Surf Ranch Hotel & Resort

We wanted somewhere quiet and secluded, and Surf Ranch suited us perfectly. The pool was lovely to relax by, and our clean room had enough space for the two of us. Breakfast in the morning was a nice extra. We had four very pleasant nights.

We booked an 8 night stay through Airbnb, where the listing had a 4.5 star rating, but we left the morning after checking in. I wish I'd read the Google reviews first. I suspect those ratings came from family or friends who may not have stayed even one night. We didn't even want to try the “free breakfast.” Getting there was rough. You have to cross a river, so your vehicle needs to handle very rugged terrain. Supposedly there are 2 routes, but both had rough, practically nonexistent roads and river crossings. When we arrived around 4:30 pm there were no cars, only motorcycles. There were kids from the surrounding area at the skate park, which made me wonder if they'd been let in to give the impression of having guests. The next day the place was a graveyard. I wondered why nobody was in the pool, then got closer and understood. IT WAS ABSOLUTELY DISGUSTING. The hosts insisted it was paint chipping, not a dirty pool. I've posted pictures, so you can decide when chopped paint started looking like growing algae. The splash pad didn't work, and all the outdoor furniture was covered in mildew. It looked like there hadn't been maintenance in 10+ years, maybe since the pictures on the listing were taken. Inside, the rooms were dirty, dark and depressing, with stained sheets, disgusting floors, a toilet that wouldn't flush, and NO HOT WATER, although Airbnb clearly advertised it. Whenever I raised an issue, the host gave an excuse. Lucas on Airbnb refused our refund request and offered another room, but that didn't address the countless other problems he'd been told about. This place and host should be flagged, and the listing taken down for false advertising.

I've stayed here several times and have always been happy with the place. Great spot, and my kids love it!

The skate park has recently been revamped and looked smooth. I was injured and couldn't skate, but my mates had fun there. I came with a group for a retreat and had a wonderful time. The place is a few minutes from town, surrounded by nature, which I really enjoyed. Staff went above and beyond for every request, the food was really good, and my villa was clean and comfortable.