Costa Azul Hotel

Had a wonderful time at the Hotel Costa Azul. The hotel is perched right on the water, with beautiful views of the harbor. I had a sea facing balcony room and it was so relaxing to sit on the balcony with a cup of coffee watching the world go by. The hotel is convenient to restaurants, and close to bus stops. Breakfast is a real treat, with extensive selections including numerous varieties of fresh baked breads. The pool, though small, is very enjoyable, and has a small hot tub as well. The staff here are so helpful and went out of their way to provide information on local restaurants, and even booked a cab for me to the airport. You won't regret booking this property! I sure hope to have the pleasure of returning some day.

Unfortunately, our experience at this hotel has been extremely disappointing. When people travel from far away and choose a hotel, they are not simply paying for a room. They are paying for comfort, cleanliness, basic amenities, and hospitality. Sadly, all of these were lacking.

Front Desk: The front desk staff were extremely rude, dismissive, and disrespectful. There was no sense of hospitality whatsoever. We requested a fan, and the way the situation was handled, particularly after one of us left a 1 star rating because of the poor behavior, made the experience even more uncomfortable. Guests should never feel that the quality of service they receive depends on the review they leave.

Gym & Hygiene: The gym was shockingly unhygienic. There were no tissues or cleaning supplies available to wipe down the equipment after use. The yoga mats were in such terrible condition that they looked like scrambled eggs, worn, crumbling, and completely unsuitable for use. Is it really too much to expect a hotel to provide two decent, thick, clean yoga mats?

Restaurant Service: After coming out of the unhygienic gym, I simply needed some water. Instead of basic courtesy, I was rudely told that I needed to pay first. Of course I can pay for water. That isn’t the issue. The issue is how you speak to and treat a guest. Hospitality costs nothing.

Bathroom & Ironing Facilities: The bathroom had no exhaust fan, making the space feel extremely claustrophobic and uncomfortable.

And if you need to iron your clothes, be prepared for another unnecessarily complicated process. You have to go to reception, obtain a special key, then return to the first floor just to access the ironing facility. For travelers arriving with clothes in their luggage, something as basic as ironing shouldn’t become an expedition through the hotel.

There weren’t even bathroom slippers provided, another basic amenity one would reasonably expect.

What is most disappointing isn’t any one issue. It is the combination of poor hygiene, inadequate amenities, inconvenient facilities, and consistently rude service.

People travel from across the world looking forward to their vacation and hotel experience. A hotel should make guests feel welcomed, respected, comfortable, and cared for. Instead, we were repeatedly left wondering:

Why would anyone choose to stay here?

Management seriously needs to address both the condition of the facilities and, more importantly, the culture of hospitality among the staff.