Oceana Luxury by Homing Bird

The location is beautiful, and it’s an easy walk to 5th Av. Our Airbnb came with admission to Mamitas Beach Club, which was a nice bonus, and the host was excellent. Security also felt more than adequate. The downside is the noise. Two nightclubs nearby play music until 2 or 3am, and it can be tough to sleep. Bring earplugs if you have an early flight.

The owner of the unit we rented and the el patio staff were the bright spots. Anything Oceana related, though, beware of the fun police. We’ve vacationed here many times and usually the staff left us alone, but this year was different enough that I won’t return. At the pool bar, my fiancé and I ordered drinks. The pool boy brought them over and pulled a table closer to the pool. I hadn’t even touched my drink when the front desk man came over, moved the table, and said we couldn’t drink there. I told him I hadn’t touched it, but he just said no and walked away. Why have a poolside bar if you can’t have a drink at the pool? Another time, we went to the nearby beach through the beach club. That’s a nice touch, though unnecessary if you’d rather lie in the sand than use a chair. We rinsed off at the club shower before leaving and had no sand on us. Still, the same front door “security” man chased after us, pointed silently back to the showers, and watched us wash off a second time. We weren’t breaking any rules or being disrespectful. The constant nagging and complete rudeness left a bad taste in my mouth, and I won’t pay to stay here again. The front desk staff were so rude and didn’t speak enough English to reason with.

The staff were the part that really spoiled it for me. We tipped, treated them kindly, and cleaned our room really well before leaving, but they were still rude and unprofessional. A few staff members were better, but it was frustrating enough that I wanted to write this disappointed review. The rooms are nice and have great views, and the pool area is pleasant. It’s in a great location, too. But there were random stains on the furniture, and the restrooms smelled fishy or like poop. Despite those issues, I did enjoy the stay overall.

The condo was spacious and very clean, and we had a wonderful time. There are two nice pools with plenty of lounge chairs, plus a gym looking out over the pool area. The location is ideal, just steps from the ocean and fifth avenue.