Hotel Arrecife de Coral

The location is handy for walking into town, and there’s a nice garden, though the pool is decorative and not for swimming. That’s where my one star for the location comes from. The hotel needs a lot of care to reach a three-star level. The sheets and towels were thin and worn, the bathroom was tiny, and the shower was fixed. The hairdryer worked when it felt like it. There was no bin in the room, only in the bathroom, and no chair or heating, though spare blankets were available. I had to ask for toilet paper, since only the end of a roll was provided with no spare, even on the second day. Breakfast was a very good buffet on day one, but with fewer guests on day two, it was poor. One warning: a function room nearby had loud celebrations, music and samba echoing late into the night, until 1:15 a.m. Perhaps that doesn’t happen every night, but still. I stayed two nights as part of a group tour.

The rooms were very clean, and the hotel itself is nice, with good facilities and a good location. But they were damp and cold, and I needed three or four blankets at night. After a week’s stay, we asked to leave our bags at the front desk for a couple of hours on our last day and were told there was a charge per bag. It wasn’t about the amount, since we tipped the luggage helper more than the fee we paid the desk. I’ve stayed in hundreds of hotels in many countries and have never seen this, even much cheaper places don’t charge for it. Given that lack of hospitality from management, I honestly don’t think the hotel is worth its price.

The location was great, and breakfast is available. The rooms were basic, with a somewhat cramped bathroom, and the bedspreads felt scratchy in the cold weather. When we had problems, like the Wi-Fi not working or items going missing, the staff didn’t seem willing to help or offer support.

The gardens are beautiful, which is unusual in this area, and there’s a spacious, very secure parking lot. The hotel also has ramps for people with disabilities. The rooms are well equipped, with comfortable beds and extra pillows and blankets. There’s no AC, but the weather is cold, and heaters are available if you ask. Service is great, and the staff are very friendly and focused on customer service. The food is good and fairly priced, too. It’s just a few steps from Los Andadores and the Historical Center, with an ATM about two blocks away and a pharmacy one block away. Pretty nice hotel, I believe the best in this area.