Elysees

The room was uncomfortable and fell short of basic expectations. Room 1210 had a faulty bathroom door lock that often opened by itself, weak air conditioning that couldn't cool the room properly, a telephone that didn't work correctly, and an inefficient mini fridge. I reported these problems to reception and a maintenance worker came by, but I was told this was normal for the central air-conditioning system. Whatever the explanation, the room stayed uncomfortable. The service and hospitality were disappointing throughout the stay. Most of the morning reception team and restaurant staff seemed uninterested in helping guests. Their manner was unfriendly and unprofessional, and the atmosphere felt uncomfortable. The morning receptionist in particular was dismissive, even though reception should be a welcoming first contact. Food quality was also below what I'd expect from a hotel. I had booked a few days of rest after a very demanding, exhausting stretch of work, but the experience from arrival to departure was one of my worst hotel stays. Abdallah at night reception and Ahmed from housekeeping were the exceptions. Both were respectful, professional, helpful, and clearly cared about guest satisfaction. Their efforts couldn't make up for the wider service problems, maintenance issues, and lack of hospitality. Management should review staff training, customer service, maintenance procedures, and guest experience policies. I can't recommend this hotel and wouldn't stay here again.

The food was excellent, with Executive Chef Hassan regularly checking on things and making sure food quality and restaurant service stayed high. Reception staff were friendly and helpful, especially Mr. Sayed, the Reception Manager. The animation team was entertaining, though more guest activities and competitions could help people enjoy themselves and get to know one another. Beach volleyball and racket games would be good additions. We had a pleasant stay and enjoyed our time. For a 3-star hotel, Elysees Dream Beach Hotel is a good choice, though some upkeep is needed. The room furniture was acceptable, but the doors and air-conditioning units need maintenance. The gym also needs work, as do the pontoon stairs at the beach.

The building looked decent and the beach was beautiful, so we arrived hopeful. The stay gradually wore that optimism down. The location and the hotel itself have potential, but the service and upkeep made the experience frustrating. The room key cards were a daily headache. Whenever we came back, it could take about 10 minutes to get in, and the cards often failed, so we had to call staff. When reception tried, the door would open, sometimes with a look that suggested we didn't know how to use the card. That wasn't a welcoming feeling after a long day. Food at the all-inclusive buffet was very limited and repetitive. If you like chicken, you might be fine, but it often felt like the only protein available. After a few days, eating felt like a necessity rather than a pleasure. WiFi was almost nonexistent throughout the hotel. Reception was cold and unfriendly, and often seemed focused on tips. It felt as if money was expected, and there were subtle, sometimes less subtle, efforts to push “premium” rooms. When we declined, we somehow ended up in rooms where traffic noise or other disturbances made sleep nearly impossible. Hard to believe that was coincidence. Drinks at the bar came in tiny 100 ml plastic cups, usually only half full. Asking politely for a full cup brought judgmental looks, which made relaxing awkward. The hotel is advertised as child-friendly, but we saw no real activities for children. The heated pool was the main attraction, yet during our whole week it was heated for exactly one day. Maybe heating it is an extra charge, who knows? 🙂 Paying a little more for a better-balanced option may make sense. With so little food variety, hunger can send you to outside restaurants, so the extra money might get spent there anyway. Saving a few euros here could cost comfort, patience, and enjoyment.

I left extremely disappointed. Even though I tipped the receptionist on arrival in the hope of an easy check-in, the experience was a disaster. I asked for one large bed, but was assigned a twin room without a balcony. Staff only said, “this is what we have,” and refused to help. They also gave me no check-in information: no welcome leaflet, meal times, or WiFi password. The room was filthy, with hair all over the bed when I arrived, and it was so noisy that resting was impossible. There was no bottled water in the room either. The service felt unprofessional and the hygiene standards nonexistent. I wouldn't recommend this hotel. Save your money and go somewhere else.