Hotel Royal Astrid

The hotel is beautiful and the staff are professional, except for one person. I had a pretty unpleasant massage with the male massage specialist. When I arrived, he told me to remove my Rolex Submariner and kept trying to take it from me, which felt weird. After the massage I couldn’t find it, and asked where it was. Somehow, he then supposedly found it in a place I’d already searched thoroughly. During the massage he kept trying to rub my ass and touched my dick a few times. I felt his fingers go between my butt cheeks, and warned him that if he touched me there again I’d smack him in the face. The woman at reception said he was the best, but it was the worst massage ever. My wife, on the other hand, had a delightful massage from the female masseuse, who was very professional and even helped with the systemic back issues my wife has suffered from for years.

I was left waiting for a massage I’d already paid for, and the therapist seemed completely uninterested in helping. No robe was provided, so I had to change in the treatment room. The massage itself felt rushed and was very poor. It wasn’t relaxing or a wellness experience at all. Disappointing.

The wellness area was really high quality, and breakfast left a great impression. Our room was clean and thoughtfully set up for a good night’s sleep, and the location is excellent: a quiet street, just 5-7 minutes from the beach. For the price, it felt worthwhile, especially if you’re visiting to enjoy the city rather than seeking a romantic atmosphere. Update: after we got home, my wife started noticing marks from bed bug bites.

Breakfast was very good, and the location was nice. We had trouble with parking because there weren’t enough spaces, and the sauna cost extra, despite the already high price. Reception staff weren’t helpful, though the housekeepers were polite and accommodating.