Did we enjoy our stay here – yes we did! Would we return – certainly!
However there were one or two frustrations which mean we’d ideally like to award three and three-quarter stars but can’t!
Check-In
Quick and easy with no issues. We were given our keycards and were asked if we’d like our luggage delivered to our room which we agreed to. Due to a delayed flight and a delay getting through the EES at the airport, we arrived late and hungry so headed to the still open buffet to get something to eat. Very little left, understandably at that time of night, but we managed to find something.
But then we had to find our room. In the dark. Unassisted and with a pretty useless paper map! And our room in the Esencia part of the hotel was a long way from reception. And when we finally found our room, easy when you know how, about an hour after arrival our luggage still hadn’t arrived and, after waiting 15 further minutes, we had to put a call in to reception! A real frustration when you’ve been travelling all day and just want to sleep.
Room (8-130S)
Really good. Decent size, with two large, singe beds pushed together to make a double, fridge, hair dryer, balcony, and a free safe. Could probably do with a few more hangers in the wardrobe but we managed. Wall-mounted TV had channels that could be watched in English, but that wasn’t an issue—we don’t go on holiday to watch TV!
Bathroom
Perfectly adequate with a bath, really good separate shower and complimentary shower gels and hand washes. Slight criticism in that we thought the towels were a little on the thin side and may be due replacement? Other than that, no complaints.
Breakfast
Two options for us; standard buffet style with omelettes and fried eggs cooked to order alongside the usual hotel fare either in the adults only Origen restaurant close to our room or in the larger, shared Food Court with a separate adults only area. We tended to alternate between the two but probably preferred the quieter Origen restaurant not least because it was much closer to our room! Good quality, no complaints and plenty of it.
Dinner
Similar setup to breakfast however, annoyingly, the Origen restaurant for adults only incurs an additional fee of €28 even though we had paid for half board. This meant we had to eat in the much rowdier Food Court which was a shared area. No real issues with the food with the salads and desserts in particular having a terrific selection and all pretty good. The main course selections were fine although we struggled to understand what ‘party meat’ was!
Main issue with dinner was that, love children as we do, we’d paid for adults only and the Food Court is full of families with kids doing what kids do – running about, shouting, screaming, dropping plates with or without food on etc. Yes there is a separate adults only eating area which is really good but getting your food is another matter!
Pool
Or pools in reality. Amongst the best we’ve had. Seven of them I recall, three in the adults only Esencia area. All of them a good size and spotlessly clean with plenty of sunbeds. The pool area is the real jewel in the crown of the hotel with sunbeds in full sun or partial shade, a bar within easy walk, clean toilets and a great place to relax and just enjoy the sun. The only minor issue for us is that pool towels are issued once a week from the spa which, for us at least, was right the other end of the hotel complex and quite a walk away.
Shops, Gym & Salon
There are a couple of shops on site selling the usual touristy fare and essentials so everything anyone could realistically need and we bought a couple of items which can be charged to your room. There’s also the gym, spa etc which we didn’t use so can’t comment on them.
Bars
The pool bar was great, and never busy so no issues there but the main bar inside is where the hotel lets itself down a bit. There is a huge main room with the bar to one side, plenty of tables and chairs either side of an ornamental aisle down the middle. One side is the piano bar, the other, nearer the bar service area, has more tables and chairs and a TV generally showing sports.
There never seemed to be enough staff behind the bar and one or two of them, presumably new or in training, struggled with the different languages of the guests – being able to understand the word beer in a dozen different languages is an essential skill for a hotel barman!
All-inclusive guests can help themselves to local beer and soft drinks but obviously need to have cocktails made up by the staff. For anyone paying by cash, credit card or charging drinks to their room, it seemed to take an inordinately large amount of scrolling and clicking on the till to produce a receipt which inevitably slowed down the service especially as the aforementioned trainees didn’t seem to know how to use it!
All of this meant that quite often queues developed at either end of what is a long bar area.
Not going to criticise the staff who were all working incredibly hard but one or two more of them would have been helpful.
Oh and two nights they ran out of large glasses for San Miguel so had to take double the number of small ones!
There is another bar in the Disco area off the main bar, where the evening entertainment takes place. We never used it and never bothered with the entertainment so can’t comment.
There was a young pianist several nights playing in the piano bar who was quite entertaining if a little loud on occasions making conversation tricky! Not a big issue for us though.
A tip for the hotel management – a quiet evening bar in the adults only Esencia area might be a good addition to the complex..
Cleanliness
Pretty much spotless throughout so no complaints there. Our housekeeper must be like a whirling dervish as there’d be no sign of her as we left for breakfast but when we returned around 30 minutes later, the room was immaculate!
Staff
Very good. Every single person we met was friendly, helpful, and smiling. The staff are a real credit to the hotel and made a huge difference to our stay. Big thanks then to the staff. We enjoyed our pidgeon English and sign language banter with Guillermo in the Esencia adults only area in particular. My one frustration was that, the day before we departed, the hotels cash point was faulty and I couldn’t withdraw any cash to leave tips for the well deserving staff. Embarrassed and annoyed about that but nothing I could do!
Wi-Fi
Free and reliable—no issues here.
Location & Surroundings
On a cliff top with very little in the surrounding area. There is a walk around the exterior of the hotel leading to some spectacular views of the sunset which we walked every evening. There are though some hills that some guests might find challenging – we found it best to come out of reception and turn left which means you walk down the steepest part rather than up it.
The hotel grounds themselves are lovely. Well planted with plenty of green areas, fountains, waterfalls and fish ponds which you’ll come across as you make your way around the complex.
Beach
There isn’t one to speak of! We stuck to the hotel and were fine with that.
Check-Out
Smooth and efficient. Luggage was collected and waiting in the lobby for our taxi. No complaints.
Overall
We actually enjoyed the ‘quirkiness’ of the hotel – the secluded location, the steep ramps or stairs when getting about, the spread out facilities – which we thought all added to the charm of the place. It’s not perfect but in a way that’s part of the attraction so don’t be put off by anything that appears negative in the above.
What sums up our opinion best though is that yes, we’d definitely come back some day and have no hesitation in recommending.
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