"I thought I would provide a detailed review of Bluesea Caleta Dorada to give anyone considering a holiday there a completely open and honest view of my experience from start to finish.
I booked Bluesea Caleta Dorada primarily because of the price. I already have a couple of other holidays planned this year, so I didn't want to spend a fortune, but I still wanted one final family getaway. Before booking, I read a number of reviews. While some were mixed, that's often the case with many holidays I've booked in the past. After all, this is a three-star resort with an average rating of around 3.5 stars, so I felt I had realistic expectations.
First Impressions
We arrived at the hotel as the sun was setting, which gave us a good view of the entrance and surrounding areas. My initial impression was that it was acceptable, but I have stayed in both three-star and even two-star resorts that presented themselves much better. The overall appearance seemed tired and in need of some investment and general maintenance.
The reception staff, however, were excellent. They were friendly, welcoming, and very helpful during check-in. We collected our keys and made our way to the two bungalows allocated to us in Block C.
At first glance, the rooms looked reasonable. We dropped off our luggage and headed out for something to eat before unpacking. Unfortunately, when we returned and started settling in, I noticed water pooling on the floor and cockroaches in the bedroom. Looking more closely, it became apparent that the room had not been cleaned properly.
To their credit, reception responded quickly and moved us to another bungalow. Maintenance also attended to investigate the water leaking down the walls, although the issue remained unresolved for a couple of days.
The replacement room was not much better. It appeared that the hotel had attempted to modernise the bungalows by fitting laminate flooring throughout. However, the flooring was lifting and separating in several places, most likely due to guests returning from the pool or showering and leaving moisture on the floor.
During our 12-day stay, housekeeping only visited a handful of times and generally appeared to do little more than run a mop around the floor rather than carrying out a thorough clean. I have photographs showing the cockroaches, standing water, and the dirt and hair that remained around the room. The rooms also had a noticeable musty smell, which I suspect is linked to ongoing moisture issues and the flooring.
After settling in, we were not particularly impressed. Our feeling was that the room served as little more than a place to sleep and get changed.
Hotel Facilities
The resort is split into three separate zones: A, B, and C. Each area has its own swimming pool and refreshment facilities.
Zone B provides light snacks, such as sandwiches stored in a refrigerator, while Zones A and C have staffed bars offering hot snacks, drinks, and alcoholic beverages.
The main restaurant is located above Zone A. I have very few complaints about the dining experience. The food was good, with a wide selection available throughout our stay. The restaurant staff were consistently friendly, welcoming, and hardworking. In fact, the staff across the resort were one of the strongest positives during our holiday. Their attitude and service genuinely improved the overall experience, and without them my overall rating of the hotel would have been considerably lower.
Entertainment
I did not get heavily involved in the entertainment programme, although there were daytime activities available and a children's club that appeared reasonably popular.
I watched a couple of the evening shows, which were acceptable but nothing special. The music quiz, however, was particularly poor and often made little sense.
One area that really disappointed me was the coverage of the World Cup. Spain had reached the final, yet the hotel only provided two small televisions mounted approximately 12 feet off the ground, and only one appeared to function properly. Reception frequently dropped out, making it difficult to watch. There was also a projector, but the delay and stopping made it unwatchable.
In the end, I chose to watch the match at Molly's Bar nearby, where there were multiple televisions, reliable coverage, and reasonably priced drinks. I found it surprising and disappointing that the hotel failed to provide adequate facilities for what was a major sporting event, especially when local bars managed it without any issues.
Health and Safety Concerns
One issue that concerned me was the route from Pool Bar C back to the lower bungalows at night.
The area was often completely dark, with no lighting in operation. Guests staying in the lower accommodation had to navigate approximately three flights of steep tiled steps. Given the lack of visibility, I felt this presented a genuine safety risk.
I raised the issue with reception on the first evening. The lights were switched on the following night, which suggested the problem could easily be resolved. Unfortunately, they were turned off again for the remainder of our stay. I have photographs showing the area, including enhanced images demonstrating just how dark it became.
Final Day Issues
By the final day of our holiday, the Pool C bar had run out of several items, including certain spirits, mayonnaise, cheese sauce for the nachos, and frequently seemed to have no syrup available for the self-service soft drinks and Coca-Cola dispensers.
While these issues were relatively minor, they did contribute to the impression that the hotel was struggling with stock management and general upkeep.
Overall Verdict
Would I return? No, I wouldn't."
