Cullera Holiday Hotel — Hotel in Cullera

Overall, this was an average experience at best and did not live up to the expectations we had of a 4-star hotel. We do not have much experience with hotels in Spain, so we are unsure if this was typical quality for this price-class there or not. We live in Sweden and are accustomed to a higher overall quality for the same price class here. ||Positives: |-Great location, 5-minute walk to a beautiful beach|-The pool area was nice and child-friendly with lovely views and plenty of shade. |-The hotel staff was very friendly and did their best to be helpful, but if you do not speak Spanish, Cullera is a difficult place to visit due to the fact that very few speak English. There were a couple of hotel receptionists that spoke good English, but otherwise we had a lot of trouble communicating with hotel staff and others in Cullera. ||Negatives: |- The most disappointing part of our stay was the food. We had pre-booked breakfast and dinner during our stay and were very sad to find the quality of food below average. Lots of processed foods, most food on buffet lacked flavor and was room temp. Many dishes were labeled incorrectly (for ex. sausage labeled as artichokes, etc.) causing a lot of problems for those with allergies. In addition, all of the deserts and most of the "kids" dishes were listed as containing nuts. For ex., the pizza and chicken nuggets were labeled as containing nuts. Since the staff didn't speak English we weren't able to get clarification about this. Our son is allergic to nuts and was limited to mostly bread and cheese every breakfast and dinner the entire stay. ||- Door to balcony in hotel room was broken on arrival. Took two days to fix so we were unable to use the balcony during the first part of our stay. ||-No shampoo, conditioner or blankets were supplied in the rooms. When we asked for these at the reception, we were told that we would have to wait for the cleaner to deliver them. When the cleaner didn't deliver shampoo or conditioner, we were finally able to get it from reception a day later. One of the blankets that we finally got was later removed from the room by a cleaner for some reason. ||-Toilet paper ran out in one room, had to wait for later delivery, rather than be given a roll at reception. So, unable to use bathroom in room until cleaner came. ||- The safes in both rooms were not working on arrival. Fixed later that day. ||- The cleaner left one of our rooms unlocked (door ajar) after cleaning one day (we discovered this when we returned in the evening). ||- The bathrooms need maintenance. The sink drain in one of our rooms was clogged (very slow draining so the sink filled with water when washing hands or brushing teeth). There was also a hole in the ceiling above the shower. ||-Rooms very simple with no pictures, etc. Not a problem, but feels more like a motel than the price...

check in fine and asked if we wanted to use he car park at €8 per day - no real alternative. Arrived in room which was well appointed and after unpacking turned to see what the TV had to offer - batteries flat in remote , not a good start. went to look at the balcony and out look (room 410) to find cafe furniture supplied by Amstel - not really appropriate for a 4 star hotel and further looking around saw different mis-matched furniture on other balconies. and so to dinner - no buffet that night but offered menu choice which was excellent only 8 people there!!) we had booked full board so as to have the special Menu on Christmas Day, It never happened - on querying this with reception in the evening was told we had to ask for it? but we were not offered an alternative ether at Lunch or Dinner. Apart from this omission the food was as to be expected in a Spanish Hotel as we have stayed in several. Now the not so good points - wardrobe had only 5 clothes hangers, the bathroom builders labels were still on the sanitary ware and what was under the loo (which should be seen on the photos) is indescribable. A bulb did not work in the room and after 4 days is till had not been replaced. the car park - as stated above they charge €8 per day and there are spaces for loading and unloading but there were cars parked in these spaces 24/7 - this matter has been reported direct to the Hotel for explanation. considering it was Christmas there was a complete lack of festive decorations , in fact can only describe it as dull. the black stairs leading down from floor 1 to reception are very dangerous as they are all black and it is difficult to see one step from another. the cafeteria never seemed to be open and this area is also the Salon de Lobby but is not very inviting and was cold. room service appeared not to exist and the information folder in the room of no use whatsoever. Maid service appeared to be good except on the Monday for when we returned to the room my slippers were buried under the beds, my pyjamas were just left on the counter and more importantly the terrace door was left open ! Considering that the Hotel was far from full , in fact sometimes it appeared to be like the Marie Celeste. one final point do not go near Cullera at Christmas as it to all intents and purposes is closed, in fact someone told us that this Hotel was the...

The restaurant is the best vale and quality I have had in ages…. I met the chef who is young, talented and ambitious (he rents the restaurant off the hotel (dinner only) hence the difference in quality) …. The “taster” menu is awesome… try it now before he is three times the price in Madrid. Now to the “tryst” part….My wife booked this as an anniversary surprise with a “romantic” package.. Firstly carpark full… I politely asked for alternative and was told “I don’t know but you can’t leave it there” .we entered the room with eyes closed and…… NOTHING… no champagne, petals, ambient lighting, soft music (as promised)….they will call us back. Put on tv and wait TV NOT WORKING overall we rang to say tv not working 3 TIMES…NADA…STILL NOT WORKING AS I WRITE WAITING TO LEAVE. back to the romance…. Nothing happened so eventually we went downstairs to complain… we waited another hour for our “surprise” to be organised and then we were shown in by the cleaner (yes the romance can’t get much higher right?)…. She showed us in to the same room with fake candles that flickered but did not change, a Bluetooth speaker that did not work (did I mention the tv?) not working…. What a shambles….. they offered to scrap the romantic surprise package cost… how generous having waited two hours and left completely disappointed! Showered before dinner (no soap) Avoid this hotel but sincerely…stay in Cullera. Not here. and DO TRY THE RESTAURANT TASTER MENU IN THIS HOTEL...