Ceren 203

I stayed six nights after booking through Booking.com, and the problems started before I even got inside. I never received check-in instructions. They only contacted me to ask when I’d arrive, though I expect they’ll reply saying they sent a link. Their location pin on Google Maps is wrong, so if you’re dropped at the wrong spot with luggage, you have to haul it around the block to find the entrance. Once inside, I couldn’t find the AC remote. They kept directing me to the link I’d said I never got, and it didn’t explain where the remote was anyway. I asked again, then got silence for hours. I eventually found it myself after searching around. The lack of help was appalling. The hallway to my room was also completely dark when I checked in around 5:30pm. I was juggling my luggage and phone flashlight while trying to open the lockbox. I asked about the lighting and got no response. They also require wristbands and charge $12 if you lose one. I was there for an activity where I couldn’t wear one, and I wasn’t willing to pay $12. That rule and fee weren’t mentioned on the Booking.com listing or communicated beforehand. I definitely wouldn’t recommend staying here.

The ocean view from the pool is beautiful, and there’s a hot tub too. The area around Ceren Condo in Playa is quiet, pleasant, and very close to the beach. But the rules made it hard to relax. They photograph guests who bring glasses near the pool so they can charge them, and the constant watching feels uncomfortable. They’re just as strict about the wristbands: lose one or forget to return it and it costs 200 pesos, with staff hounding you and your friends until it’s back. The room itself was disappointing. The sheets were torn and looked dirty, there was nowhere to hang wet towels, and the mattress was old and uncomfortable. For somewhere that should feel easygoing, the atmosphere ended up spoiled by all of this. Nice view, but I wouldn’t pick it for a relaxed vacation.

The rooftop has a great sea view, a nice pool, a small gym, a steam room, and restrooms. Parking in the secure gated basement was included for our assigned unit. The staff were very friendly, and nobody asked us to show our required wristbands when coming in. They just said not to lose them.

The building itself felt clean and sanitary, and the rooftop pool and location were both great. We were right by Fifth Avenue, but in a quieter area. Maria and Willy were especially lovely, and all the staff were helpful and welcoming. The coded entrance and front desk checking wristbands also made my friends and me feel safe. Our problem was Room 409, listed under Mariana Nolasco. For three people staying seven nights, we got one toilet paper roll and one paper towel roll. Since the condos are privately owned, the front desk couldn’t replenish anything, so we depended entirely on the owner. We were given only three towels for showering, none for cleaning, and they weren’t changed during the stay. The breaker kept tripping, eventually several times a day, and once the outage lasted an hour. The AC stopped with the power, so the room heated up quickly. We’d booked partly so we could cook, but without power the microwave and stovetop were unusable. We’d spent hundreds on groceries and worried they’d spoil while the fridge was off. We called and texted all three support numbers every day, but the owner never replied during our seven-day stay. We fixed things ourselves and felt completely unsupported. It left us anxious about what might happen if something more serious went wrong. I’d stay at the complex again, but avoid Room 409.