Dourada Studios

What People are saying

Avoid this place or follow my tips below

S_FlyingSoloon 16/03/2017 19:41

1) In my opinion, this accommodation is not suitable for solo travelling females. Its in a local location, (which is fine), the area will probably not be not what you expect (it doesn't look like/feel like a holiday resort) and does not feel like an area you would feel safe in (although I had no actual issues with any local people). It can feel quite intimidating.

2) No adequate information/directions given in English, or maps provided for any of the places you need to go to eg. beach/shops/restaurants. and is very easy to get lost in this area. I got lost several times and it was quite traumatic. Please print off your own maps from Google Maps prior to travelling, and find a local tour operator who may be able to help you. I used Barracuda Tours (Tracey is lovely & English Speaking) and they are also English speaking and very helpful in Cafe Londres, to help me with the info I needed to have a good holiday. They are both located in the main square of the resort.

3) Contrary to what is advertised on Booking.com. Paula & her assistants do not speak an adequate level of English in my opinion, to be warrant the 'we speak English' as advertised on booking.com. Please take a phrasebook with you so that you can communicate in Creole.

4) Please take your own towels. Towels provided are not changed and are very poor quality

5) I would also advise you take your own cleaning materials, cloths, dustpan and brush, cleaning liquids as the rooms were not cleaned for a whole week of my stay.

6) Again, although advertised as a 'terrace'/balcony, please don't expect a pleasant area where you can sit out and enjoy a little sunshine.

Avoid room nr3

86COBon 12/02/2017 16:46

The room on ground floor is noisy, dark, the bed is broken, very unpleasant to sleep on. On arrival we have been promised to move to the 1st floor on the day after to a better room, but it never happened. If you want fresh towels or fresh sheets or your room to be clean you have to ask for it. There is no clothes drying for you towels or your swimming suit.The shower is rusty, and the shower curtain is very dirty!

Local

Kevin Con 05/02/2017 14:27

Having arrived by taxi we were put downstairs apt for 2 days until larger upstairs apt. available. Hey its basic 2-ring cooker good for making tea. A few plates and glasses. But after the initial culture shock of the area (it's on a back street) we found it ok. Nice and cheap restaurant next door. Cheap good breakfast and the Municipal market is also there get your fruit and water refill cheap! Found the bed very comfortable and shower worked ok. Did have electric power cut one night and no water on another. But still for the price it was ok. We found it amusing really. Paula was a lovely lady and did replace bedding and towels during our stay. Never felt scared even at night and by the end was sorry to leave. Be prepared, we bought our own tea/coffee. You need a 2-pin adaptor for the ph charger. But ate out everyday and had great weather. So forget europe and "No Stress" 😊

Avoid this place!

Andreas29on 04/02/2017 21:25

If you want to destroy an important part of your holiday, just book Dourada Studios. From 5 nights stayed, I had 2 evenings with no water at all until morning, another one the water stopped in the middle of the shower for a while and one morning no electricity for a short time. If you are lucky to stay at the ground floor, especially room nr.3, there is no window, just a "balcony" door which, if you close it, you feel like in a bunker. Also if you are planning to cook something, I wish you good luck! It's a long time since I haven't seen such an old "kitchen" furniture and rusty shower...the electric hob is for sure stolen from a museum and of course it can't boil the water anymore, just warm it. The pictures on booking.com are very cleverly taken and nothing from showers...
And if these are not enough, wait to see the amazing location, true it's only 10 min.to the beach, but it's situated in the middle of a...ghetto. Until the main street where the restaurants are, each of the 6-7 streets until there has minimum 2 homeless dogs and only local people. Nothing bad happened, no incidents, but in the night going back to your room is quite creepy.
And almost forgot, no Wi-Fi, I knew from the beginning, but I think it's not acceptable for year 2017 and also because I stayed in other islands where I paid half price for a room than here with free wi-fi...

Avoid this place!

mtriesteon 29/01/2017 16:29

Yes it's cheap compared to the average in Santa Maria but I cancelled my 2nd booking after 2 nights here. No one at the reception at any time, the apartment was big but old, very uncomfortable beds, rusty kitchen and cockroaches and insects in the bathroom and in the terrace. I booked thru booking and didn't check Tripadvisor first...