Sofitel La Reserva Cardales

From the moment we arrived, my partner and I felt pampered. The staff, food, attention to detail, cleanliness across the whole property, and security throughout the day and in every area all made an impression. La Reserva has the Sofitel touch everywhere, with a stunning setup and amazing infrastructure. Definitely recommending it to people we know, and we plan to come back next time we’re in BA.

The rooms were spacious, with good-sized balconies and a nice view of the pool and waterway. The gym was great, and I loved the hot pool, though the cold one was frigid. The staff were friendly and helpful, and the lobby and restaurant looked beautiful. The grounds felt worn out, and the walkways were dirty with bird droppings. In the bathroom, the shower door didn’t shut properly and seemed like it could break, while the shower floor sloped the wrong way and sent water onto the bathroom floor. There was no soap left for us, and they replaced only the bath towels, not the others. It felt like they were cutting costs throughout, which took away from the luxury feel.

Belen from the kids club took such good care of our little ones, even making sure my son with coeliac disease got a snack. She was so careful and attentive, and she even helped us get the bowling alley working when no staff were around. Thank you, Belen! The spa water circuit was wonderful, and the reception team did a great job handling a large group on a busy arrival day. Raul, the concierge, was brilliant and extremely helpful. The hotel itself is gorgeous, with lots for children to do, but the service let us down in other areas. At dinner, things moved very slowly, orders were wrong, and staff acted as if everyone had been served when some of us still had no food. We had to keep reminding them about our order and what it should include. The waitress was reluctant to check whether the kitchen had certain gluten-free items, even though they did. When the food came, nobody could tell us which plates were gluten-free, a serious risk for someone with coeliac disease. Breakfast at the same restaurant was a much better experience. The staff were helpful and the meal was amazing, even though it was extremely busy. The pool and changing room areas weren’t cleaned well. The black floor around the indoor pool was flooded and slippery, and no one was wiping it up. I also found a woman’s sanitary item on the shower floor. On a cloudy, chilly day, the indoor pool was so hot it could burn your skin. We spent at least two hours there without getting a proper swim, which felt like a waste.

Even when it rains, the rooms are a comfortable place to relax, with plenty of indoor activities too. They’re spacious and have large terrace balconies looking out over nature.