Apartaments Marblau

Everything was clean and accessible, and the price felt fair for what you get. The kitchen had all the utensils we needed, the heating worked perfectly, and toiletries were provided. I’d recommend it.

We’ve been back two or three times a year for many years, sometimes as a couple and sometimes with friends. Since Mrs. Encarna left, though, the apartments have noticeably gone downhill in condition and upkeep. The contact person hasn’t been able to sort out any problems.

The apartment’s location was perfect and there was enough room, which made its state even more disappointing. We spent over six hours cleaning just to make it decent for the week. The bathroom was dirty, the kitchen greasy, the beds weren’t made, and the refrigerator was filthy. We told the person in charge when they came to inspect it, and are still waiting for a response. Nobody seemed to take our complaint seriously. We stayed for a week in August, and maintenance was basically nonexistent. As other reviews have said, it was impossible to reach the receptionist. The air conditioners looked as though they’d never been cleaned or serviced, which may explain why people say they don’t work.

The location was the best part: the apartment is on a pedestrian street close to the sea, with two supermarkets and plenty of restaurants nearby. I gave the location four stars, though, because getting around the stairs was a hassle. Even a first-floor apartment means a lot of climbing, about four floors’ worth, since the buildings sit on a sloping street with stairs. Inside, the apartments are old and need a thorough renovation. Our fireplace had its numbers rubbed off, so cooking meant guessing. The pans were scratched and peeling, and the place was poorly equipped. For four nights for two adults and a child, we got only single-use samples of detergent, dish soap, shower gel and shampoo, plus one garbage bag and a toilet paper roll. Reception ignored us when we raised the issue. Staff communication was chaotic too. We called several times on arrival day, but neither of the two numbers they’d given us answered. At 5 p.m. the reception was empty, so, carrying our things and our nine-month-old baby, we had to figure out where the apartment was and how to get in using the code sent on WhatsApp. The requested high chair and cot weren’t there the first night. Staff also seemed completely out of sync, and we had to ask for our identity cards back as many as four times.