VOI Arenella Resort

"We are currently staying at VOI Arenella Resort, and unfortunately our vacation has been completely ruined by this hotel. First of all, this is not a true 4-star resort, and it certainly does not feel like an all-inclusive experience. Drinks are only available in limited locations and are served exclusively in tiny, low-quality plastic cups. The hotel advertises all-inclusive local beverages, yet even Aperol, an Italian drink produced in Italy, is not included and requires an extra charge. Instead, guests are offered a terrible chemical substitute that is practically undrinkable. If you want a normal-sized 250 ml cocktail, you have to order two separate drinks and then pour them into a larger cup yourself. Bartenders are apparently not allowed to serve cocktails in proper glasses. This perfectly illustrates the absurd policies of the resort. The rooms lack basic amenities. There are no complimentary bottles of water, no kettle, no coffee machine, and almost no toiletries. Getting drinking water becomes a daily quest: you have to search for water stations across the huge resort territory and fill disposable cups, or somehow find a bottle to refill and use in your room. This is simply unacceptable for a hotel claiming to be 4-star all-inclusive. The beach situation is equally disappointing. The nearest beach bar does not serve alcohol, while the farther beach does not have a bar at all. It is essentially a public beach with hotel sunbeds, and even then only the sunbeds starting from the fourth row are included in the price. There are two swimming pools. One is constantly crowded with children, loud music, and entertainment activities. The other is located next to ongoing construction work, with continuous noise throughout the day. There is no peaceful place to relax. Cleanliness is another major issue. Public areas are dirty, and we have not found soap in any public restroom. Not a single one. The rooms have some renovated furniture, but everything else is old and deteriorating: dirty walls, an outdated yellowed air conditioner, and a worn-out bathroom. The staff are indifferent and often appear arrogant. The answer to almost every request is simply “No, you can’t.” Nobody seems interested in helping guests or resolving problems. This has been one of the worst hotel experiences we have ever had. We would not recommend this resort to anyone looking for a genuine 4-star all-inclusive vacation."

"We are currently staying at VOI Arenella Resort during our honeymoon, and unfortunately this has been one of the most disappointing hotel experiences we have ever had. First of all, this property is nowhere near a true 4-star resort. In our opinion, it barely meets a 3-star standard, and it certainly should not be advertised as a premium all-inclusive destination. The rooms are not renovated as advertised. The hotel seems to have simply painted the walls and added some cheap new furniture while leaving everything else untouched. The doors, floors, air conditioning system, and bathrooms are all extremely outdated and show significant signs of age and wear. The "all-inclusive" package is highly misleading. Many drinks are either excluded or available only under strict limitations. The cocktails are of very poor quality, the wine is barely drinkable, and beer is served only in tiny 150 ml plastic cups. Larger glasses are simply not available. Even drinking water is inconvenient—you have to search for bottles and refill them yourself from designated water stations scattered around the resort. The overall philosophy of the hotel seems to be: "No, you can't." There are two main pools. One is completely overwhelmed by screaming children, making relaxation impossible. The second is located next to loud entertainment activities and constant noise throughout the day. To make matters worse, there is ongoing construction work near this area. There is also a quiet spa pool, which is almost always empty. Access is reserved for Premium guests, while we booked a Comfort room. Since we are celebrating our honeymoon and were desperately looking for a peaceful place to relax, we politely asked reception if we could upgrade our access for an additional fee. We explained our situation and were willing to pay extra. We were initially told it was impossible. The receptionist then went to speak with management, returned rolling her eyes, and informed us that access could not be granted because of "capacity limitations." This explanation was difficult to understand considering the pool remains practically empty at all times. We had a similar experience when we asked whether we could pay extra to dine at the second restaurant on the property. Again, we explained that we were on our honeymoon and only wanted to visit once or twice. The answer was once again a firm "No." Throughout our stay, it has felt as though the staff's main objective is to create additional obstacles rather than help guests enjoy their vacation. Every simple request seems to be met with resistance and inflexibility. The only genuinely positive aspect of this resort is the quality of the dinner buffet, which is consistently good and offers tasty food. Sadly, good dinners alone cannot compensate for misleading advertising, poor service, outdated facilities, and a complete lack of customer-oriented hospitality. We chose VOI Arenella Resort for a special occasion and deeply regret that decision. This honeymoon should have been memorable for the right reasons."

"I had the Medi drain massage with Lucia, at the wellness centre and she was outstanding. The experience was priceless. I'd highly recommend! Best massage I've ever had."