Hotel Turquoise

The large pool and nearby local beach were the only real positives. Our first-floor room was old and dusty, with no sea view at all, despite being sold as a side sea view. The receptionist was no help and didn’t seem willing to assist. Weddings are held at the hotel on Fridays and Saturdays, and the music kept us awake all night. The old ventilation also let cigarette smoke fill the rooms for some reason.

The breakfast and bed were good, the furniture was nice, and the balcony had a good view. There’s a nice pool and a separate one for kids. The hotel looks great from outside and has a lot of potential, but the air conditioning was old and often felt useless. The staff weren’t especially friendly, though they weren’t bad either. The private beach is behind the hotel, where a strange-smelling little stream runs into the sea. The seabed there is full of large, sharp rocks and could use improvement. We saw lots of people without masks in the lobby, and the hotel didn’t seem to care whether customers followed the special Covid-19 rules. After a four- or five-hour drive, we found the minibar empty at one of the most expensive hotels in Venus, though you can ask them to put something in it. One pillow had strange marks. Our bill said “all inclusive,” even though we’d bought “breakfast included” on booking.com. Some of the walls were falling apart inside the room. We also saw the cleaning lady washing the elevator floor without any shoes on, which was odd. It was almost good for two nights, but I wouldn’t recommend it if you’re expecting a four-star hotel. I guess the manager hasn’t even heard of the “Hotel impossible” TV show.

The food was the one good thing. The windows didn’t block the extremely loud noise from outside, so it was hard to rest. Not every room has a sea view. The electrical voltage in the sockets varied because of the solar panels and burned out my laptop charger. The mini fridge was empty when we arrived, and check-in wasn’t until 6 pm. Why?

The rooms are spacious and comfortable, and the bathroom has a distinctive but practical design. The staff provided high-quality service, and the food was superb. The lavender path is memorable, and the place feels like Dubai. I recommend it.