The St. Regis La Bahia Blanca Resort, Tamuda Bay

I grew up in Morocco and now live in Florida, so I was excited to visit The St. Regis Tamuda Bay. The property is beautiful, the facilities are excellent, and the location has real potential. But I left disappointed. The resort feels like a luxury island surrounded by neglect. Beaches and public spaces nearby had trash scattered around. Even if those areas are outside the hotel’s boundaries, guests still walk there and explore, so it affects their experience. I expected more social responsibility from a luxury brand benefiting from this modest community. Hiring local workers for $300/month to clean the nearby beach regularly, adding garbage bins for $500, and partnering with local authorities or organizations at no cost could make a real difference and show care for the community. The cost of a local beach cleaner would be tiny next to a room night, which ranges from $400-$800, while the benefits for tourism, local development, and guest satisfaction could be substantial. Instead, management gives the impression it only cares about what happens within the resort. Sustainable tourism and community development shouldn’t stop at the hotel gate. What message does this send to local and international tourists? I do NOT recommend the property. The hotel itself is attractive, but I don’t think it shows the social and environmental responsibility expected of a world class luxury brand. I plan to share these concerns with Marriott International HQ. Protecting and improving communities around their properties should help preserve the brand’s reputation worldwide, especially when the cost is so small compared with reputational damage, for which they spend millions of $. I’ll also invite my influencer friends to make Tik Tok videos with trash around them and St Regis in the background. I sincerely hope the concerns are heard and acted on, not ignored.

Zak was so kind and professional, and helped us with whatever we needed, from car rentals to tours and shopping. Loubna also did a wonderful job cleaning our room every day, keeping it immaculate. The staff and managers are lovely. It felt like more than just a hotel, and we’d love to come back one day. 10 star hotel!

The e-butler was quick to respond and helpful, housekeeping and turndown were stellar, and the grounds were kept beautifully. We visited in March, before the water warms up. I assume that’s why the large amounts of trash coming from the sea weren’t cleared from the beach. It was an eyesore and made beach walks much less enjoyable. We saw the same thing outside the other resorts, so I assume a team handles it during beach season. Apart from that, everything was impeccable. We had dinner there once and it was excellent. Breakfast was ordered at the table on our first day, a smaller meal, then a varied buffet the next day with lots of healthy, delicious choices. There’s no game room or proper library, so don’t expect to play chess on a rainy day. But if you want ocean views, a swim, and a book on your balcony, it’s a perfect fit. The pool is very pretty, though only about one meter deep, so it seems meant for wading and cooling off on a hot day.

The gym was the only good part for me. The location is beautiful, but spending €2500 for two nights felt like a mistake. We spent the whole stay complaining, repeating ourselves, waiting, and getting frustrated. Staff seemed to know little about the rooms or food selection, communication was difficult, and people were rushing around without clear organization. At prices of €450 or more per night, I expected good service, but the experience was the opposite. Management didn’t offer any gesture to apologize for problems that should never happen at this price. The private beach claim felt like false advertising to attract wealthy guests. It wasn’t private. Locals were walking across, swimming, and shouting in the area, while a security guard spent the day yelling or whistling at people he considered trespassers. That disturbed guests trying to relax. People left trash on the beach, and the hotel didn’t have anyone raking or cleaning the sand. Half the beach bar menu was out of stock, leaving us five dishes to choose from for lunch and dinner. Room service took ages. I called six times to order something before anyone answered, and then it was still very slow. The hotel seemed understaffed and badly organized. I asked to speak with the general manager, but he was nowhere to be found. It felt like no one was in charge. The reception area was small, crowded, and poorly laid out. I checked out relieved to get away. My customer experience was a failure.