Sofitel Montevideo Casino Carrasco and Spa

We arrived late after a bad stay at another hotel, and then had trouble with our cards. The desk clerk helped us get a room while we sorted things out with our bank. That kindness meant a lot, especially alongside the hotel’s incredible facilities and the staff’s genuine helpfulness. I’m traveling with my daughter through Argentina and Uruguay, and we’ve met so many kind, loving, humble, hardworking, family-oriented people here. Apart from one unfortunate exception, we’ve been treated incredibly well, from cab drivers and horse camp staff to restaurant and hotel workers, as well as locals who’ve helped us with directions or finding things in shops. Argentinians and uruguayans have rightly earned their reputation for kindness. I hope others traveling this part of the world have the same good fortune we’ve had. 💞

The sauna was the biggest letdown: only one small one was working, and men and women had to share it. I would have much preferred separate spaces. The restaurant and spa staff also didn’t seem friendly. The furniture looked tired, and there were no small wash towels for the shower or a steamer for clothes. I’d expected a much more refined, luxurious stay.

The hotel looks pretty cool from outside, but the casino was a letdown. The video slots feel dated, there’s no poker, either video or live, and the gaming options are just one blackjack table and a couple of roulette wheels. Pretty dull.

It’s a beautiful hotel, but compared with some of the other places we stayed in Uruguay, it didn’t feel worth what we paid.