Gran Hotel Bali — Hotel in Benidorm

Hang with me, it gets better!

This will be an honest review as I was met halfway by management on an issue I felt strongly about. I'd arrived to find my room on a really low level (I'd been messaging on many different platforms for months to request im in the main tower and really high up as it's the Gran Bali! It's the whole point!) That didn't happen. And to my genuine disappointment- was allocated a room in the smaller tower (albeit quiet as requested) with no balcony and the view of a concrete platform/fire exits. I was gutted.. sorely so since all my requests hadn't been seen?? and the hotel has 2000 rooms! I felt I'd been miss sold my room based on On the Beaches images and wording. I was fully expecting and looking forward to a balcony. I called OTB and they were less than useful.. utterly pointless. I won't go into it. It was advised I wait till morning to speak to the manger. So I did. I explained in detail what I thought I'd bought. Pictures of my booking. And what I expected from what I was sold. Credit where due! She took it all on board and understood what I was talking about, what I felt I'd bought. And that for 4 days this was going to be a crushing disappointment for me to stay in that black box of a room with no outside access. I wanted to go home! Oh, And come sunlight, there's a huge crack in the window too! Unacceptable. The manager I assumed, agreed! And I was given an upgraded room with a corner balcony overlooking the side of the pool. I think she understood exactly how let down by OTB advertising I was. It felt it sneaky of them, when, compared to The gran Bali website, they at least put a disclaimer that 'some rooms may not have balcony's' but of course- I booked with an independent tour operator. I was shown the website when I checked in and it was pointed out. I was non the wiser for it! Semantics in wording but it mattered in this example as OTB did not state that. So TGB.... I am impressed by their willingness to upgrade me after a bad experience. It shows they can indeed listen and affect change to make it better for the customer. I'm so happy I was listened to! Even though it wasn't particularly their error- they made it right. And thats great customer service! Service star would be higher but. I still can't understand how messages to them months in advance went unnoticed. I'd also like to mention Hadil.. she was veeeeery patient with me. Dealt with me professionally. Her manager was also very lovely, she did this for me! Thank you. Xx

And and edit: 1 more star off. I keep getting let down. I was told by the spa team opening times as I popped up about 11.30am to inquire before day at the beach.. I planned to come back "4ish, I'll see you then" I didn't need to book so I didn't, I wasn't told to. I've just went up and apparently 14 ppl... FOURTEEN ppl IS ALL it can take and it's full now, sorry.. I wanted two 1hr treatments too but having to return at 5pm now. And it closes at 7pm. I want an hour in the spa itself. So they're no longer getting my treatment plans/money. I just can't with this hotel.. I keep being let down. Oh! And the pool has been closed for chemical cleaning for about 2ish hours. I had nothing to do but chill in my room hense the leisurely venture to the spa as and when I wanted.

Quick note on the hotel itself as well as the the spa edition above.. Wifi is non existent after the 3rd floor.. Food is great, I really can't see people's problems with it at all!?? Lol.. The pool is very very busy- sun loungers are hard to come by but hey- 2000+ guests! You have to ask if their occupied. Bar service is good considering the volume of guests. Excellent mojitos! Bathrooms are a bit dark and old but wow is the water pressure good, even on floor 14! Great beds, zzzz I like! Aircon varies..I preferred my 1st rooms Aircon lol. And the TV you get BBC, ITV1+2+3, Film 4+1, Paramount Network. Taxi rank right outside to the Right- about €15 into...

Where do I start. Check in I had no booking yet I was there with a booking number and was stood there for over 30 mins, with no apology…On a positive the views were astounding. The positive stop at this point. Ive attached some photos of mould in the bathroom on the toilet and a previous guests plaster on the wall. I paid for all-inclusive 7 day break this Jan. I saw the deal and thought it was too good to say no. This is supposed to be a 4 star hotel. Personally I think that's overrated by 2 of those stars. The room was adequate but nothing special. I've stayed in many hotels around the world from quality 2 stars to 5 stars this is possibly the worst I've been to.

A few of the staff were rude for what reason I've no idea. They work in the hospitality and that was a big red flag..

The Food was not particularly good but it was food none the less. I've prepared meals before and I think some one with basic knowledge of cooking could produce better. The Drink considering it was all-inclusive I had no illusion at the cost paid for my stay it was all local and fair enough if you wanted top brands you paid for them. What I didn't expect was the policing of soft drinks & water. I asked for 2 bottles of water at dinner and was told yes ok only to of not received it so I took 2 on the way out and was chased down by staff because I was committing a burglary 😀 I explained I’m all inclusive to the aggressive staff member and had to offer a flattening service if he wished to proceed ( all inclusive) luckily for him he decided to decline my offer.

