Jocelyn Fennewald
Google
We booked Sugar Beach Hotel with high hopes for a nice stay, but unfortunately, our experience was extremely disappointing. Check-in went smoothly, and the front desk staff was polite and professional. However, as soon as we entered our assigned room, we were shocked at the condition. The room was dirty and felt neglected, there were crumbs on the floor, stains on the couch and chairs, a burn hole in the couch cushion, a stained lampshade, an unsecured outlet in the wall, and dirty sheets and bathroom. Bugs were present in the room, and within 10 minutes, we all had mosquito bites, which is unacceptable, especially with a 3-year-old in tow. We took many photos to document the room’s condition.
We immediately went to the front desk to request a new room, but were told there were no other rooms available. They offered to clean the room, but the issues went far beyond what cleaning could fix. The bugs, stains, and overall poor maintenance made the room uninhabitable. We decided we had no choice but to leave and look for another hotel, which was stressful given the limited availability in the area.
About 30 minutes later, after we had packed up and my husband returned the keys, the general manager came out and suddenly offered another room. By this point, we had lost confidence in the hotel, especially since we had previously been told there were no other rooms available.
We had read reviews before booking and were frankly shocked to see such a stark difference in the level of cleanliness we experienced compared to what had been reported. Overall, this experience was unacceptable for any hotel, especially one that should meet basic cleanliness and safety standards. We would not recommend Sugar Beach Hotel based on our experience.
8/7/25 Update based on response from Hotel
The response issued by Sugar Beach Hotel contains multiple false statements that appear to be a deliberate attempt to discredit me as both a reviewer and a consumer. I have extensive documentation, including timestamped photos, emails, and receipts, that directly contradict the statements made. Your public misrepresentation of the facts borders on defamation and is deeply concerning.
My review was accurate, professional, and based entirely on verifiable facts. The claim that I first returned to the front desk at 9:30pm is unequivocally false. I have documentation showing I was at the front desk at approximately 6:28pm ET. Photos taken between 5:59pm and 6:22pm confirm our presence in the room and clearly illustrate the unacceptable conditions. At the front desk, I reported the issues and requested a room change. At that time, your staff informed me that no alternative rooms were available and instead offered housekeeping, which was not an appropriate or sufficient solution given the severity of the situation.
After the exchange at the front desk, I was sitting in my car, emotionally distressed, with my exhausted and hungry 3-year-old child, having checked out of your hotel shortly after 6:35pm. We arrived at your property around 5:15pm, making the total time spent at the property just over 1.5 hours, not four, as your response falsely claims.
By 7:39pm, I had secured a reservation at a different hotel, confirmed via email, after booking in person.
Additionally, your statement that a refund was voluntarily provided is misleading. The refund was only processed after I escalated the issue through the third-party booking platform. At no point did I request additional compensation, despite incurring unexpected costs and significant stress in finding a last-minute alternative.
I take the integrity of my name seriously and will not allow your hotel to publicly distort the truth without challenge.