Guest House Casa Azul

After I spent half an hour trying to find a taxi, it was 7:30 pm, an hour before the time I'd been told to be back. I realized I felt pressured and decided to leave for another place. I apologized and explained to the owner that I wanted to move because of the return time she'd set, and said she should charge me for the time I'd used the room. She got angry and said no, because I'd cost her that day's rental, even though I thought she hadn't wanted to rent it in the first place. So I agreed to pay the $30 to avoid an argument. She seemed bipolar and uncomfortable about opening the door, then indignantly told me to take my things and leave. Before I booked, the owner had said she wasn't sure about renting the room because of an event. I said I was fine with it, and she agreed. I arrived after traveling at 6:30 pm and went to the room, which was around the house, to charge my phone for half an hour. When I came out, it was completely dark outside, with no lights at all, though it was barely 7 pm. I called to say I was going out, and she replied, "You didn't tell me you were going out." She'd already asked me what time I'd leave when I arrived. I asked about checkout and she said 9 am. Then she came to open the door and said, "We're not a 24/7 service. The latest I can expect you is 9 pm. If that doesn't work for you, I'll refund your money." I didn't want to be rude, so I said I'd quickly find something to eat and come back, but I was already uneasy.

The house is pretty, but it's neglected, and I had a very unpleasant stay. My room was quite dirty, and the bathroom was dirty too, with a strong, unpleasant smell. Cockroaches came out every day. When I told the owner, she answered rudely to everything I asked. I struggled to open both the gate and the bedroom door with the keys she gave me. She was unfriendly and even told me to leave if I didn't like it. I left frustrated. They don't know how to treat their guests well.

The worst part was the filthy room and the lack of any real rest. The garden-side rooms smelled strongly of cat feces, there were ants in the bathrooms, and the beds seemed full of dust mites. Trash underneath hadn't been cleaned, and housekeeping didn't come every day. Three dogs barked at every little sound, while a cat wandered from the dining room into the kitchen. My husband had an allergic reaction to the unsanitary conditions at Casa Azul, and we managed to stay only a week. We paid $500 and felt scammed. After taking our money, the owner kept saying it was her house, with several rooms, and that nobody could tell her how to run it. She initially acted as if she would find a solution, then became hysterical and refused to refund us. She has no character or manners when dealing with customers. DO NOT PAY IN ADVANCE, because on arrival they don't provide what they promise! If you have doubts, ask at the tourist office or police, where they have reportedly been cited for being filthy.

A handy place to stop overnight if you're traveling with Ticabus or Transnica, since it's close to public transport, supermarkets, restaurants, and parks. The house itself is lovely, with antiques, artistic decor, and gardens. The owner and assistant both provided good service, though the internet was a little slow. There was some dust, which seems hard to avoid in an open house. Keep in mind it's not suitable for people with animal allergies.