Carlito's Homestay

Very disappointing experience. The host claimed he could help book tours and that he spoke English, but communication was very difficult and we were completely misled. We came to this island mainly to see whales — it was my absolute dream — and he assured us several times that we would see them. We trusted him and booked a boat tour for $80. In reality, we were taken on a tiny boat to a shallow area where whales don’t even exist. The guide confirmed it right away — they knew perfectly well there were no whales there. It wasn’t bad luck; it was false advertising. The snorkeling afterward was just as disappointing: no fins, no masks, no coral life, nothing like what was promised. To make things worse, we were dropped off on a beach and had to walk 20 minutes back under the sun. When we complained, the host admitted it was his fault but still charged the full amount, no refund or discount. The food was decent but extremely overpriced for what it was — Because the currency is the dollar, they can charge American prices ? And sleeping was impossible, due to the extreme heat, no electricity at night despite the host assuring us there would be. Overall, full of lies and broken promises, which sadly ruined our experience on an otherwise beautiful island. So we decided to shorten our trip and leave after a night instead of 2.

Very complicated experience… The place is clean and the food is definitely a plus. But communication is absolutely impossible. Alfonso boasts online about being a polyglot, but in reality he only knows how to say “yes” and “no” without understanding any of the questions you ask. In our case, we lost $80 following his advice. We wanted to snorkel, spot whales in the distance, and have an amazing experience. But no. He made us go on a two-hour round trip by boat without being able to get in the water because he had confirmed that masks and snorkels would be provided… of course, there were none. We left completely disappointed — not even a small gesture of goodwill, even after a 30-minute conversation through an intermediary. To us, it felt like a scam hidden behind a fake smile. On top of that, the electricity is cut off at midnight, which means no fan. Impossible to sleep in the heat of the room. Our neighbors confirmed the same issue. Of course, Alfonso had told us the power was on all night… In the end, we only stayed one night out of the two we had booked. He completely ruined the experience for us. And yet, we’ve been through Sumba, Sumbawa, and other so-called “difficult” islands. We’re not demanding travelers — but we’re not fools either.

Big recommendation to stay in Alda's Homestay and support this local family!!! The family was really nice and friendly. The room and bathroom is super clean and the bed was comfortable. I paid 10usd and I could add every meal for another 5usd per meal. The food they provided was self made and very delicious! The location is close to the port. I highly recommend staying in that homestay in Beloi instead of the big resorts, as you support the locals and additionally you can experience the authentic life of the Timorese.

Awesome Homestay. My room was clean and comfortable. The food is AWESOME. Hosts are great and very welcoming. I will stay here again when I come back to Atauro.