Auroza Resort

I spent the week working nearby, and it was handy having plenty of shops and pharmacies close to the hotel. The rooms were okay, and it was generally quiet, which worked well for resting during the day. The shower is large, though hot water takes a while to come through.

The upper shared terraces have a lovely ocean view, and there's also a nice swim-up bar and a very good restaurant on site. The building is newer and in great shape, and our room was clean. We stayed a long time, and the room rate was very good. Some items were missing when we arrived, but the front desk replaced them quickly. Osiris and her team work hard, always hustling, smiling, and whistling.

The place is generally comfortable, and the staff were attentive, but our rooms smelled unpleasant. Two of the mattresses were old and hard, which is why I'd give it an average rating. Our suite had two floors and four double beds in one large bedroom. We were three adults, our 9 year old granddaughter, and our 17 months grandson. The balcony faced an inner street crowded with vendors and people day and night, and loud music woke us at 6 every morning. The hotel is an old building that has been renovated, right on Guayabitos' main street among shops, restaurants, and street vendors.

By the end of our six day stay, the rooms had run out of water. The person in charge kept saying maintenance was working on it, but couldn't say when it would return. After a day at the beach, we had nowhere to shower except in the public area by the pool. The advertised Wi-Fi doesn't reach the rooms either, only reception and the pool, where I'm writing this. Vere, the cleaner, has been wonderful and keeps our rooms tidy. The young maintenance worker tries hard, but seems to be fighting one problem after another. I rented two rooms, and regret both. The smaller one had two beds, a couch, a table with four chairs, a small kitchen with a propane stove, and a refrigerator. It can fit four people. Its bathroom setup is odd, with the shower right by the entrance, the sink beside it, and the toilet at the far end. It's old and dated, and the website photos make it look much nicer than it is. The larger two level room has a spacious lower floor with a dining room, living room, half bath, and small kitchen. Upstairs are a full bathroom with a shower and a large bedroom with three double beds and one single bed. Both floors have balconies facing the alley to the beach, but the screen doors are damaged and hard to open or shut. Both rooms were far too expensive for an old hotel and what it offers. The housekeeping and maintenance people are friendly, helpful, and a pleasure to talk to. I give them five stars, but the hotel only two. I'm very disappointed and wouldn't recommend staying here unless there's nothing else available.