"Although we understood Salobre was primarily a golf resort, we hoped it would also work as a quiet family stay based on reviews. However, in our opinion, it is not set up for families and we would not recommend it.
Pros
The buffet food is good quality and generally quieter than most buffets. It was clean, and we enjoyed the meals despite the smaller selection.
The restaurant and bar staff in the main hotel were friendly and helpful.
Cons
Check-in was busy with a long queue and not enough places to sit. Reception promised to call when our room was ready, but never did, meaning we had to traipse back carrying all our hand luggage. Having a valet to assist with bags is also not a given, which was unexpected.
The rooms are dated, dingy, and neglected. Our curtains were dirty, the bed sheets had a physical rip, and the reading light was broken. The thermostat was also dated and dirty. Coffee/tea making facilities in the room are very low quality, which is not what you expect at five-star prices.
The air conditioning in our room never got properly cool, though the interconnected room was much better. We reported this to reception, who said they would look into it, but nothing changed.
The in-room phone did not work, the programmes numbers did not connect to anything and calling the room service number manually rang and then disconnected each time. To order room service we were forced to call the main line from a mobile.
The layout is widely spread out with very little signage, so guests wander around lost trying to figure out which lift goes where. Simple maps or proper signage would easily fix this.
Bar service in the evening was slow, with 40-minute waits for drinks when it was quiet. Wine glasses were also served chipped on more than one occasion (photo attached), surely these should be removed from rotation.
Another example of the lack of proactive attention is that there was frequently not water available in the gym, and had to be requested via the app. In most hotels who consider themselves five star they do regular checks on items like this to ensure they are stocked. This hotel seems to wait until somebody reports a problem.
Sunbeds in the family areas are extremely uncomfortable, whereas the adult section features cushioned loungers.
We were told the main family pool was heated, but I don't think it was. It felt freezing once in the shade. By the afternoon, the family pool loses the sun completely and everybody disappears. There is nowhere else for children to swim comfortably. The only spot with afternoon sun is at the top of the hotel, but this area only offers a tiny toddler pool and decorative water features that are not for swimming. The main heated pool on the roof is for adults and sits largely empty.
Pool towels are threadbare and falling apart (photos attached). They are only issued on floors 7 and 11 when the attendant is present. Returning wet towels after hours leaves you without replacements unless you want to carry damp towels around. When we asked reception for new cards, they argued and were reluctant to issue them. It is hard to imagine anyone wanting to steal these towels; the hotel should be ashamed of offering guests towels in this condition.
We asked reception if we could have a 30-minute later check-out due to our flight time so we could get a shower before our transfer, but this was met with reluctance. This was disappointing given we were delayed getting into our room on arrival due to it not being ready/them not calling us. Reception staff generally do not seem to prioritise customer service and everything we asked them appeared to be a problem.
We ate one night in Casa Salobre and it was the worst meal of our trip, with poor food and surly service. We waited over an hour for food despite the restaurant being half empty.
We did hire a car and visited local restaurants in town, where the food was delicious and a lot cheaper than the hotel. Would recommend getting out and about and visiting other restaurants.
The overall atmosphere is subdued and depressing. Post-dinner options are limited to the seating area outside the buffet, which lacks a bar, or the main ground floor bar, which was usually empty.
While there is obviously more going on in the world, this is not a cheap hotel and yet it falls well short of five-star standards. While it may suffice as a basic lodging for golfers, we do not think it is worth the money for a family or leisure holiday."
