"Overall a very good experience, however there were some not so good points.
The hotel is stunning, there is a real wow factor when walking in through the front and into the central atrium. All of the corridors are light, airy and spacious and importantly temperatures are cool. The decor is showing signs of age and the wear that you'd expect of a busy hotel of this age, however it would benefit from a little cosmetic work undertaken by tradesmen of suitable proficiency so that the repairs don't look amateurish as can be seen in the massive water feature that spans the first 6 floors.
The building itself is spotlessly clean and the staff work tirelessly so to keep it that way, including the grounds staff who look after the perfectly manicured lawns and flowerbeds.
The staff, in my opinion are the stand out feature of this hotel, everyone is polite, efficient and approachable, easily identifiable in their smart and matching uniforms and nothing is too much trouble.
There is ample parking outside if you have hired a car and the hotel is a stone's throw from the beach and it is only a short walk to nearby shops.
We had requested a sea view and it didn't disappoint, you were able to watch the sun rise every morning. The room itself was finished to a good standard and was a good size, the bathroom was also a good size and the shower was powerful and never a shortage of hot water. A few things let it down however, the bathroom tap was a replacement, it was poorly fitted and didn't incorporate a pop up plug assembly that the original had and so you were unable to fill the sink. On one occasion, the cleaner pushed the plug in too far and we had to try and dig it back out with a few knives borrowed from the dining area. There was an electrical trip switch cabinet on one of the walls which was damaged and also emitted a low level electrical buzzing noise which was quite annoying. The beds had steel sprung mattresses, mounted on a metal frame and were incredibly noisy every time one of us so much as rolled over, so if you're a light sleeper, perhaps bring earplugs.
Probably the biggest disappointment was certain aspects of the food, maybe because we expected more from the 4 star rating and were expecting a similar standard as we had experienced previously in a nearby hotel. The dining room is buffet style and there are lots of tables both inside and out. Staff are extremely efficient in terms of clearing and preparing tables, so there is always somewhere to sit, either inside or outside. The placement of certain items in my opinion needs a bit more thought as some things are not logically placed, ie butter and jams next or close to bread, a few repeat stations in different locations with condiments and cutlery rather than just one location and at least one more coffee and hot water machine.
In terms of breakfast there is a huge array of choice from fried breakfast options, eggs done several ways, including omelettes to order, cold meats and cheeses, cereals, yoghurts, fresh fruit, dried fruit and loads of different breads and so even the fussiest of eaters should be satisfied and be able to find something to their liking.
Special mention must go to the lady on the fried egg station, who could crack eggs and drop them onto the hot plate with one hand, whilst checking the progress of those already cooking and serving guests at the same time with the other hand.
Dinner options were also very varied and included some traditional Spanish dishes. There were some very inventive salads, which were beautifully presented, some so ornate that it was almost a shame to cut into them. There were loads of staples, such as pastas, potatoes, rice, etc.
What really let this restaurant down though was the fish. As someone who has been in the fish trade for many years, I can comfortably say that these chefs do not know fish, which is surprising from a nation that is famous for the way in which they source, prepare and cook fish. Fried fish was cooked in cheap olive or seed oil and then stacked high on top of each other, so every piece was very greasy. The hot plate wasn't cleaned often enough so the fish was often blackened. those dishes that were baked, such as hake or salmon, were significantly over cooked and lacking in flavour.
Drinks were plentiful and again there was a good choice or wine, beer and soft drinks, all of which were available self service and no limit. The wines and beer appeared to be cheap brands, however the soft drinks were recognised brands, ie Schweppes, Pepsi etc.
We didn't attend any of the lunch time meals but assume the experience was similar to the dinner service.
Another disappointment was the drinks package. We'd neve gone all inclusive before and are not big drinkers anyway but expected far better quality. There was no consistency between the same drinks and the way they were served. Measures were vastly different from day to day or even hour to hour. The bartenders were often overwhelmed and unable to cope which made them sloppy, and opting for style over substance, which in turn effected the quality control. On one evening, we tried cocktails which were undrinkable, and reminiscent of rubbish alcohol with a few bits of fruit thrown in.
The final significant disappointment was the lack of enforcement of the no smoking sections. All tables were clearly marked and there was ample signage on railings and pillars, yet smokers constantly dominated these areas and not the designated section away from the main communal areas. This put a real dampener on eating or drinking outside and on occasions even affected the inside areas.
I've mentioned several times in my review as to how good the staff were and that opinion won't change, however I feel that both staff and guests are let down for want of a greater management presence which could iron out a lot of the issues. Someone to oversee the dining area to notice bottlenecks, respond to issues with machines, quality control of the food and replenishment of food and resources when they run out would elevate the guest experience and alleviate the pressure on the staff. That same management presence could enforce the no smoking policy.
Personally, I wouldn't return to this hotel unless the above issues were addressed and improved."
