Hotel Boutique Tao Caleta Mar

Breakfast is buffet only, with a decent selection and everything fresh. This feels more like a B&B, though, with little going on at the hotel. We’d leave in the morning, come back to change for dinner, then return to sleep. The pool was cleaned daily, but there were quite a few missing tiles that could be a safety hazard, plus grime around the edges and steps. The water was ice cold, so I couldn’t stay in for more than a minute. Although there’s a “pool bar,” it was never open. For food or a drink by the pool, we had to walk around to the cafe next to reception, where prices were a bit high compared with shops and cafes in town. Our room was lovely and spacious, cleaned daily, and smelled fresh when we walked in. The sheets weren’t changed, but we got fresh towels each day. There were water bottles in the fridge on arrival, though they weren’t replenished. The room also came with two dental kits, two shower kits and a shaving kit, a nice touch for a 3-star hotel. Netflix on the TV was a plus. The location wasn’t the best for us. It’s the first hotel out and at least a 20-30 minute walk from the main town, though that was fine if you like walking. It’s less convenient if you have mobility issues. There’s a bus stop two minutes down the road, with buses every 30 minutes, and cabs come past fairly often. The beach section with loungers is about a 30-minute walk. If you enjoy a hike, walking along the seafront and sand dunes is lovely. Staff were mostly pleasant.

Our only gripe was the cooked breakfast. Whenever we went during the 8-10 opening hours, it was cold, not even lukewarm. It was a shame, and we wondered if they’d changed the cook. It won’t stop us coming back, though. We love this hotel and all the staff are amazing. Rooms are cleaned every day, and the location suits us, even though it’s a €6 cab ride into town. It’s a B&B, but there’s a lovely coffee shop on site that opens after the breakfast room closes. Breakfast is self-serve with lots to choose from: cold meats, salad, yogurts, fresh bread and rolls, pastries, fruit and cereal, among other things. There’s fresh orange juice and a coffee machine with all the options.

The main issue was how bare and under-serviced the place felt. There’s a lot of potential for peace and quiet, but it needs a spruce-up, some money spent on it and more awareness of its location so it can offer alternatives. We arrived in the rain, and the young person at reception, who didn’t actually work there, gave us the wrong access key for the older-style sea-facing apartments. We eventually got the right physical key and went in soaked. Our apartment was traditional with a separate bathroom, without the glass screen other guests had mentioned. The staff who did work there were busy preparing a party in the breakfast area that evening. It ended by 10pm, thankfully. To the young person’s credit, he did the best he could with what he knew. Breakfast was okay, but it varied each day and nothing was labelled, so it was often hard to tell what some cooked items were. Part of the pool area was cordoned off because a glass barrier had broken. I don’t know when it happened, but they didn’t seem in a hurry to fix it, and I saw small bits of glass that hadn’t been properly cleaned up. The rest of the area was clean and tidy, but there wasn’t much there beyond a few sunloungers. The smaller pool was closed off too. The weather was so bad that we didn’t want to use either pool anyway. Hot water was unreliable, with tepid showers on three of the seven mornings. The town and restaurants are a long way off, around a 30-40 minute walk along the seafront or a €6-8 taxi each way. The map makes that clear, so be prepared: it feels further than you might expect. The breakfast room had nice views and the sand dune beaches were easy to reach.

We’ve stayed here twice and loved it both times. The rooms feel fresh and have what you need, and it was quiet enough that we slept really well without noise from other guests or doors. Breakfast is decent for the price, but I was a bit limited as a vegan. It would help if the food had allergen labels. The hotel is calm and relaxing, with a nice pool area and we never had trouble getting sunbeds in the afternoon. There’s a bar on site for drinks, ice cream and a few sandwiches. Town centre is about a 40-minute walk or a five-minute taxi ride. We also used the scooters outside the hotel on the way back from town. The staff are all really friendly and helpful. We’ll be back!