Barceló Montelimar - All Inclusive

The beach and views were the bright spots, and the bartenders consistently made great drinks. The mini golf course, though, was in terrible shape, with mosquitoes, leaf and debris covered holes, and overgrown paths that made it unpleasant to play. Meals were crowded, service was slow, and we often had food but no silverware. Water took repeated requests, drink stations ran short of glasses, and the coffee machines were broken on several days. The coffee machine in our room didn't work either. The room had bigger problems: it was outdated and poorly maintained, the floor was still wet after housekeeping had left, and the bathroom was dim and unkempt. The entry light barely showed, and the AC switched between very cold and hot without responding to the controls. We found empty shampoo and soap dispensers, and the room phone connection was so bad that the front desk couldn't hear us. We had to call on a cell. They said someone would arrive in 15 minutes, but it took over an hour and another call before housekeeping brought soap and a coffee filter. Later we spotted a cockroach and another large insect. The toilet wouldn't flush when I tried to get rid of one, so I had to fix it myself. There were ants, grime and mildew in the tile grout, and a small gecko in the bathroom, which made it seem the room wasn't properly sealed. The shuttle driver wasn't clear when we first arrived about whether we could board. He was polite afterward and helped with our bags, but complained about not being paid overtime, which felt unprofessional and started things off badly. The resort's location and beach are excellent, but the overall stay was disappointing. I wouldn't return. The beach views alone may be worth a visit, but the rooms, dining, amenities, and maintenance fell well below expectations.

The pools were nice, and the resort had a generally pleasant atmosphere. Staff were pleasant enough too, except the checkout woman. When we raised our complaints, she didn't acknowledge them or apologize, saying we should have dealt with everything during the stay. We were only there one night, though, and check-in is at 3pm. The food was mediocre and just edible, with not much variety. The rooms were old, dusty, and poorly kept. The sheets were torn and dirty, the bathtub was clogged and broken, and a bathroom light was out. My allergies were definitely triggered. One morning I woke to find a spider crawling on the wall beside my child. I understand the appeal is the all-inclusive deal, but there are plenty of tradeoffs. For this quality, $400 for a night feels excessive and touristy. That's the price of a night at the Fountainbleau in Miami, by the way. They need to put money into room upkeep and cleanliness, as well as the food.

The location and views are incredible, and the bungalow itself was pretty nice. But they first put us in the wrong room. After moving us to the right one the next day, we found the fridge wasn't working, there was barely any hot water, and the phone was dead. It took three days to fix the phone, so we had to walk around looking for a shuttle or make the uphill walk to reception. Waits ranged from 10 minutes to an hour. They also forgot our a la carte voucher. When I went to ask Dalfina about it, she was extremely rude. The food was disgusting. Nothing was covered, and flies kept landing on it. My husband and I got sick, and we met other people who had too. The pool food was nasty as well, with cold hotdogs and cold burgers. I've thrown up multiple times over the past two days, and my husband hasn't been able to leave the bathroom. We took a photo of a dead fly in the salsa and hope management acts on this health hazard. Flies land on manure and then on the food we eat. This place makes a lot of money, so I don't understand why it neglects food, one of the most important things at an all-inclusive resort.

The gym is great, and the people who run it are great too. The rooms could be cleaned better. Restaurant and bar service needs work, especially the customer service.