Aquilah homestay

The room's position was the main problem: it was inside the main reception area, with its door opening straight onto the seating and breakfast tables and the front desk just to the right. I could hear all the guest traffic, conversations, chairs moving, check-ins, early breakfasts, late-night activity, and even staff family gatherings at full volume, from early morning into the night. I've never stayed in a hotel room laid out like that. I slept only 3-6 hours a night for five nights in a row. The exhaustion made the stay more than uncomfortable. I had planned three scuba dives each day, but had to cancel dives because I didn't feel physically or mentally fit to dive safely. Diving was the main purpose of my trip, and this directly disrupted it. I asked to change rooms. They told me to pack everything the night before for a move the next morning. I packed while sleep-deprived and got up early, only to be told there was no room available after all. I had to unpack and settle back into the same room, which added stress to an already difficult stay. There were no windows, some fixtures were broken or poorly maintained, and there were insects in the room. One night I spent time looking for a chirping cricket. Housekeeping came only once in six nights, and that was because I had packed for the attempted room change. Each of those things might be manageable on its own, but together with the room placement and noise, they made the stay exhausting. To be fair, the staff were polite and responded to small requests like an extra blanket or a hair dryer. Still, that doesn't make up for the core issue: this room should not be offered to guests. It felt like part of a public lobby, not a bedroom. I noticed another room on the same floor behind mine that was a little farther from reception and might be less affected, but I'd strongly advise avoiding first-floor rooms near reception if quiet and rest matter to you, especially if you're diving or doing anything physically demanding. I booked the hotel as a comfortable base between several daily dives, but this room was fundamentally unsuitable and significantly undermined my trip. If you need sleep, recovery, or to feel safe doing your activities, I strongly recommend avoiding this stay and confirming exactly where your room is before booking.

It's clean, roomy enough, and the staff are friendly. Good value for the price. It's a little way from the center, which some people will like. If that suits you and you're after a budget stay, it's a great fit.

I couldn't get to the accommodation for my four-night non-refundable booking. After we talked, they agreed to refund three nights, even though they weren't required to. I'm grateful to them for that.

We had a lovely, spacious room for four people, with hot water and good pressure. Staff were nice and cleaned the room whenever we asked.