Nortilidin
Google
Nightmare on Bastimentos – WARNING: Do NOT book this accommodation!
I booked a bungalow for $130 per night, expecting a charming, nature-inspired stay. Instead, I was met with a rundown, unsanitary, and massively overpriced disaster that looks nothing like the photos online.
A dilapidated accommodation
From the moment I arrived, it was clear that the online images were completely misleading. The ceiling is unfinished, leaving me staring directly at the exposed roof tiles. Rusty, sharp screws stick out of the walls, posing a safety hazard. The windows, which were supposed to offer a breathtaking jungle view, are dirty and smeared, completely ruining the experience. The curtains? Unwashed, dusty, and grimy.
The bungalow is partially made of wood, but there are gaps up to 1 cm wide between the planks, allowing insects and other creatures to enter freely. Within hours, I encountered a cockroach, a spider, and a centipede inside the room. The windows are equipped with mosquito nets, but they don’t fit properly, making them useless against mosquitoes and other pests.
A damp, moldy smell and disgusting hygiene
Another huge issue: The entire bungalow reeks of dampness and mildew, as if I were staying in a decaying, abandoned museum. The smell is overwhelming and makes the already unbearable conditions even worse.
The bathroom? A complete disaster! There is visible mold next to the shower, and the refrigerator sits on a rotting Styrofoam block, which also seems to be moldy. Absolutely disgusting.
Horrendous sleeping conditions
The mattress is a joke. It is completely worn out and has a deep indentation, forcing you to sleep in a single uncomfortable position. No matter how much you try to move, you will always roll back into this hole. Using the whole mattress? Impossible. Getting a restful night’s sleep? Forget about it.
Constant construction noise, a closed pool, and zero compensation
What they don’t tell you before booking: The entire area is under construction! You only find out after checking in (and spending at least one night) that you’re staying in the middle of a noisy construction site. Drilling, hammering, and construction work go on all day—forget about peace and relaxation.
The pool, which was advertised as fully available? Closed for three days due to construction—with no prior notice and no compensation offered.
Other amenities? Nonexistent. There’s no bar, and the only “service” they provide is a cup of coffee in the morning—but only black or with sugar, because the owners are too cheap to buy milk from the local store. They openly admitted that $2.50 for milk is too expensive for their guests. This stingy, careless attitude defines the entire stay: zero hospitality, zero service, zero effort.
No flexibility, no refunds, no way out
And the worst part: The owners refused to offer any discount or cancellation, despite the obvious issues!
We couldn’t afford to change accommodations due to budget constraints, meaning we were forced to stay here under completely unacceptable conditions.
We spoke to other guests—all of them were just as shocked and disappointed. No one got what was promised online.
FINAL VERDICT: DO NOT BOOK THIS PLACE!
This accommodation is a scam and an absolute disgrace. For $130 per night, you get construction noise, mold, insects, disgusting conditions, and owners who don’t care about their guests.
I strongly warn everyone: DO NOT book this place! If you don’t want to ruin your trip, stay far away from this scam.