Hotel MDS Concepción

For such an expensive hotel, the stay was awful. It was 35 degrees, and the room felt like it hadn't been aired out or cleaned in years. We had a headache within half an hour. The room smelled bad, and the air conditioning was noisy and left it humid.

The pool is so tiny that you have to reserve a slot, so I skipped it. Breakfast has a few vegan choices, like yogurt and fruit, and you can ask for cereal with non-dairy milk. Dinner was another story. On the first night I ordered pasta with pumpkin in the restaurant. It was uninspiring, though at least I wasn't hungry afterward. The next evening I tried room service. I called and was offered two meals, then waited and waited. When I called again, they said my food had never arrived and asked what I wanted. I said vegan food, and was told the kitchen was closed. I went to bed hungry. I wouldn't recommend this place, especially if you have dietary needs.

The hotel, spa, and restaurant were all nice, and the location was okay. The gym was my one disappointment. You have to book access, and it doesn't open until 9 in the morning. People who work out often want to go at 6 or 7. Everything else was nice.

The rooms were clean and fairly spacious, with plenty of storage, and the bathroom had the basics. There's a minibar, though I didn't use it. The TV had no English channels or channel guide, so I didn't bother with it. The internet was poor, especially on evenings and weekends when more guests were online. There were no USB charging ports, and the power outlets use 220v with three round pins, so bring an adapter or buy one at the nearby electronics store. They don't leave laundry bags in the rooms, so you have to call reception each time you need laundry picked up. I was told guests take the plastic bags, which is why they don't keep them there. The bedside light needs improvement. The hotel is about 1.5 km from the airport, with a supermarket nearby and a large mall about a 10-minute drive away. The exterior is nicely kept and decorated. Reception staff were helpful, though only some spoke English. The restaurant beside reception is clean and decent. Breakfast was okay, with the same things each day: fruit, nuts, cereal, scrambled eggs, bread, jam, and a few other items. There was no hot soup or steamed vegetables. The server was very kind, spoke English, and helped me order. The meal I chose, though, was a disaster. It was so salty I could barely taste it, there were hardly any vegetables despite my request for more, and the portion was small for the price. I can't recommend it. The gym is on the roof and closes at night and early in the morning, which makes it hard to use when you want. It has only basic equipment and a limited number of treadmills. There's also a spa upstairs, but they usually don't answer calls and had no appointments available. The jacuzzi and pool looked clean and nice, but I didn't use them. Hotel guests get free entry to the casino, which is a nice perk. The casino staff were friendly and helpful, though security felt like a bank and kept asking for my passport at every counter for no clear reason. The disco is nice and worth visiting on weekends.