So I found myself needing a hotel for the first three nights of this trip because the Castillo was booked-up. This is a long trip so I am on a tight budget so the new CRT sponsor, Hotel Vesuvio looked like a good bet. Inexpensive CRT rates, close to Castillo so I could transition easily and as close to the gulch as many of the other popular hotels. So I decided to put them to the test.
Making reservations by their website was easy and prompt. In the notes section on their web form I noted that I was a CRT VIP. I was a little concerned when the confirmation came without the rate being confirmed.
I arrived on time and was pleased with the exterior appearance of the hotel. Check in was easy. I saw on my reservation form that in one of the fields "CRT" was hilighted in yellow. A good sign. However, there was still no confirmation of the rate.
My room was #207 at the far end of the first floor on the left. A good location I thought. No other room on one side.
For those who are familiar with some of the other hotels in the area which are converted mansions, this place retained almost none of the interior decor from the original construction. When it was converted, it appears as though it was totally gutted and a central corridor with rooms down either side was built. I think that it is a real shame that a more sympathetic conversion wasn't done.
It appears that the construction was carried out on a budget with the aim of producing as many rooms in the available space as possible. All of the rooms looked very similar in size and configuration. All having one or two beds. Various combinations of one double, two twins or one double and one twin. There is also a second floor that appears to have been added on to the original structure either during the construction or a bit later. It is not as large as the first floor witha windwed corridor and rooms down one side only. I didn't have an opportunity to see any of these rooms but 6 rooms on the floor I would assume that they are slightly larger than the rooms on the 1st floor.
The furnishings and decor is kind of cheap and a bit dated. Nothing to write home about but functional. Mi amiga REALLY enjoyed the ample hot running water! There is one computer next to the front desk for guests to use. There is also an additional ethernet drop available to hook up a laptop to the internet. There IS WiFi in the hotel but it is PAY ONLY not free.
Breakfast is included. It is served in the bar/rest located to the left of the hotel (but still in the grounds). Breakfast was a real disappointment. Pineapple, watermelon, oj, toast and coffee. There did not appear to be anything cooked to order on offer or available.
The next morning I compensated with the buffet breakfast at the Del Mar and the next morning I ate at SL. Also, the rooms DO have safes BUT they charge an additional $4/day for the priviledge of using them.
And the final part of the test... check out. Just as I had suspected by now, no CRT rate. I was charged the public rate of $65/night for a double room.
Double room? I reserved a single! See my confirmation below:
Confirmation No. 33185
Name: Mark *****
In: 05 Feb 2009
Out: 08 Feb 2009
Nights: 3 nights
Rooms: Single
So, this was a test for a new CRT sponsor and I think that they scored an F in my book. The mis-charging is a real no-no. Not "honoring" the CRT rate and pulling a "bait-and-switch" with a single room reserved and charging for a double. Okay, I know a bunch of you will reply and tell me that I was stupid for letting them get away with it. It is not about the money. It is about what CRT VIPs can expect from this place and how they would perform without having to get in their face for every detail.
In summary, while this hotel has a new gringo owner and the owner has stepped up and welcomed us (CRT), the hotel is evidently tico managed and exhibits much of the tico behavior that pisses us off the most!
Would I ever stay there again? Not likely. With the long list of favorable hotels that are available to us it is unlikely that I would ever find myself there again. The place touts it's self as a green tourist hotel and was packing in the tour groups. Unless the new owner can exert some influence on the current management, I cannot forsee that this situation will change.
Enough of frowns for now. I regret that I was not able to make a more favorable report.
Boy, am I ever happy to be at the Castillo!
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