Virginia Celeste Fiorin G.
Google
Preamble: My expectations regarding luxury hotels are high, and my quality standard for five-star establishments is very rigorous. I consider certain shortcomings unacceptable in a setting of this caliber.
1. Arrival, Parking, and Porter Service
Upon arrival, we noted the absence of valet parking service, a significant omission for a hotel of this category.
The welcome was immediately problematic. The porter who assisted us with the luggage had a strong body odor, did not speak English, and was visibly distracted. His lack of care while handling our belongings forced me to call him out ("Be careful, please") due to his complete disregard for our items.
2. Room, Amenities, and Technical Issues
The rooms proved to be average, but nothing memorable or exceptional for a five-star hotel.
During our stay, the electronic keys (Smart key) stopped working twice, forcing us to return to the reception for reactivation—a frustrating inconvenience that indicates poor system maintenance.
A detail I find inconceivable was the absence of a shampoo dispenser. Only "shower" (body wash), "conditioner," and "lotion" were provided. The omission of shampoo in a hotel of this category is unacceptable and denotes a serious lack of attention to essential amenities.
3. Check-in Procedures and Staff Intrusiveness
The check-in clerk proved to be inappropriately intrusive. Even before assigning us the room, she asked us the reason for our short stay (only one night) and immediately proposed that we extend our stay. I found this approach premature and unwelcome. Before suggesting an extension, staff should allow the guest time to evaluate the property. Furthermore, I believe that our final destination or the motivation for the brevity of our stay is not the staff's concern, and they should avoid asking such personal and indiscreet questions.
4. Incident in the Spa/Massage Area
The experience in the Spa area was the final negative peak of the stay. My fiancé left his phone in the custody of the Chinese operator working in the massage area adjacent to the Spa, who clearly saw us entering. At 8:00 PM, the operator closed her section without notifying the Spa staff that a phone needed to be returned and, crucially, she locked a service door that was the only access to reach the rooms on the fourth floor.
We found ourselves literally locked in an area of the building with no way to return to our room, and, moreover, without our phone. The incident is astounding.
We had to alert the Spa staff, who assisted us in locating the phone (which the Chinese colleague had left at the reception without warning anyone) and unlocked the corridor access to our rooms.
Conclusion: The sequence of service failures is in no way representative of a five-star hotel experience.