Jane Wilde
Google
I have been coming to this hotel for over two decades. Some years' back it was extended by three floors and re-decorated.
Thus staying for Christmas/New Year 2018/2019. I expected great things.
I was badly let down on all counts. Upon arrival, I was allocated a tiny seventh floor room with a 'side sea view'' but which actually overlooked the busy highway in front of the hotel and some hideous roof tops full of satellite dishes and geysers and rubbish. It was so noisy that sleep eluded me completely.
I had arrived on the evening of the 20th December, and had been forewarned about the work on the beach which was going to terminate the following day for the weekend before Christmas. This DID not happen...work continued daily from 07.00 to 19.00 through to Christmas Eve. Thus I was awakened very early and could not sleep due to the music and general noise from the bar until past midnight.
I had come to stay hoping for peaceful uninterrupted slumber, but instead was lucky to have gleaned FIVE HOURS in each of the first FIVE days at this establishment.
I asked to see the GM, Jochen Niemann, who informed me that he would give me a better room on a higher floor but not until 27th December despite my Invited Membership of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World where one is always offered automatic upgrade. I asked for a concession on my half-board arrangement to make up for the disruption of the first five days and was grudgingly offered 200 euros discount.
Breakfasts were terrible...cold, greasy food left in tureens which was inedible. I asked for an omelette three days' running and each time they were overcooked. I then opted for poached and was served two cold eggs on a rounded piece of soggy white bread...coffee was quite good however.
The Caprice restaurant where breakfast, buffet lunch and dinner were served is run like a canteen...tables closely placed...no table cloths...and cheap cutlery...all in all rather sad. As for service...dream on...the servers had NO idea how to serve, plonking everything down, be it at breakfast or dinner with the comment "Enjoy" and wine ordered by glass brought in the hand without any idea as to what the wine might actually be and totally undrinkable.
I endured dinner on my half-board plan for three nights or so, until Christmas Day dinner, when everyone arrived in cocktail/evening attire. Within minutes we were witness to a very scruffy badly dressed man in chinos and dirty T shirt, sashay in followed by two blonde Russian escort girls, seating himself right in front of our table, he proceeded to order bottles of Ruinart champage at 100 euros a bottle and within a short time all conversation was stopped in its tracks by the man saying in a loud voice "I like to make love with two women"...he then proceeded to cajole and physically maul the girl nearest to him, and soon the conversation became so lewd that I called the manager over and he was red with embarrassment and called the duty manager in. Great apology was offered. However it was all too much for me, and from then on, I ordered room service.
Due to the hotel catering more for the public use of their lobby, bar and swimming pool area, with no private seating area for residents I ended up confined to my room, as I could not abide the noise, increased by continuous repetitive taped music...this went on from early morning to late in the night.
Add to this, the bad food, poor restaurant service, general indifference all round, it made for a memorably unpleasant stay. The only staff worth commending are the head housekeeper Christelle who has worked for 30 years, Chris and her female reception staff (the male staff were surly and unobliging), the doormen, and the maids, who were always willing and helpful.
This hotel is good for business travellers and men looking for entertainment of the female pay by the hour type...all families, honeymooners, couples of all ages, etc...give it a BIG miss.
