Hotel Vistabella

It's a lovely hotel with great staff, though you won't get far on foot from there since the coast path needs work. Ask what the specials at Mila restaurant cost before ordering. We got an expensive surprise.

Adam, who handled both the bell service and valet, was kind and attentive and made us feel welcome right away. The rooms were clean and comfortable, and the stay was very pleasant overall. We wanted to add another night because we'd booked massage services for the next day, but hadn't been told when buying them that they were nonrefundable. Since our original booking was through a third party, the hotel wouldn't give us the same rate for an extension. We couldn't justify paying much more, yet were stuck with the spa appointments, so we had to leave and return later that day. It wasted time and disrupted our plans to explore the city. I wish the spa policy had been explained more clearly, and that the hotel had tried harder to offer returning guests the same rate. Adam's excellent service and the quality of the rooms still made a strong impression.

The egg cook at breakfast deserves a promotion. The hotel is next to a nice beach, though the one five minutes away on foot is even nicer. The facilities are outdated and don't justify a five star rating, the service was very unfriendly, and water was chronically scarce. They give you one free 150 ml bottle, then charge 3.5 euros for a 0.5 l bottle, and breakfast water comes in tiny glasses. The valet service feels pointless when the parking is right in front: you wait like an idiot for the car, then have to drive back past where it came from. Breakfast was the same every day and lacked variety, and the food was obviously overpriced. This felt like a three star hotel pretending to be five star. The four star hotel next door, though, is highly recommended.

The sea views from the terrace were spectacular, and the breakfast staff were kind and accommodating. But for a five star hotel, the room and service were a real letdown. My wife and I paid nearly $700 per night for two nights in the Penthouse Suite at Hotel Vistabella. The room looked dated, with a cheap-looking bed and furniture that seemed out of place or due for replacement. We got two complimentary coffee pods, then saw a note saying extra ones cost €2 each, which felt petty. Breakfast was satisfactory but unremarkable, and the food seemed like it reflected cost-cutting. The replacement room had a nice hot tub, but its furniture still felt cheap and the bed was uncomfortable. Check-in was slow and disorganized, and we were charged twice before the error was corrected. After we sorted out a WiFi problem, we came back from lunch to find the door lock wasn't working. Reception seemed irritated by my earlier WiFi complaint. They sent a courteous bellboy to try fixing it, but he couldn't. I got no updates, so I went to reception and was met with rudeness and annoyance for asking. The owner came to the room but got defensive instead of apologizing, saying, "Things break. Doors break, TVs break." I found that dismissive and unprofessional. I wanted an apology and a solution, not excuses. I told him how disrespected I felt by the lack of customer service and his attitude. After a defensive argument, he accepted that the door couldn't be fixed and moved us to a slightly upgraded room. I think he realized his approach was unacceptable. A bottle of champagne with an apology arrived later, which I appreciated, but it didn't change the fact that this was the worst treatment I've had from hotel management. The breakfast staff could teach the owner a lesson in customer service. I don't recommend Hotel Vistabella. The views don't make up for the poor service, outdated rooms, and lack of five star quality.