Hotel Palmera Dorada

We are not happy with the customer service. Hotel is in Santiago which is not a touristy town and does not have any water ferry to get to after 4:30 in the afternoon. We felt the town was not very safe and tourist friendly. We spoke to them about checking out after first night. Initially they agreed and still ended up charging for 2 nights. It was extremely frustrating working with them. They charged us in cash and then twice on card just for one night. After we disputed they returned us the cash but only after we got an alert from our bank that they charged our card multiple times. Hotel inside is okay once you get in there. However location, customer service and communication is seriously lacking. Pictures don’t do justice and the hotel is not what it looks like in the pictures.

The room and staff was great, location was not ideal

I have never felt more unsafe or disrespected in my life. While the Hotel Palmera Dorada itself is decent on the inside with nice rooms, everything else about this stay was a nightmare. The Location: The hotel is situated in what feels like the most dangerous neighborhood in Santiago Atitlán. It is surrounded by pitch-black alleys with zero lighting and is constantly teeming with drunks and suspicious individuals. We felt like targets every time we stepped foot outside the gate. If you value your safety, do not stay here. The Checkout (The Breaking Point): Despite having fully prepaid my stay through Expedia, the checkout experience was traumatizing. An armed guard physically blocked us from leaving the premises. They refused to let us exit until they had "inspected" the rooms, treating us like common thieves or criminals. I have traveled all over the world and have never been subjected to such a humiliating and hostile protocol. Being held against my will by an armed individual over a pre-paid room is completely unacceptable. Message to Expedia & Management: I am expecting a formal response from Expedia immediately. This was not just bad service; this was unlawful restraint. I am currently in the process of escalating this claim with a lawyer to address the actions of the staff and the lack of safety at this location. STAY AWAY.

The hotel was nice but the food wasn’t

I strongly recommend this hotel to all tourists who want to have a great time in the area