Mare Mio Hotel Boutique

The facilities and location looked promising, but the place was badly neglected. Our room was dirty and had insects, there was no Wi-Fi or hot water, and the green spaces and shared areas were just as unclean and uncared for. Restaurant service was awful too: it took two hours for our food to arrive. The price is high, so we expected much better. The photos gave us the wrong impression and don't show what it's really like. The quality, cleanliness, service, and efficiency all fell short of what we expected. For that rate, the poor service leaves a lot to be desired.

The natural setting is lovely, and I liked the bamboo construction, beachfront location, and room decor. But the place didn't match what Instagram led us to expect. The pool is small, and its water was dirty and cloudy for several days. The food at the restaurant was good, though service was limited. It closed at 3 pm one day and 5 pm on the others, even with guests around, so we had to go elsewhere for late afternoon and evening meals. Eric, our waiter, deserves a mention for being attentive and friendly. The rest of the staff didn't show the same willingness, and service overall felt unfriendly. The hot water was a very serious problem. During our four-day stay, we had it in the room only once. We brought it up every day, but it was never fixed. At this accommodation price, that's unacceptable.

The private pool was the part I liked most, and its room-temperature water was very pleasant. The hotel's in a great spot, and it's a nice place, but it has several shortcomings. The photos are misleading: only the most expensive room has an ocean view. In my room, half the bulbs were burned out, and the working ones gave off white light, unlike the yellow or amber lighting elsewhere. The bathroom had no window, and torn or fallen curtains let countless animals into the rooms. Restaurant meals took over half an hour, and our food always arrived cold. Even after we asked them to heat it, it came back cold. During the day the receptionist was almost never there, while the night receptionist was attentive and helpful to everyone. For a hotel that isn't cheap, the value for money just isn't there. The owners need to address these issues. I'd like to return, but only if they improve everything mentioned.

Carlos on the afternoon and night shift was excellent. He answered our questions, sorted out problems, and quickly fixed a room light. The morning receptionist was rarely around, though. The restaurant food was excellent but took more than 30 minutes to arrive, so service was slow. We booked through the website without any trouble. Parking at the main lot is limited, but there's an adjoining lot where you can leave your car, supposedly with a guard. We were lucky enough to get a space in the main lot. The room wasn't bad, and the shower was great with no water issues. The outdoor jacuzzi was lovely, and the view was very nice. But there was a lot of dust on the bed when we arrived, some bulbs were burned out, only one toilet button worked, and the sink was very nice. The hotel manager should pay closer attention to these details, since they affect the first impression after what the website shows. They should keep a closer eye on room cleanliness and lights, have reception covered in the morning, and speed up restaurant service. The hotel isn't cheap, especially in high season, so these details matter for the price.