Solid 3 star hotel with a 5 star internal garden / court
Our second time in this hotel, so limited surprises. We chose the hotel based on the balance of pros and cons and our own relative weight of these.
Check in - process was fast, employee friendly. Unfortunately the room was not ready (it is well understood that early check in request is not guaranteed) despite the heads up that we will arrive an hour or so earlier than check in time, returning guests, same day birthday, and gold Expedia status.
Returning guest status is not acknowledged in any way. They sent a cake after we made it finally to the room, thanks to the receptionist who saw it was my birthday when filling the forms.
Pros: secure private area at the beach, location out of the walled city but close, wonderful grounds with animals and birds, good size pool. Many reviews have mentioned these and I cannot think of another hotel that can offer so. Employees are polite and professional. Breakfast is sufficient as options.
Cons: the Colonial building is the only officially renovated one, so we booked the most expensive category of a room there, it is very small. It is renovated, however already quite beaten up. Daily cleaning is regular but not thorough. There is a tv with only a couple international channels, safe, no coffee maker. We understood that two floors of the Lagomar building have been renovated (not renovated bathrooms though, but rooms are bigger there). I did communicate with the hotel prior to bookin