Villa Gesell Spa & Resort

When we stayed years ago, the facilities were in better shape. Now they’re poorly maintained, and the elevators don’t work. There are very few staff members; they’re friendly, but stretched across too many jobs. Breakfast was very poor for a 4-star hotel, especially at the price they charge. It feels like the hotel has lost a star along the way and is now a comfortable 3-star place. I feel somewhat cheated, and hope it can regain the splendor it had in 2016.

I should mention how friendly the staff were, including the concierge, the young man serving breakfast, and the housekeepers. Still, the hotel used to be very good, and there are some problems now. Breakfast isn’t continental, though they charge as if it were. The air conditioner in one of the rooms we booked for our children was broken; they checked it and said it no longer worked. The elevator also wasn’t working properly, and some people even got stuck.

The location is very good, and across the street Parador Sur has good financing and good food. But if they charged 3-star prices, the hotel might be okay. It says 4 stars, and it doesn’t feel like it. I booked through Despegar for 10 days, prepaid 3 months ago, and paid 200,000 pesos per day for 3 people. This was in January 2025. I contacted them beforehand, and what I found was completely different from what I’d booked. I felt a bit ripped off. The hotel used to be part of the 80 Days Inn chain, which was sold. The new owners don’t do proper maintenance, just cover things up with wire. It seems like they’re trying, but the Wi-Fi is terrible, the gym is neglected and dirty, and the continental breakfast is poor, more like a 2-star. I asked before going whether the gym was open and was told yes, but it wasn’t. The room had no TV, though you could see the stand and TV had been removed. It needs painting. The elevator looked like it might fall apart and was out of service for days. The air conditioner leaked water. The outdoor pool lounge chairs are ancient and broken, and the sheets are 30 years old. The hotel is for sale, and seeing signs outside doesn’t give a good impression. It feels like a ghost hotel, as if they’re doing the bare minimum to make it habitable before selling. Staff leave at 10:00 PM, and nobody is there until the next day. I hope nothing happens. They don’t sell food or drinks apart from the meager breakfast, not even water or soda. There’s a noticeable lack of effort in offering this service; they could buy drinks to sell. I almost forgot: the double bed was actually two single beds pushed together, and they separated while sleeping. I’d already paid everything in advance, otherwise I would have left. Room service, cleaning, and other services aren’t available on Saturdays and Sundays. I checked in on a Saturday and stayed 10 days, so I received no service for 4 days since it’s only available Monday through Friday. It’s a shame, because with good maintenance it could be what it was in its heyday.

The location is excellent, right on the beach and in the city center. It’s a nice, well-maintained place with delicious breakfast and excellent service. There are a few minor maintenance issues, but everything is still perfectly usable and enjoyable. I always visit in the off-season and will definitely return.