Derek D.
Google
You know that feeling when you walk into a five star hotel but quickly realise it’s really closer to four? That was this stay.
The staff were mixed. Some were genuinely lovely and attentive, others less so. Outside of the dining areas there was no service, which meant heading in from the pool each time you wanted a drink. Sometimes they arrived in 15 minutes, sometimes not at all…. And we had to remind them. Hmmm
The pool looked inviting and was pleasant in the sun, but the details let it down. Sunbeds weren’t always clean, towels were often missing or unclean and the water sometimes collected leaves and bugs. It felt like the area could have been looked after a little better….
The gardens were also underwhelming. We renamed it the underwhelming gardens and laughed as we watched people come out it looking bored. Patchy and dry in places, with robotic mowers doing an uninspiring job. It could be so much more with a bit of care and attention…
Our room was comfortable enough but dated. The French grand style didn’t really work, and the decor felt heavy. A broken door handle meant I was briefly stuck inside, though it was fixed quickly. The Japanese toilet remote didn’t work, which was a shame. Even although I asked but I think it may have been a communication error.
Corridors doubled as storage areas for cleaning equipment, which didn’t exactly add to the atmosphere.
The restaurant was fine — food was nice, though the menu was limited. Breakfast was very basic, and after trying it once we decided to go into town instead and on the final morning we went to the brunch. Cold bacon and lukewarm scrambled eggs… defo not worth the price. And the bar even ran out of soda and limes a few times during our stay.
When we asked for local recommendations, staff didn’t mention the brilliant and stunning port just minutes away, where we later found live music and fantastic food. Ironically, that turned out to be the highlight of the trip.
But the electric bikes were a god send and decent quality and we had fun peddling around the area. I mean in all honesty there’s not a lot to do here.
And obviously it took a while for them to give us the padlock and the battery for the bike etc but after a few days you come to expect the slow service.
Overall, it wasn’t a bad stay, just not five star. I’d give it three out of five. I wouldn’t return, and I certainly wouldn’t recommend it.
Management could do a lot to bring the standards up to match the hotel’s promise!
Shame really.