Seven Seas Hotel Life

"Where do I even begin? Let’s start with this — this is not a 5-star establishment. Not even close. We were completely misled by the glowing reviews (still wondering if those people stayed at the same hotel). We always rely on reviews when booking our holidays — unfortunately we paid the price dearly. We’ve just returned from what can only be described as the holiday from hell, and honestly, I need another holiday just to recover. Rooms: The rooms are falsely advertised as air-conditioned — spoiler alert: they’re not. We spent the first couple of nights tossing and turning in what felt like a sauna. Opening the balcony door wasn’t an option either, thanks to the booming “entertainment” from nearby hotels that made sleep impossible. After raising our concerns, we were moved to a “residence room,” which initially seemed better, until we realised that soundproofing is apparently not a thing here. We could hear every word, argument, and door slam from next door — including family feuds that went on until 4 a.m. on multiple nights. Restful holiday? Not a chance. Housekeeping: There were three of us staying in the room, but the setup was clearly for two — two towels, two sets of toiletries, two sets of condiments. Maybe they expected us to fight over who got to shower first? The mini-fridge was left unrefilled, toiletries weren’t replenished, and, just for good measure, we got two knocks before 11 am — despite having the “Do Not Disturb” sign on. Let me remind you, we hadn’t slept until after 4 am on some nights. And then there was the cherry on top — on day 4, we returned to find a “Happy Birthday” cake in our room. Cute idea, but they left only two forks and plates for three guests. So apparently, one of us was supposed to just watch? Maybe clap for the others while they ate? Food: The main restaurant lacked any atmosphere whatsoever. Think school cafeteria, but with less energy and more disappointment. The food was bland, repetitive, and mostly lukewarm. Breakfast and lunch were identical every day, with dinner offering only a minor variation — and even then, nothing fresh or appetizing. To add to the charm, there’s a huge cat presence during meal times. I love animals, but not when they’re fighting next to my table while I’m trying to eat. We witnessed a couple of cat fights right beside us — all while they were scavenging for food. Nothing says “five-star dining” quite like hissing cats under your chair. The final straw was the “schnitzel” — actually a frozen breaded chicken breast pretending to be something it’s not (much like the hotel itself). Dirty cutlery, chipped plates, and cloudy glasses were a constant feature. Coffee? Sour milk after day two and coffee machines in constant “cleaning mode.” We gave up entirely. Drinks, both alcoholic and soft, were of poor quality across the board — the “cocktails” at the Taurus bar had a mouldy aftertaste, likely from unclean ice machines. And since it was the end of the season, all the à la carte restaurants were closed, leaving us trapped with the same dreary buffet day after day. Service: By this point, it was painfully obvious the staff had checked out mentally for the season. The restaurant and snack bar were never prepared for guests. Tables weren’t laid properly — missing cutlery, sticky surfaces, and some tables not even wiped. Dirty glasses piled up around the pool all day. The hotel either has too few staff, or the ones they do have just stopped caring — honestly, I couldn’t tell. One evening, we were served leftover daiquiris from the blender that had been sitting there from the previous guests, rather than fresh ones. Because clearly, hygiene and basic service are optional extras here. As for the language barrier — ordering a cocktail from the hotel’s own menu was an adventure in itself. Some bar staff didn’t know how to make the drinks listed, and trying to explain them was a losing battle. Final Thoughts: By the end, we were counting the hours until checkout. Between the overheated rooms, lack of sleep, bad food, worse drinks, uninterested staff, and the general air of “we’ve given up,” this place sucked the joy right out of our holiday. We came back more exhausted than when we left, which says it all. If you’re looking for a genuine 5-star experience — or even a decent 3-star stay — do yourself a favour and go elsewhere. Save your money, your sanity, and your sleep. Because once was more than enough. Never again."

"We stayed here from 29th October until 7th November. One thing I will say is that this is not a 5-star hotel. The grounds are beautiful, the beach is lovely, and the location is decent — but unfortunately, that’s where the positives end for us. We are a family of three (two adults and a 15-year-old “man-child”) and experienced issues from the very first evening we arrived. We were initially allocated a room in the main building, where the “air conditioning” system was explained to us. It turns out it isn’t actually air conditioning but a central heating system set to one temperature throughout the hotel. This meant our room was extremely hot and uncomfortable, with no way of adjusting it. The room was also prepared for only two guests instead of three, so we were short on towels, glasses, and drinks. When we raised this at reception, we were given fans — which did little to help. After a sleepless night, we spoke to the receptionist again and were moved to a room in the Residence building. This room had an independent air conditioning system that worked properly, was quickly set up for three people, and was overall a much nicer place to stay. We hadn’t realised that this was the end of the season (our fault for not checking), but it really showed — both in terms of service and what was available. We were disappointed to find that all the à la carte restaurants were closed. While we accept we should have checked, we still feel that if the hotel is open, has paying guests, and is charging premium rates, these facilities should be available. The buffet restaurant was well below what you’d expect from a 5-star establishment. Tables were often uncleared or not set, the glassware and crockery were frequently dirty or cracked, and the coffee machines showed “cleaning required” messages for most of our stay (seven out of nine days). The food was generally poor — lukewarm, lacking variety, and often dry and tasteless. Service was another major disappointment. I’ve never stayed in a supposed 5-star hotel where so many staff seemed so disinterested in guests or their work. We often waited a long time for drinks while staff were chatting amongst themselves, on their phones, or simply absent. By mid-afternoon at the pool, our small table would be piled with empty cups, and even when staff came by with a trolley, they’d collect one or two cups and move on, never to return. It wasn’t about expecting people to clean up after us — it was the lack of basic service and attention to detail that stood out. Similarly, I’d advise against ordering cocktails — they were often sloppily made, served in dirty glasses, and handed over without care. We raised all these issues with management during our stay (and we have video evidence) as we were genuinely unhappy. They offered us a massage and a beach pavilion, which we declined, as that didn’t address any of the core issues. We also contacted our travel rep and Seven Seas about moving hotels, but despite multiple follow-ups, this didn’t happen. Would I recommend this hotel? Not in a million years."

"Had a brilliant stay at the Seven Seas hotel. The pools and the beach are amazing but the highlight was definitely the food and the staff. In particular the Italian restaurant and special mention to Buse the chef who was incredibly lovely."