Hotel Barceló Sancti Petri

The pools were a plus, including a separate one for kids, but the rest of our four-night stay at Royal Hideaway fell short. We had also stayed at Iberostar Andalucía Playa for a similar price, on half board at around €280+, and had a much better time there. The noise was the biggest problem. The walls seemed very thin, so hallway footsteps and conversations came right through, and I was woken early every morning. One night there was a loud argument in the corridor and fireworks at midnight. When I told the “experience team,” they said little could be done, didn't offer a quieter room, and even suggested I go find the noisy guests myself. That's disappointing for a five-star hotel. We also found a towel with visible blood and dirt stains after the room had been cleaned, and emailed the experience team about it. Other service snags included no duvet despite several requests, a curtain that wasn't fixed until I chased twice, and an unfriendly person at the pasta station. The buffet had far less choice than Iberostar and about a third as many live stations. There were no higher-end items like lobster or oysters, and breakfast felt crowded. Food labels were often wrong, mixed up, or missing, so anyone with allergies needs to be careful. Entertainment ran every other day here, while Iberostar had shows daily, making the evenings feel dull. Poolside food was limited to drinks and chips, and my frappe cappuccino tasted like water. Royal Hideaway is family-friendly and has nice pools, but the food, shows, service, and especially the noise control were below what I expected. Iberostar worked better for us for food variety, quiet, and smoother service.

It was easy to relax at the resort, especially outside high season, though there's not much to do beyond it. A rental car is key if you want more variety, and the hotel can connect you with rental companies. The location itself is very good. The gardens are lovely, the pools are very nice, and the rooms were clean and good. Staff were quick to help throughout. Laura at the pool stood out for her customer focus, prompt attention, politeness, and constant smile. She seems to love her job, which was nice to see. The housekeeping and reception women were helpful as well. We couldn't switch to a room with a better view because the hotel had no availability, so I gave four stars. The reception staff did their best to help. Otherwise, we had a positive stay.

The pool and gardens deserve five stars, but the food and organisation made the hotel feel like it was being run on a budget. For the price, and with the warm season still on, I expected more. We stayed Sunday to Thursday in late September and got an indoor evening show only on Tuesday. There was nothing Sunday, Monday, or Wednesday. The buffet was the biggest letdown. The selection was limited, and the food often came out cold or dried up, apparently because turnover was low and trays weren't heated properly. Fresh refills were already waiting behind, but weren't properly heated either, so waiting for them didn't help. More than once at breakfast, bowls were empty when we arrived and still empty when we left. The labels were a daily mess too: many dishes had none, while others were labelled incorrectly. Two minutes away, Iberostar Selection showed what a good buffet can be like, with lots of choice, good quality, fresh food kept replenished, and even a little aperitif on arrival. I missed that care and attention here. The good parts are real: rooms are spacious and modern, there are several nice pools in a beautiful garden, staff were generally friendly and welcoming, pool cocktails were decent, and the beach is just behind the hotel, though you have to walk over a small hill. There were also minor room problems, which can happen, but we had to ask twice each time to get things fixed. The hallways echo, and soundproofing isn't great, so loud doors and people walking and talking are easy to hear. My wife booked a stretching class and waited 20 or 30 minutes at the location. Staff checked and then said the instructor was apparently sick. They could have cancelled through the app and sent a notice, or had someone there to tell people, instead of leaving us waiting without information until we asked. They gave us a fruit basket that evening as an apology, which was nice, but it's frustrating when you plan the day around a class that gets cancelled without warning. The rooms are a good size, the pools and grounds are attractive, and staff were mostly pleasant, but the buffet, service and planning didn't feel five-star to me.

We had a great stay, though a few things came up that hadn't been problems on our previous three visits. The TV channel selection wasn't good, and the electric curtains broke down twice. The safe also wouldn't open on two occasions. There was a silly safety hazard on the floor beside each side of the bed every day, and it was still there after we mentioned it. At breakfast, one waitress was very rude, dismissive, and miserable. I reported it, and I believe someone spoke to her, but she stayed unsmiling for the rest of the week.