Valeri Emanuel Apartments

A really good price for a quiet, laid-back hostel. I loved relaxing in the hammocks, and there are bikes to rent, a kitchen, private bathrooms, and comfy beds with great pillows. The staff were nice, and there’s a cheap shop nearby. A taxi into town is only $1, and the bus stop for Playa Estella, one of the best beaches, is close by. The bus costs just $2.50.

They confirmed my booking, then cancelled it just a few hours before check-in on the day I was due to arrive, saying they were overbooked. Finding another place to stay on the island at such short notice was extremely difficult, and where I ended up was really sub-par.

They charged me even after I cancelled because they wouldn't agree to my requested check-in time. I’d booked through Booking and asked to arrive between 6 and 7 pm, but they told me I had to come earlier. I messaged to cancel and asked them not to charge me since I needed to stay elsewhere. There was no reply, but the next day they charged my card. When I called, the woman just kept repeating that it was their rule. She said she hadn't seen my messages until the day she charged me, and claimed Booking wouldn't let them waive the fee. I work at a hotel and with Booking, and that's not true. She also told me they’d had no business for two years because of COVID. They seem to think only in the short term and have no idea how hospitality works. No wonder they have to be the cheapest. I hate leaving bad reviews, but this lack of respect for guests deserves one.

Mosquitoes were the worst part of my stay. The apartment has no air conditioning, and there's a noisy woodworking shop right next door. It was the cheapest place I've stayed in Bocas, though, so you get what you pay for. For that price, it's still a nice option.