My initial impression of Dondo Stay was positive, but that changed quickly upon arrival. I arrived late at night after an 8-hour drive, expecting a clean and secure space. Unfortunately, my bathroom was not clean (shaved hairs in the sink and hair in the shower), and the bed sheets were mismatched and covered in lint, which made me question whether they had been laundered at all.
More concerning was the lack of basic security. The front door was not functioning properly, and a side door had been left unlocked. Another guest actually stopped me to ask how to get into the house, as the entry mechanisms were not working — which further heightened my discomfort.
A dog right outside my window barked through the night.
When I contacted the hotel about the unclean room, I was told housekeeping could come clean it “now.” At that point, given the condition of the room and safety concerns, I chose to leave a day early. Communication throughout the stay felt impersonal and scripted, almost as if I were texting with AI bots. I received a generic “thank you for letting us know,” followed the next day by a message outlining checkout procedures, even though I had already left.
I later received a message asking me to leave a positive review in exchange for 15% off a future stay. Needless to say, I will not be returning.
While the concept has potential, cleanliness, safety, and meaningful human communication must be non-negotiable in hospitality. Sadly, all three were lacking here.