Hotel Seth 55 Santo Tomas

There’s plenty of room to unwind here, with a large pool, lots of sun beds, and grassy areas. The rooms are great and the hotel itself feels modern. The restaurant is where things fall short: meals are quite average, tables can sit uncleared, and food at the counters takes a long time to be replenished, apparently because the staff are stretched. When they do come by, they’re friendly and attentive. Drink and snack bar prices are very high, which takes away from what could otherwise be a perfect holiday.

It was my birthday during the stay, though I hadn't told anyone. They must have noticed at check-in, because Spanish champagne arrived in my room that day. Such a thoughtful gesture, and I really appreciated it. The staff were helpful, attentive, and knowledgeable, especially Elena, who was lovely. A wonderful hotel that I'd recommend to everyone.

That beach is hard to forget, with its white sand and clear water, and the hotel itself is beautiful. We spent many afternoons in the lounge area on the comfortable sofas. There’s a little supermarket close by and a few restaurants, though the restaurants didn’t offer much for vegetarians. The staff were the best part of the stay, always smiling, polite, and ready to help. The food we tried was fresh and tasty, but vegetarian choices were limited one evening. My husband accidentally ate meat after a dish labelled “only cheese” turned out to contain some. At lunch, the pool bar had run out of food apart from salad, so I had to go out in 34°C heat to find something to eat. Our room wasn't cleaned every day. It seemed to get a full clean every two days, with only light maintenance between, which felt inconsistent for a 4-star hotel. The pool also needed attention: there was dirt on the bottom and an unpleasant smell by the sunbeds. The bathroom offered little privacy, and our double bed kept coming apart during the night. The spa is simple, but a pleasant place to get out of the sun for a bit. The gym has good equipment, although some machines like the rowers need upkeep and there weren't enough weight plates. I was excited to try the CrossFit-style rig with pull-up bars and ropes, but it’s outside, so the heat made it hard to use, and it was covered in bird droppings. We still enjoyed the stay, thanks to the welcoming staff and lovely surroundings, though there are several things that could be improved.

We've been to Seth 55 Santo Thomas three times now, and it gives us the relaxing summer break we want. It never felt crowded at the pool, and there were enough guests that we didn't need to rush for sun beds. We brought our little daughter, and with mostly adult guests and just a few families, there wasn't constant screaming around the pool. The rooms are modern and clean, and the staff are consistently friendly and helpful. There's a great choice at breakfast and dinner, live music every evening, and convenient parking for our hire car. Shops and a decent supermarket are an easy walk away. Santo Thomas beach is only 4-5 minutes on foot and is lovely; we also enjoyed the 15-minute walk along the horse trail to the amazing Son Bou beach. I think we'll keep coming back in the years ahead.