SHAVANNA Hotel Boutique

We left after one night because two chained-up dogs howled all night and kept us awake. We’d booked for December, and when we arrived the hotel looked nothing like its photos. The sheets were dirty and our key wouldn’t open the room door. It’s in an underdeveloped area with little around, and getting anywhere meant a very long walk. We were promised refunds under the cancellation policy for the nights we didn’t stay, but more than three months later, we still hadn’t received them. This is nowhere near a four-star hotel, two stars at best. There are cheaper, better hotels closer to the beach. I wouldn’t stay here.

The staff were friendly, and the place looks good, with a spare modern-chic style in the rooms. We couldn’t use the pool, outdoor bar, or day beds because we were there to wait out a hurricane warning, but those areas did look nice. What wore me down was the lack of basic comforts and the noise. There was no coffee or even a cup in the room, including a plastic drinking cup. I didn’t expect a fridge, but we had food for the hurricane and asked for ice. They sent me to Oxxo, despite the upstairs restaurant being open and likely having ice. The layout seems to amplify every sound. When we arrived, loud music from the restaurant on the top floor echoed around the courtyard for hours, and the rooms are tiny with nowhere to escape it. After 2 am, drunk guests were yelling and socializing in the outdoor lobby. I woke again at 4:30 to loud talking that sounded like screaming right beside me because of the echo. No staff member was there to ask anyone to quiet down. It’s not too far from the beach as the crow flies, but you have to cross a main road and it’s far enough away that it doesn’t feel like a beach stay. The main road does have some basic amenities. This place puts its looks ahead of practical things guests need, and the lack of effort on those basics or on controlling the noise left me feeling like the owners don’t care about their guests.

For the price, this standard is a joke. It feels more like a hostel than a hotel, and definitely not a four-star place. We had a double room that was old and dirty, with a disgusting, unclean bathroom. The sheets and towels were old and covered in stains. We asked for them to be changed and for the room to be deep-cleaned. They did a bit of cleaning, but it wasn’t a proper deep clean. There was no service to speak of, and no fridge, water, or pool towels in the room. The photos make the hotel look great, but that’s not how it looks in real life now.

The location was central and convenient, and the rooms were clean and pleasant. The staff were especially friendly and helpful. The air conditioning worked well in every room except the living room. They handled the problem professionally, gave us a discount, and provided fans, so the temperature was still comfortable.