Hotel Santa Fe by Villa Group

We stayed in villa 3 for a week, January 19-26, 2025, and it was quiet and ideally located. The property is huge, so expect plenty of walking, which I actually enjoyed. There are lively adult pools as well as quieter spots, and something for everyone. The beach is lovely, though more warnings about the danger would help visitors who may not have researched it. A woman drowned during our week there. The hotel was spotless, with staff cleaning constantly. Our room was very clean, the fridge was stocked, and we had our own bar. We tried every restaurant, and the food was delicious and freshly made. No reservations needed, just go. I wish we'd booked more than a week. The pillows were great, but the beds felt a bit too hard. I don't know if that varies by room.

We had to take cold showers because there was no hot water, and nobody warned us before booking or at check-in. When we reported it to the manager the next day, they said it would be fixed that night, but it wasn't. We were traveling with children and couldn't accept the situation. After a long discussion with the hotel and Booking.com, the hotel finally let us check out, but we couldn't get back the charge for the night we'd already stayed. When the problem came up, the hotel wasn't honest with us and seemed to use deception to keep us there. I would avoid this hotel. Booking.com also failed to offer an effective solution. At first, they just told us to “hang in there” for another night. I would avoid booking through them too.

Hotel Santa Fe was a great place to stay in December 2024. We didn't have a car and walked everywhere, even at night, and felt pretty safe. Restaurants, grocery shops, and the Marina are all nearby, about a 10-minute walk. The staff were welcoming and friendly, and suggested places to eat and beaches to visit. Our room was spacious and comfortable, with air conditioning and lots of storage. Breakfast included pancakes, fresh fruit, orange juice, and coffee, with other choices available for a small extra fee. The one thing to keep in mind is the busy neighborhood. There are pubs and people around, and it can get noisy at night. It didn't bother me, but it might if you're easily disturbed while sleeping. I'd definitely recommend the hotel and stay again.

There are no elevators, so you have to haul your bags up the stairs. On top of that, we didn't get the rooms we'd requested. After waiting an hour, we accepted a room with one king and one queen, but it actually had two full-size beds. When we complained, staff said we'd get whatever was available and that a reservation didn't guarantee what we'd paid for. This is the worst RIU I've stayed at. The staff didn't seem to care. Don't waste your money, go to another resort.