Barracuda Aparthotel

There are two entries for this same establishment on TripAdvisor .. the one you are reading and "Aparthotel Barracuda" in Ponta Delgada at https://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g189135-d261092-Reviews-Aparthotel_Barracuda-Ponta_Delgada_Sao_Miguel_Azores.html They are the same place. I'm posting the same review for each Tripadvisor entry but cross-referencing them. The entry for this version of the hotel has the other review which mentions the bedbugs so you see I'm not the only guest who has had the bedbug experience within the last month or so. I could go on about the nice location, the breakfast only being so-so, the room a bit dated and worn but all that is covered in other reviews so let's get straight to the point. We were initially allocated room 306 when we discovered the bedbugs .. about a dozen of them in the bed. The room "Veroncia" had in June was 307 so we're talking about an infestation here. They are about 5mm long, roughly fingernail-sized, reddish-brown, oval-shaped, and flat. They are nocturnal feeders that come out at night to feed on us and they hide during the day in mattress seams. I took a video of some of them and the screenshot attached shows one of them (the rest had scurried away). I took the pillow with 3 or 4 of them attached, to reception and asked for another room. we were given room 202 but warned we would have to move back to room 306 the next day. That was never going to happen and in fact my wife was so traumatised by seeing them she spent most of the night sleeping on the balcony. Next morning we were allowed to stay in 202 but no apology, no recognition of our plight. We were supposed to return to this hotel for another 2 nights later that same week but no way would we stay there again so we asked the hotel and they cancelled our booking.com reservation for us .. if we cancelled it, it would have cost us our one night deposit so kudos to the hotel for doing that. what really annoys about this hotel and our experience are as follows: - there are bedbugs in at least 2 rooms in this hotel and the other reviewer Veronica, has the scars to prove it, we got out in time. - the hotel knew there were bedbugs, Veronica told them and though they denied it to her, others may have told them also but still they let guests stay in those rooms and wanted us to return to that same room the next day. - there was no apology and I can understand their reluctance to admit liability, but there was indifference like we were inconveniencing them. So I would not stay at that hotel again but if you want to take the risk then best of luck with it.

What it supposed to be a relaxing holiday, turned out to be a stressful, sleepless stay. I got bitten by bedbugs, and some of the stuff refused to admit that were in fact bedbugs. After three sleepless nights and with my face, eyes and body full of itchy swollen bites they gave us another room. I still woken up with new bites, but I was at that point, I just wanted to make the best of the remaining time with my kids. The place deserve five start for location and "friendly" staff (some of them were very empathic and trying to help). But this is an old, worn down place that needs proper maintenance. Smelly, humid and I have to ask if they could clean it thoroughly to get rid of the smells. Our handwashed in the bathroom could not close and we reported it, not sure it was fixed after we moved to another room, but it was a challenge to close the water every time we washed hands. Second room the table where I have my luggage placed, broke down, exposing rusty nails. Is an old place, but relatively "clean" if you are in a short budget; but no matter how old a place is, bed bugs should not be part of your holidays. We stayed in room 307 first and then 207. Breakfast was included, but we have to ask almost every day to get refills on what was served. E.g. milk container empty, olive oil for the bread, empty, cutted fruit in the fridge empty, etc.

We were very satisfied with our stay at this hotel: welcome, clean large rooms with kitchenette and balcony overlooking the beach, parking, location (near Ponte Delgada)... excellent value for money (admittedly we were in low season)... are ready to return if the opportunity arises