The people I had met staying in the hotel telling me of similar things happening with them. I truly thought it was just me. People couldn't wait to get out of the hotel and get back home. I was having the same experience.

The Lifts were not working properly and you were forced to go up to near the top come back to around 3rd floor and if you didn't get out there you be back up the top, god knows what was happening there. So come Friday I've got 3 days before going home. I'm having breakfast and I see the restaurant manager with another chap they confronted me about the water incident 3 days before. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I'm having my breakfast I said there’s nothing to discuss that situation is closed/finished. Next thing there are heavies there and some woman giving me all kinds of grief in all honesty I thought I'd either assaulted someone or threatened someone with a knife. Or it was all just a big mistake. After a few minutes it started getting really heated. All I wanted was to have my breakfast in peace and quiet. But pushing for a reaction was there game, I did say the first person who lays a finger on me will need their expenses paid in hospital. I got up and said I’ll take the lot of you on then if that’s where it’s going ?! They ALL soiled themselves

I was asked to leave the hotel and I have since collected all my belongings and moved to another, Chalk and cheese and are nice people and had no issues whatsoever at my new accommodation.

Never in all my days have I ever been treated like this anywhere. I've since read the reviews on this hotel and fool on me for not reading them prior to booking. I really thought it was just a one off situation it's a regular occurrence. There is a genuine hostility towards British holiday makers here. This Hotel and others like them want your money they don't want to give you their service. The more they treat customers like this the likelihood is they won't have good paying customers. The owners need to be informed of the practices going on, I'm pretty sure they'd have something to say to the management. I will not put any hard earned money into Spanish holidays until this is addressed. Hospitality is the reason we...

Tripadvisor 4 stars, in a 4star hotel. Last year we went to an apartment in fuerteventura, before, tenerife, gran canaria. I have to say those islands are much better for me and my family. Even a 2 star hotel there had much more rich breakfast and dinner, this is pretty basic and often ppl fight for rare dishes like churros cos like 2 plates empties out in seconds as its just too much ppl here, and also its no worth the wait. We are in building 1 not the very tall one but the lifts are crazy loud at nights, like someone is moving a piano up and down all night on top floor.. 10 days here and couldnt sleep very well at all, cant wait to go home, wifi isnt working u can wait for any website for 10 minutes to load so its useless. Cleaning is more like putting the bedsheets back on top of the beds and taking rubbish out, but not much else, which i dont mind but compared to canaries hotels they folded up our clothes, got new towels every day, glasses cleaned so on, not really here. 80 percent of staff dont speak english at all, at least the ones i met. Breakfast and dinner time everyone is rushing to get something so good luck waiting for the lifts, luckily we only staying on the 5th floor and we are still young and fresh to use stairs. 6 lifts, 2 are normal 4 are supersmall barely fit 3 adults. And if u r up on your floor and finally one comes, there is no indicators if its going up or down so many times after pressing the only call button which is down, u never know if u r actually going up or down till it starts moving..

Security guys at main entrance sometimes even block half of the door just cos they fancy standing there, not bothered that ppl want to go in or out, and even if u say hola, they dont give damn saying anything.. if u have any issues reception is usually full of queues ppl trying to check in.. We were told kids go free on the skybar on the 43rd floor, we still were charged full price for all amd when i asked why is that they simply didnt understand whats my concern. In the restaurants menu shows 2 prices 1 with notmal payment other is with roomcard, first3 days i didnt know how it worked even tho i asked them, again they didnt speak english so i paid full price, then i found out in the pool bar u need to add money to the roomcard to get the cheaper prices but noone explained that even tho they asked for my room card before too if u wanted to drink anything for dinner. At breakfast again juices are running low mostly. That 12 chocolate croissants u need to be quick to get one, or u can wait another half an hour to try again.. Actually this if our 1st holiday that we are happy its ending tomorrow. Benidorm wont be our favourite places, its ok but there are definitely better places. Didnt like the hotel, didnt like the restaurants outside, there is a few ok ones but most of them crap food crap hospitality... :(

A few good things now, pools are nice, warm enough, good for kids too, rooms are spacius (family rooms at least) seaside is about 5-10 min walk. Old town is about 7-8euros with taxi. Cocktails feel like they are without alcohol but i felt the beer (i m not a big drinker tho) There is ac in the room:)

Bathrooms are ok but the shower and bathtubs are pretty small and look old.

In a 4star hotel i d expect some sort of minibar or room service, there is a small fridge that barely cools down anything in a week:) but...