirty and poorly maintained. We had to wash the sheets and comforter immediately. They didn't look like the photos and smelled used. There was hair, lint, and dirt everywhere. The bathroom was especially bad, with hair on the walls, a filthy shower floor, and dirty tiles. Furniture was dusty and sticky, there was a strong dirty bathroom smell, and the water smelled like sewage. The odor got into our hair and skin. They also shut off the water on the first night. Then my mouthwash fell and knocked over the toilet brush, exposing dirty water and feces. We saw cockroaches on the stove and under the bathroom sink. The walls and doors had old fingerprints stained on them. It's a great spot, but the place isn't being cleaned or maintained properly.

Getting in touch before arrival took ages, though the staff there were friendly. Unit 1604 has lovely views, but it sits between construction on two neighboring towers and a very loud, unpredictable neighbor. The place was in bad shape, with lots of repairs needed and kitchen things broken, damaged, or missing. It had almost none of the basics. We couldn't stay and weren't reimbursed.

The building has a lovely ocean view from the pool, which is small but has a nice infinity edge. The condo itself was great, too. But the master bedroom by the balcony gets hammered by street noise, from taxis playing loud music and motorcycles revving. We all ended up sleeping in one room, which wasn't ideal, and I wouldn't stay here again. If you're coming to Mazatlan to party, you may not mind the noise. Otherwise, bring earplugs or a white noise machine.

The construction along the Malecon went on all day, and workers in the new high-rise next door could look right over at people using the pool. Getting into the building was also a hassle in the midday sun, since the scanner couldn't read the QR code on my phone. That code is needed for the building and elevators, so you have to keep it with you. My arrival at condo #201 was frustrating from the start. I had rented a one-bedroom place with an ocean-view balcony, but spent over an hour trying to get the owner's entry instructions. They wanted me to use WhatsApp, while Agoda masked the number they sent. A resident let me into the building, then security took me to the administration office. They could let me use the building and elevators, but had no access to the condo. After I pressed them, they gave me the owner's number, and I finally got in touch and received the instructions. By then I was hot and tired, and nearly late for an online meeting. The Wi-Fi wouldn't connect. After several tries and messages with the owner, the cable company notice said the internet account was overdue and asked me to pay. I sent the owner a recording of the notice and heard nothing back. At 9:30 the next morning, they messaged that service would be back in two hours. It wasn't. I lost another workday, and internet didn't return until close to midday Saturday. For two full days, the TV had no streaming, movies, or music, just local channels. For the price, the condo should have had basics like a broom and dustpan, dish soap, paper towels, extra bath towels and washcloths, salt and pepper, and blankets for the pull-out couch and Murphy bed. It had none of those. It seemed to me the owner, operating as Dodo homes, was taking renters' money without putting it back into the condo. I don't recommend this place or any Dodo Homes rental.