Calderona Wellness

The room was unbearably hot, and we couldn't turn the temperature down. After we went out, we came back on a warm Valencia day to find the room had no power or lights. Reception came up but couldn't fix it and suggested moving rooms at 10:30pm. Just as we were getting ready, they called a colleague, who asked if the kettle was plugged in. It was. Unplugging it brought the power back. The electrics failed again the next morning. We were told the A/C is off in the winter and advised to open the terrace doors. Then, at midnight, a party with a DJ started in the hotel restaurant and loud music went on until 2:30am. We were there over Marathon weekend, when many guests were running or watching the race, at a place billed as a wellness resort. We were offered free spa access as we were heading to the airport. We stayed four days and had the AirPods on the bed, but after cleaning on day one they were gone. The cleaner either took them or threw them away, as I see it. Reception first said the cleaner had seen the case but not the AirPods; then the director said they had seen neither. I felt they were lying to avoid responsibility. I had no proof, they said, and they wouldn't do anything beyond filing a complaint. Worst stay ever. If you want your things to be safe, don't stay here. The restaurant was awful too. They microwave the food and serve it as an overpriced meal.

The grounds and pool area are gorgeous, and we ate at Caliza every day. The food was excellent, though we were sorry not to have time to try more of the extensive menu. The staff were so friendly and welcoming, and we loved every minute. We only wish our stay had been longer. We'd highly recommend this resort. We spent four nights in a fabulous room, with a private balcony on the third floor. The temperature was comfortable thanks to silent air conditioning, and the shower and very upscale toilet were great. There was a very good range of toiletries, a well-equipped minibar, and the towels and bed were changed every day.

I left my hat in the restaurant bathroom, and it was gone just five minutes later. Nobody on the staff could or wanted to help me find it. It felt like I'd been robbed, which isn't what you'd expect from a place like this. A very unpleasant experience. I suspect someone on staff took it and kept it.

The facilities are excellent, but the service is embarrassingly poor. It really shocked me how little the staff seemed to match the resort. They came across more like untrained students working a summer job than trained hospitality workers. How can you invest in a resort like this and not invest in good staff? We were the only people checking in, yet it took far too long. At the restaurant, one server sat us down and told us to come get him when we were ready to order. Nobody smiled or tried to be friendly, and after the food arrived, nobody checked back. When we asked about room service, the servers seemed confused and couldn't give us a clear answer. Breakfast was a poor experience as well. There was loud, pumping music like a club, and even a basic coffee took a long time. Since there's no buffet, you have to take the food as it's served. All the bread came drizzled with olive oil, which we wouldn't have chosen for ourselves from a buffet. Hotel guests can use the gym. We went on our first day and asked the woman at the desk if we could see it. She just said, "No," with no explanation, questions or smile. We were shocked and had to ask why. Only then did she realize we were guests and let us in.