Hiba Souki
Google
I recently stayed at Hotel Marimar Barcelona and unfortunately, my experience was marred by the behavior of the front desk staff, particularly the front reception guy.
From the moment we approached him, he seemed uninterested and rather rude. When we inquired about our breakfast inclusion, he was dismissive and confrontational, insisting that we were wrong and that we must have missed the reservation details. His attitude was unprofessional, and instead of calmly clarifying the situation, he was abrupt and dismissive, which made us feel uncomfortable.
Things only worsened when he requested both a cash security deposit and a credit card deposit simultaneously, claiming that it was the hotel's policy. His tone was rude and demanding, and he did not seem willing to explain or assist in a courteous manner. This added unnecessary stress after a long day of traveling and walking.
Initially, he promised that he wouldn't use our credit card and that he would only scan it for security deposit purposes, with no charges unless necessary at check-out. However, just a few minutes later, we received a message from our bank indicating that €100 had been deducted from our credit card—despite his assurances that no charges would be made unless needed at check-out. This was very frustrating and disappointing, especially given the way he had assured us.
From the very first moment we approached him, he interrupted us, stating he had an email to send before checking us in, which made us feel unwelcome and overlooked our exhaustion and need for assistance.
In contrast, the two ladies at the front desk were much more apologetic and understanding. They acknowledged the misunderstanding and apologized at the end, even though it was not their mistake. Their attitude was much more respectful and empathetic, which was appreciated.
Overall, this experience has left a negative impression of the hotel's customer service. While the hotel itself might have good amenities, staff training and attitude management need significant improvement to ensure guests feel valued and respected.