The description on the hotel website gives an impression of decadent luxury, photographs are skillfully taken leading the viewer to believe they would be stepping back in time to some Victorian Elegance worthy of the elite, the writing draws the reader into some kind of paradise, an unrivelled luxury and service.
The truth is , the hotel is set in a wonderful location above the seafront town of Santa Maria surrounded by mountais, it has un paralled views due to its location and there is a sense of peace and calm away from the bustling seaside resort. Sitting on the patio above the pool with a large gin and tonic was very relaxing and for that moment one could really believe all the hype on the website. However, take a closer look - the standard rooms are not sound proofed, the 'mini bar' is just a mini fridge in which two small bottles of water were placed every morning, a double bed was two singles pushed together, there were ants in the bathroom, we left the air-con on a low setting, yet whenever we returned to the room after our day out it had been turned off. The breakfast buffet was average, cold scrambled eggs and very crispy bacon , coffee from a machine, luke warm water with which to make a cup of tea, dry cakes and croissants, the hilight being the frozen yoghurt like a Mr Softee icecream! The restaurant staff were quite surly especially in the evening where we had a meal on our first night but never again due to the lack of choice and standards below expectation.