Casa Del Rai is a perfect gem in an otherwise okay area. The surrounding buildings are in various stages of disrepair, but Casa Del Rai is well maintained and the rooms are very comfortable. We are a family of 5 and had the 2 bedroom on the top floor, just below the pool.
What we liked about the hotel:
1. Our host and hostess Alex (Manager) and Laticia (House Keeper) were always willing to help
2. Complimentary beer and coke on arrival
3. Clean and spacious rooms
4. Mostly blackout shades (although you will still wake up early)
5. Modern conveniences (medium size refrigerator, modern TV w/HDMI, cold AC)
6. Loaner things when requested (gas grill and small cooler) - Great service!
7. The views and roof top pool are amazing
8. Close to most needed things - Water (shop on southern corner), food (Liu's across street), Fruit&Veggies (across the street) - avoid the eggs, Bread and pastries (Bakery across the street and north one block)
What we did not like about hotel:
1. Low water pressure in shower (make sure you bring your own shampoo, soap
and conditioner - this is not a hotel)
2. Toilet chain kept falling off (rusted hook and plastic toilet lever handle - we never reported this)
3. The prices for extras:
a. Excursions at the hotel are not the best and we found much better deals just by checking around and dealing directly with certain locations. (checkout Blue Dream Adventures with Michael Cain and Island Divers with Rudy)
b. Golf cart prices (ours backfired every time we went over a bump and we found we could have gotten better carts for 10-20 % cheaper just by taking a little walk up the street)
4. You can hear everything above you, but nothing next to you. We heard everything happening at the pool upstairs. Not terrible, but not great either.
What we did not like about the area:
1. Seaweed covered beach (no direct access to the Caribbean Waters, unless by boat or golf cart to other side of island)
2. Local construction noises daily and street voices/noise at midnight
3. Rooster wake-up at 4:50am-5:15am every day. This may be great for some people.
Best places in area:
1. Blue Dream Adventures with Micheal Cain - 5 to 10 minute walk on the beach heading south - (snorkling, scuba, island barbq, etc.)
2. Liu's Fast Food - just across the street - Huge food portions for 10/15 Bz. You can also turn in beer and coke bottles to them for ¢.25 bz per bottle.
3. Truck Stop - 10 minutes by Golf cart heading north (sometimes you pay a toll for the bridge). Decent prices for food, but the hidden pool and movie theater is the diamond in the rough behind the shipping container restaurants. (might need bug spray at night)
4. Rain and/or Aqua Restaurants - moderately expensive - Amazing views, perfect food (try the grouper or snapper). Must bring bug spray if you are at Rain. Yes, Even on the roof they have mosquitoes.
5. Secret Beach - Drive all north then all West by golf cart for about 25 minutes - Only beach worth visiting on the whole of San Pedro - You will need to order food or drinks to use the loungers (prices are 5-8 Bz for beer)
Best thing about San Pedro:
1. The people are awesome!
Worst thing about San Pedro:
1. Everything you buy in stores is expired (We had 19 year old Raman!) and nothing has nutritional information on it.