Ocean Blue — Hotel in Mastita

I rarely leave negative reviews, but my experience at this hotel warrants full disclosure—especially for families traveling with young children. Hidden Charge for Child Over 3 Before our arrival, we spoke to the call center and specifically mentioned traveling with a child. No one informed us that a $30 charge would apply because our child was “above 3 years.” Upon check-in, that surprise fee was sprung on us out of nowhere. Such critical information should be communicated in advance, not during check-in. Confusing & Money-Focused Communication The hotel’s communications were focused on payment reminders—more than three messages buzzed in about their “money policy”—yet they failed to clearly state the child-charge policy. Although they have 16-point terms-and-conditions list that no guest is expected to parse and they didnt even mentioned that No Manager Available, Long Negotiations We spent over an hour negotiating the surprise charge with the front-desk agent. Shockingly, no manager was on duty—or at least not made available. The agent showed zero initiative to resolve or even consult someone higher up. Completely unacceptable. Upsell to Downgraded Room To make matters worse, they “offered” us a downgraded room at a cheaper price—despite the fact that payment wasn’t a problem for us. This felt like a transparent effort to coerce us into paying for something we hadn’t agreed to—again, shifting the blame back to guests. Deposit Refund Only by CEO When I asked for my deposit back—or at least to waive the hidden charge since no service was rendered—the agent claimed it required a CEO’s approval. That’s ludicrous. A duty manager should have the authority to handle this.

Bottom Line: This hotel demonstrated a clear priority: monetize before pleasing. Hidden fees, one-sided terms, timid staff, and nonexistent managerial oversight made our stay anything but relaxing. Families beware—especially if you have children just over age thresholds. Responsible hotels anticipate and communicate these issues ahead of time, not ambush you at...

We booked a three-night stay but ended up leaving after just one night. While the hotel was clean, beautifully decorated in a bohemian style, and had a lovely view, our experience was unfortunately marred by a few significant issues.

Upon our arrival, we were informed at check-in that burkinis were not allowed. I assured the staff that I wasn’t planning to swim and hadn’t brought one. The real issue arose when I was told I couldn’t sit by the pool or walk on the beach at all. I explained that I simply wanted to watch my husband and son swim in the kids' pool, emphasizing that I would not be swimming myself. Despite my reassurances, my request was denied. I chose not to escalate the situation and returned to my room, which felt quite prison-like due to its lack of windows. The living room area had a view of the loading dock, as shown in the attached picture.

Additionally, the staff at the pool seemed to hover around my husband and child, creating an uncomfortable atmosphere that even made my son stop playing. Because I dressed modestly, my access was limited to my room and the restaurant. Having traveled extensively, I’ve never encountered such treatment before, which felt discriminatory.

The staff showed me the rules and regulations, which stated, “10. Swimwear is obligatory at the pool and beach (bikini only allowed).” I understand this policy, but I reiterated that I would only be watching my son. It seems that the rules were designed to exclude modest swimwear, and by extension, modest women from enjoying the hotel amenities.

Lastly, I found the furniture to be unsafe for both children and adults. In just one night, my son injured his eye on the coffee table, and my mother hit her head on the bedside table, resulting in both of them bleeding.

Lebanon is a magnificent country, and we thoroughly enjoyed our time exploring it, but our experience at Ocean Blue in Byblos was...

We booked a three-night stay but ended up leaving after just one night. While the hotel was clean, beautifully decorated in a bohemian style, and had a lovely view, our experience was unfortunately marred by a few significant issues.||Upon our arrival, we were informed at check-in that burkinis were not allowed. I assured the staff that I wasn’t planning to swim and hadn’t brought one. The real issue arose when I was told I couldn’t sit by the pool or walk on the beach at all. I explained that I simply wanted to watch my husband and son swim in the kids' pool, emphasizing that I would not be swimming myself. Despite my reassurances, my request was denied. I chose not to escalate the situation and returned to my room, which felt quite prison-like due to its lack of windows. The living room area had a view of the loading dock, as shown in the attached picture.||Additionally, the staff at the pool seemed to hover around my husband and child, creating an uncomfortable atmosphere that even made my son stop playing. Because I dressed modestly, my access was limited to my room and the restaurant. Having traveled extensively, I’ve never encountered such treatment before, which felt discriminatory.||The staff showed me the rules and regulations, which stated, “10. Swimwear is obligatory at the pool and beach (bikini only allowed).” I understand this policy, but I reiterated that I would only be watching my son. It seems that the rules were designed to exclude modest swimwear, and by extension, modest women from enjoying the hotel amenities.||Lastly, I found the furniture to be unsafe for both children and adults. In just one night, my son injured his eye on the coffee table, and my mother hit her head on the bedside table, resulting in both of them bleeding.||Lebanon is a magnificent country, and we thoroughly enjoyed our time exploring it, but our experience at Ocean Blue in Byblos was...