19 Atlantic Hotel

J1 students and anyone else, don't stay here, you'd be better off sleeping on the street. The photos are completely fake. The rooms have no windows, the AC barely works, and the bed is a bunk. It costs way too much, and reception is usually asleep in the back room, so you're lucky if you can find anyone. Getting the deposit back took months and more than 99 emails. They only returned it after insulting me. Scammers!!!

The staff were so welcoming, and the hotel is right across the street from the beach. We had booked a room with one bed and a sofa bed through AAA for the 10% discount, which you can also get by calling the hotel directly. When we found sand all over the sofa bed, I told the young woman at the front desk. She upgraded us right away to a two-bed room with a beach view. We thought they'd just replace the mattress, so that was more than we expected. Check-in was quick, and staff greeted us and chatted with us whenever we passed by. Everything was clean and looked after. We came with friends last week for a post-college graduation trip, and we'd definitely stay again.

I usually don't leave bad reviews, and I've stayed in plenty of two- and three-star hotels, but this was the worst. We were left waiting 45 minutes to check in because the lobby was closed, there was no doorbell, and nobody came out. I could see the phone ringing, but it was on silent. Parking was another mess, the lot was full of people using the club next door, so we had to park two blocks away. The hallways were cramped and maze-like, and the room was tiny and dirty. I could feel dirt under my feet. There were only two sheets on the bed, no blanket, and I couldn't reach the front desk by phone. When I went downstairs, nobody was there, so I used our beach towels to cover up. The pillows were bad and there were no extras. The AC was broken, and the window unit wasn't sealed, so we could hear ordinary conversations from the street. The hair dryer had mold, the shower handle was broken, and we got just one large towel. When I asked to change rooms, the person at the desk said they were booked and offered to cancel the rest of our stay. I also asked for another towel and was told, "why do you need one if you are not going to stay". They said one would be sent up, but it never came. Save your money and don't go there!

The room was really clean, and the rooftop has a beautiful beach view. The manager and staff were very friendly. My flight was delayed, so I arrived a day late, and the hotel made a special accommodation for me. That doesn't usually happen, and I was grateful.