Room-discover Magical Calheta

The sea-view room was worth having, and the staff were friendly. The facilities look lovely, with a relaxing feel, though the lighting is a little dark. You have to pay extra for quite a few things, including the loungers nearest the pool, which is probably why they were all empty. I'd skip the evening buffet and eat down at the harbour.

Those pools were easily the best part of the property. They're gorgeous, and the sunsets from there are spectacular. The hotel itself is beautiful, with several restaurants and a large buffet area that changes theme each evening. Breakfast is served there too, with plenty to choose from. The staff were friendly, polite, and attentive throughout our three-night Valentine’s weekend. We booked an ocean-front room on the third floor. It wasn't especially noisy, but higher up might mean less street in the view. The balconies also don't offer much privacy, since you can see the people next door if you go to the edge. From the spa level, the courtyard-view rooms looked dark and enclosed, almost like caves, so I wouldn't choose one. We also noticed a damp smell in the corridor by room 310 whenever we passed. The setting is remote and peaceful beside a small marina, with mountain views and direct access to the sea. It feels tucked away but is still accessible, a nice place to switch off for a few days without a long trip. There was some confusion about what was included in the direct website rate. The hotel dealt with it graciously, offering a €25 daily food voucher, one breakfast, and parking at no charge, which we appreciated. The bed was firmer than we liked and the pillows very thin, so sleep suffered. The glass walls between the shower and toilet also make the bathroom less private, depending on who you're traveling with. The outdoor heated pool, which was included, didn't feel very warm to us. The spa looks lovely, but costs €35 per person and didn't seem worth the fee: its pool was cold during our visit, and the jacuzzi kept stopping after about a minute. Still, we had a wonderful stay. The peaceful seaside setting alone makes it a lovely retreat for slowing down and reconnecting, just a short flight away.

The views were spectacular, and there are lots of different spots to lounge around. The hotel feels luxurious, with very large rooms in a quiet area. We had a strong experience overall, but a few things kept it from five stars. During our five days, we found four cockroaches in the room, including one somehow inside the soap dispenser bottle. For the last two nights, a sewer-like smell came up from the shower drain, so we had to cover it. And charging extra for the loungers feels like a hidden cost when you're already paying to use the hotel.

The real disappointment came after we checked out. We left several shirts hanging in the room by mistake and contacted the hotel within 36 hours. It took several days, multiple emails, and at least seven calls to get any useful response. At first, we were told nothing had been found. Later, Guest Relations emailed to confirm the shirts were there. By then the delay meant they couldn't be sent to our next stop in Portugal, though that would have been possible earlier. The hotel didn't take responsibility or help find a reasonable option. We were told to arrange shipping to the US ourselves, at a cost of roughly $300. With so little communication or urgency, we effectively lost our belongings. It's a shame that such poor follow-up and customer care overshadowed a lovely property and generally good service in person. We left disappointed and unlikely to return. While we were there, the staff were attentive, and we enjoyed the warm indoor spa pool. The outdoor pools were far too cold for us, even in the warm weather. Our room was comfortable, the property lovely, and breakfast under the premium experience was excellent. Whitney served us each morning and was a joy to talk with. Still, the premium package cost an extra €90 per person and its limited benefits didn't feel worth that price.