Qamawi

We came hoping to relax for our first wedding anniversary, but this place didn't meet even our basic expectations, and we were here in the off-season. I left the dishes washed because otherwise there's an extra charge. Our couples massage was meant to happen on arrival day. When I checked in ahead of time, they said there was no massage available that day and moved it to 11:30 am the next morning, even though checkout was at noon. The spa is meant to be open 10:00 am to 6:00 pm, but there was no one assigned to massages that day. We tried not to let it spoil our special day, but things got worse once we arrived. The restaurant turned out to be open for only a couple of hours at lunch, with fries and hamburgers offered around dinner time. They said we could bring our own food and drinks. Before it closed at 4:30 pm, we went for a mango sour. The young woman making it added what seemed like a kilo of sugar and tasted it twice. The mango was fresh, at least, but when we asked for ice, they had none. We later ordered a hamburger and fries through WhatsApp for after the hot tub. When I asked if they'd leave it before the restaurant closed at 7:30 pm, they said yes. I pointed out the food would be cold, and they said there was an oven in the room to heat it. Ridiculous. Also bring cash, or be ready to pay by transfer, since they don't take cards. I added avocado to a sandwich for extra, which was a bad call. There wasn't much, and it was old and rock hard, so I threw it out and took the rest apart to heat just the burger. The bathrobes had holes, and there were insects in the towels in the tub. The TV remote batteries didn't work. I tried the old trick of hitting one, and it started working. I couldn't get replacement batteries by WhatsApp because people at Qamawi stop answering messages after a certain time, as their policies explain. Then there were awful pillows and a little party nearby while I was trying to sleep. Breakfast came between 9:30 and 10:00 am. It was generally fine, but the fresh orange juice had a ton of sugar too. That's personal, since I don't consume sugar, but asking guests a few things would help make the experience worth the price. At 11:30 am we finally went for the massage. I'd paid for an hour-long relaxation massage, but after 30 minutes of what they called a service, they sent us away. A few minutes after we got back to the cabin, one of the massage therapists came to apologize and offered to return and finish. I politely said I was done with them and would sort it out with the young man at reception. Maybe if the massage had been good, we would've gone back to complete it, but it wasn't.

I got a spa day for my birthday and loved every bit of it. The place was beautiful and the service was impeccable. I enjoyed the whole experience and would definitely go back. Thanks for making my day so special.

The cabin was roomy and had a good fridge, oven, microwave, kitchen utensils, a terrace with its own grill, a living room TV, and a large bathroom with toiletries. They clean it if you stay more than one night. Wi-Fi is free, though the signal was steadier in the living and dining area than in the bedroom. Parking is included. There are two pools, one for kids and one for adults because of the depth, along with barbecue spots, a playground, and a restaurant. I don't remember the restaurant hours since I didn't use it. The jacuzzi wasn't working. The place is attractive and spacious, and Leonardo at reception was really friendly and helpful. They sell drinks and water at reception, which I noticed when checking out. Reception closes at 7 pm, but if you leave later, they give you the electric gate key. Definitely a great option in the Elqui Valley.

We loved our stay at Qamawi and had such a good time. The peaceful atmosphere made it easy to get away from everything, and the hospitality and service were excellent. We'll definitely come back.