Villa Carmel Boutique Hotel

I've had a long connection with Villa Carmel and have always recommended it to people I care about. I love coming for the Sauna and Jacuzzi facilities at the top of the Villa. That's why the past few visits have been disappointing: the rooms weren't very clean, service wasn't great, and the facilities weren't working. Today I came for a massage and breakfast. At 8:15 the doors were shut, nobody was there, and no one picked up the phone. I waited outside for about 15 minutes, then went toward the restaurant, where nobody was there either. I waited about another 10 minutes until the chef arrived and tried to help. He said the massage would start at 9 sharp, so I couldn't have breakfast beforehand as I'd planned. I waited until five minutes to nine, but the massage didn't begin until around 9:10. It was okay, but ended around 9:52. It was meant to include a 60 minute massage and 15 minutes of body peeling, but the peeling didn't happen. The masseuse said she had other massages after mine and I should hurry up. Breakfast was good and the chef was really nice, so I'm “OK” with the experience overall. I adore this place and hope things improve. I'd like to come back many more times, and hope next time is better.

They gave me the wrong room, even though I'd specifically booked one with a bath and a large balcony. The room I got was okay in size, but the shower without a bath was tiny, as was the balcony. It was a bit dirty and very worn down, the toilet leaked, and the TV didn't work and had to be replaced. Breakfast wasn't at the hotel as advertised. We had to walk a short distance to a coffee house. On the positive side, they let us stay until 4pm at no extra charge and reduced the original price because of these problems. The place is overpriced to begin with and not worth it.

The staff were quite friendly and clearly trying to please, and the hotel has a charming, very European feel with real potential. But for a five star hotel, I expected rooms without dust. We couldn't sleep comfortably, and had to switch rooms because the first one was even dustier. A carpeted room can feel cozy, but it needs proper daily vacuuming. The bathrooms also had spots and cracks, so the finishing details need better upkeep. If they address these issues, I could see the place earning five stars.

I loved all the little vintage touches around this cosy, very nice hotel. The room was amazing, with dark colors and a bath, and there's a Jacuzzi on the rooftop. Such a nice place, totally recommend it.