Espina Boutique

I stayed eight nights at Espina Hotel and really liked the staff, location, room, and balcony view. The pool area was the main disappointment. Large groups of British guests kept it overcrowded from morning until late evening, so I couldn’t use it once, swim, or even sit beside it with a coffee. There was also a lot of noise from the pool every night, which disturbed an otherwise pleasant stay. It felt unfair that other guests couldn’t enjoy the facilities because of the constant crowding. I really wish I’d been able to enjoy the pool too.

I left two stars because of several issues. I was in an annex across the road from the main hotel, and having to keep buzzing reception to get the electronic door opened was a hassle. The room was a bit small, though that didn’t bother me much since I was only there to sleep. Cleaning staff mostly just changed the towels and didn’t really clean. Four times, I had to ask reception for coffee and creamer because the cleaners hadn’t left any. Breakfast was poor and repetitive, and food wasn’t replenished as closing time approached. With 70 rooms and potentially 140 guests, one small coffee percolator serving only eight cups at a time caused a stressful morning queue. You had to find someone to refill it, and then it took about four minutes to brew. I’d been led to believe soup would be available, but none was ever served. Since many guests are there for dental work, soup would be a great help to them.

I never actually went inside, but I used to pass this hotel often. It always felt like walking into a Love Island episode: British accents everywhere, people who looked straight off the show, music and sunshine, and that Fiji villa kind of atmosphere. If you’re British or just want a seaside reality-show vibe, it seems like the place. Maybe I’ll go in next time 😂

The location across from the sea is great, and the hotel is clean with the basic amenities. There’s no concierge, though, and breakfast has a limited selection. The rooms are compact, and the double bed feels small for two.