Calafate Lodge Patagonia

We had a disappointing stay at Calafate Lodge Patagonia. The lodge is outside the city, reached by an unpaved road, and there isn't much to do nearby. Inside, our room was very cold because the central heating wasn't working and the small space heater wasn't enough. The restaurant was cold too. We couldn't get a hot shower, just freezing water, and the mattress dipped in the middle so we kept rolling toward it and couldn't sleep properly. The kitchen was closed, leaving us to order food from a local delivery service. The bar was open, but the bartender was so tired that we had to wake him to place an order. Between the lack of basic amenities and all the discomfort and inconvenience, we didn't enjoy our stay.

WiFi was probably the best part. The rooms were okay, but pretty small given how much land there is, and the walls were so thin we could hear everyone talking. Getting the hot water right was a struggle about 9 times out of 10. Average at best.

The staff were kind, but when something went wrong they didn't apologize, and the place felt less organized than I expected. Breakfast was included in my booking, yet they initially said we weren't entitled to it; I had to show them the booking to get it, with no apology. The breakfast was also much less than I expected: white bread, instant coffee, tea, cheese, a bad quality cake, and tiny servings of yoghurt and scrambled eggs, about one egg per person. When we asked for more eggs, we were told the other guests might not get any. At check-in, nobody explained the property, breakfast time, or dinner. Our first room was beside reception, so we could hear everything as if we were in the same room. They moved us to a much quieter room after we asked, but the rooms have little privacy, and people in other rooms can easily see you if you enjoy the views. The bathroom hadn't been cleaned properly: the drain was full of other people's hair, and there were papers from the previous guest in our room.

Andrea hosted us and took care of every detail. I really enjoyed the visit. The room was great, the views were great, and the atmosphere was lovely.