Hotel Ascot & Spa

We had plenty of space in our ocean-view studio, which also had a kitchenette. The hotel is right on the beach and away from the busy tourist area. The airport is very close, but it isn’t a major one, so we weren’t bothered by noise. Dinner at 25 EUR per person felt fairly priced, and there was lots to choose from at the breakfast buffet. The bathroom was quite small, and sometimes the waiters moved a bit too quickly, almost rushing us out of the dining room. The staff were otherwise very friendly and professional. A really great hotel, highly recommendable.

Our fifth-floor room looked out over the sea, with breathtaking views. It was small, but the beach was just steps away, so we didn’t spend much time inside anyway. The beds were comfortable and the meals tasty. Staff went above and beyond, even leaving a sweet note and a little gnome for our 4-year-old. Such a thoughtful touch, and a memorable quick beach escape.

The restaurant and pool staff were the only friendly people we met, and I wouldn’t recommend staying here. Our room was cramped enough that we couldn’t walk around with the closet door open. The safe wouldn’t open or lock properly, there was no bin except in the bathroom, and we got sheets to use as blankets instead of proper blankets. There were only two pairs of slippers for three of us. I woke up with a stuffy nose every day, even with the AC off. The receptionists were extremely rude, especially the older woman with red glasses and the one with a bob haircut. The younger woman with glasses and the man working at night were friendly. They assumed we couldn’t speak English because we couldn’t understand HER atrocious accent. The red-glasses receptionist screamed at my friend twice. She felt so uncomfortable and shamed that she cried in our room afterwards. They couldn’t find our reservation at first because they were checking the wrong list. Then they offered a sea-view room for an extra 150€, which we refused, but our room still had a sea view. It felt like they had tried to scam us. The website also says there’s a private beach, but you have to pay 20€ for two chairs and one umbrella. It was hard to work that out because the hotel reception and beach reception seemed quite uncoordinated. The hotel reception explained it impudently and made us feel stupid. At checkout, we were charged “hidden fees” for a communal city tax that nobody had told us about until then. Horrible experience from the moment we arrived.

You can borrow a bike and ride into the town center on a dedicated cycle route in about 20 minutes. Walking takes 1.5 hours, and the route along the beach is enjoyable. The beach itself is a one-minute walk away. We found free parking on the road, though that probably wouldn’t be possible in high season. When we visited in October, the hotel was relaxing and quiet, and breakfast had plenty of buffet choices.