Esplanada

I spent four weeks here and felt comfortable and safe the whole time. The staff were friendly, helpful, and quick to fix any issues. Even though the hotel is right off the road, it has a calming feel and you can barely hear cars. I heard more roosters than traffic. The pool was refreshing, not cold, and Thursdays have a fun Latin music dance night with lessons. It’s a nice way to socialize, though bring earplugs if you go to bed early. There are around seven cats and kittens, and they’re cuties. Free yoga is offered at 6 am each morning and at 8 am on Sundays. I didn’t try it, but it seemed good. The room was really comfortable, with a good bed and pillows, a dresser for hanging clothes, a nice bathroom, and AC that worked very well. I especially liked getting a large five-gallon jug of water instead of bottles. I appreciated that, since I feel guilty throwing away water bottles all the time. The TV didn’t really work, but I wasn’t looking to watch much local TV anyway. I ate many dinners at the hotel restaurant and liked the varied menu, which kept me from getting bored with the same food. The staff were very kind. Breakfast was basic, with eggs, bread, fruit, yogurt, and juice, but very good. The hotel is across from the beach, and the restaurant has great views. It felt safe to walk along the beach road, which was a nice place to get walks in. The grocery store and a few other restaurants are about a ten-minute walk away. If I come back to Dili, I’ll definitely stay at Hotel Esplanada again.