Thermae Palace Hotel

I felt very unsafe because the door couldn’t be locked from inside. In the morning, the untrained cleaning lady opened it without knocking. The place is completely run down and dirty, with a broken shower head, a heater that doesn’t work, and a dead light. Reception had a horrible attitude. I paid 160 euros for six hours of sleep and got insulted. I heard the hotel plans to close at the end of the year and fire all its employees, and there was no customer service at all.

The beachfront location is the one thing this hotel still has going for it. Maybe 40 years ago it could have called itself four star, but renovation is long overdue. We booked a superior first floor room with a terrace. It was spacious, though basic on comfort, and the outdated bathroom didn’t feel clean. The wooden toilet door was warped and wouldn’t close, while the empty terrace had no chairs or table and flooring with holes. Breakfast was fine but nothing special, and service was minimal. It seemed like they were saving costs with fewer staff, though the staff who were there were very friendly. For what you get, it’s significantly overpriced.

We spent a weekend here. The photos make it look nice, but it’s very dated. We were told on the phone that parking was free, then charged 20 euros per night when we arrived.

There’s a lot of history in this grand old hotel, and our room was enormous. The bathroom alone would count as a hotel room in many places, though it badly needs refreshing. After being in operation for so long, the place has a patina of stories, a bit like the Titanic as a hotel. I imagine upkeep costs a lot, but a major investment could restore it to its full glory. The beach location is great, with plenty for families to do. And a shout-out to the bartender who let me order a gin and tonic after closing.