Das Traum Guest Haus

AVOID THIS PLACE. It charges $27 for what feels like a $5 hotel. The toilet didn’t work and had no seat, and the receptionist boy had a major attitude. He’s obviously the owner’s son. They didn’t offer drinking water. When I asked for a 20 peso bottle, the kind I’ve been given at every room or dorm I’ve stayed in, he said no and told me to read the fine print. I suspect this hotel pays for its good scores or reviews. AVOID AVOID AVOID.

The owner’s daughter was the best part of our stay. She was accommodating at reception and quickly addressed a food order issue when I told her the on-call guy had said they no longer served food, even though we’d been told he should have taken our order. The stay was good because of her, but the house badly needs renovation, and the chair cushions were so dirty they need to clean every corner of the hotel. We stayed a couple of days in a budget-friendly room. Ours was small, and the very old air conditioner didn’t cool much. The room was clean enough, but the bed and pillows were cheap, and the shower had no hot water. The second floor internet was basically nonexistent, so I wouldn’t recommend it if you need to work or want comfort and a sanitary place. You can order food until around 9 pm, I think, and there’s also a mini store with some food. They charge corkage for things like using a hair dryer or bringing outside food.

The locals ended up solving the scooter problem for me. They got mechanics who unlocked the compartment in 15 minutes, after the property stopped answering and the random keys staff had given me didn’t fit. My documents were locked inside, and I had a ferry and flight the next morning, so the whole thing was stressful. I’d accidentally locked the keys in the scooter 6 km from the accommodation. When I called, they hung up; back at the property, staff had no spare keys, couldn’t reach the scooter’s owner, and offered no useful advice. The rest of the stay was terrible too. The place was dark and the staff weren’t welcoming. They first put me in a room without AC, despite my booking, then the next room was dirty. It took three attempts to find one I could use. The rooms smelled bad, and the bathroom had no toiletries or toilet paper. I strongly advise against renting scooters here and can’t recommend the place at all.

It’s easy to talk to the owner if there’s a concern, and they deal with it right away. Staff are available around the clock, and the place feels safe inside the compound. It’s affordable and worth the money. There’s a lighted garden and walkway that feel beautiful and refreshing, with chairs where you can work, do homework, relax, or just get some fresh air. There’s also a kitchen at the back for cooking. The rooms are spacious, clean, nicely designed, and private, each with its own bathroom. The property is organized and near the pier, restaurants, the market, and an ATM. They have scooters under cover to keep them out of the rain. They’re truthful in their advertising, and I definitely recommend it.