HARMONY Hotel Hostel Aruba

We booked this property last minute as we had our flight cancelled and thought we would be stuck for a few days due to weather back home. Yes, it says non-refundable, but it didn't matter at the time of booking. We thought we wouldn't be able to go home and all the hotels were booked. Within an hour of booking we got news that we had a flight. I immediately contacted the property and asked for a waiver to cancel the reservation. She acted like it would be no problem but after a few weeks of back and forth they stood firm that they would not refund us for never having stepped foot on the property. We are out over $700 for nothing. Expedia was no help whatsoever.

This property was very disappointing. The synopsis about the property made it sound very cozy and comfortable and it was just the opposite. I have never stayed in a place that was in such a poor condition.

I arrived at check in time of 4pm and was not able to check in because the manager was not there. She showed up 45 minutes later. Check in was OK. I asked about the time for the free continental breakfast the details showed. She claims because it wasn't on the confirmation of the reservation, she was not going to honor it. The ad also says free airport shuttle. Details to contact the property did not come up on my end until I was already in route to the property so I ended up taking a taxi. She even claims that she called Expedia and that she wasn't wrong, they were not wrong, implying that I was wrong. Property is set back in a neighborhood so you will have to walk or take a taxi if you do not have a car. Not too many eating options close by. Manager offers rides at a price that changes but does offer 1 or 2 free dropoffs with you trying to find your own way back. There was an elderly couple there during my stay. I didn't see them after their 2nd day there because she had dropped them off for dinner and they walked back to the property 10 minutes in the dark. The property has a couple different names which included hostel lodging. While my room was a private room, there were many incidents involving the other guests that were disruptive. The manager took a guest's wallet and passport because he was smoking in an area he wasn't supposed to be instead of just keeping the deposit like a regular hotel. Do not stay here if you can help it!!!