Ann Kornobis
Google
If you’ve already booked this property and have an opportunity to cancel, I strongly recommend doing so, and if you’re considering booking, don’t. Nothing is as advertised. I'm an easy and flexible traveler, so for me to be disappointed, it really took a lot.
We were a group of 6 with 3 different rooms booked - all of us had entirely different but equally disappointing experiences. I personally booked a Standard Room with a Queen Bed and Garden View for 7 days. The booking photos showed a bright, spacious, and tropical-inspired room with beautiful furnishings (see photos as per my booking confirmation). However, upon arrival, the room bore absolutely no resemblance to the photos advertised.
The room I was given was shockingly bad—far worse than anything I could have anticipated. It was so tiny and poorly designed that two people could barely move without bumping into each other. The space felt claustrophobic, outdated, and completely lacking the vibrant and inviting charm portrayed in the photos.
The furniture was shabby, the decor was uninspired and tired, the room smelled like a moldy, stuffy cottage, and the overall atmosphere was old and depressing (see real photos). While the bed and basic amenities like the refrigerator and coffee maker looked technically functional, they did nothing to compensate for the suffocatingly small size, the dreary ambiance, and the blatant misrepresentation of the room.
After spending way too much time arguing with the front desk and explaining the stark difference between what I booked and what I received, they finally admitted that they only have one room on the property that actually looks like the photos online.
They even told me that the room I was initially given is better suited for a quick one-night stay—so why on earth would they assign it to someone staying for a full week? Reluctantly, they moved us into another room, which was marginally better but still nowhere near what I had booked. After an extremely lengthy conversation, the manager agreed to compensate me a few days stay, but despite my ongoing efforts, no refund had been issued and only after another month of follow ups once I got home did I finally get compensated as promised.
Our vacation was stressful, uncomfortable, and overshadowed by the constant battle for even the smallest form of compensation. This seemed to be a recurring issue at Sebastian’s, as we repeatedly saw other guests leaving early, arguing with the front desk, and voicing similar complaints about their rooms and the property in general.
Other things to note: There is no beach despite claims or suggestions to the contrary (see photos), a balcony suite may be a balcony or it may be a patio with zero privacy right next to the restaurant with guests a few feet away (as some of our friends found out), and the overall property is in desperate need of maintenance and attention. In addition, as others have noted in the review, the restaurant staff were annoyed if you had questions about the menu or dietary restrictions and every time we ate there, something in our order was wrong - and when you asked even nicely, the annoyance level just increased. If you’re considering staying or eating here, save yourself the frustration and book elsewhere. You may be lucky and get the one room that is as advertised, but please don't bother, it's not worth it.
A few positives: the hotel did offer a free shuttle service to Smugglers Cove which was a beautiful nearby beach; this area and location is a surfing destination right out your door for those interested (there were lots of surfers out regularly).
