"We have just come back from a 14-night holiday at Mare Blue and Suites, and unfortunately, our experience has been extremely disappointing from the moment we arrived. From problems with our room, poor communication and service, to cold buffet food, a serious illness and a prolonged power cut, this hotel has fallen well short of what we expected.
Arrival and room allocation
On arrival, we were asked if we would like a welcome drink. When we said yes, we were told we would have to pay for it, so we declined.
After checking in, we were informed that our room was unavailable due to an electrical fault and that we would be temporarily accommodated elsewhere. What followed was a confusing and frustrating experience. We were told the alternative accommodation was at another hotel up the road, taken there, and then left at reception by the person accompanying us. We had to go through the entire check-in process again, only to be told that our room was actually in another hotel across the road!
When we finally reached our room, it was nothing like the room we had booked. We had booked a double room with a mountain view, but were given what can only be described as a tiny box room.
We were told to speak to management at 11am the following morning. However, when we returned, we were informed there was no management available that day and that there was no room availability. Ava insisted that the room we had been given was the same size as the room we had booked and was a standard room. When I showed her the double room advertised on their own website, she told me they did not have double rooms, only standard rooms.
After several conversations and a call to Loveholidays, we were asked to return to reception again at 11am the next morning to see if the matter could be resolved. This meant two days of our holiday were disrupted, with us having to plan our mornings around returning to reception rather than enjoying our holiday.
When we eventually looked at the alternative room offered, it was even worse than the one we were already in, so we reluctantly decided to stay where we were.
Not the adults-only hotel we booked
Another major disappointment was discovering that the alternative accommodation, Mare Garden, was not adults-only, despite being told it was the same as the hotel we had booked. There were several children running around during the day and in the evenings during the entertainment.
We specifically booked an adults-only holiday, so this was another important aspect of our booking that was not met.
Food and illness
The buffet food has been one of the biggest disappointments. It was frequently lukewarm at best and often completely cold. Unfortunately, after several days of eating here, I became extremely unwell with what I believe was food poisoning and spent three days recovering.
Following this experience, I simply could not face the prospect of eating at the hotel again and had no choice but to find alternative restaurants outside the hotel at our own expense. This is not what you expect when booking a hotel on the understanding that meals are included.
The breakfast service has also been disappointing. On one occasion, we sat at a table because nobody had shown us where to sit, only to discover there was no cutlery. As it can be difficult to find staff at times, and we have regularly had to fetch our own items and drinks, I took cutlery from an unoccupied table.
A young waitress subsequently came over and publicly told us off for doing so, explaining that we should have found her to clean and relay the table. We would have had absolutely no problem with this had we been told, but the way we were spoken to was unnecessary and embarrassing. It was certainly not a pleasant start to the day, particularly after the problems we had already experienced with the food.
On another morning, there was a problem with the hot water at breakfast. The waitress gave us cups containing water that smelled of coffee to make our tea. This was completely unacceptable, and we were unable to drink it, so we had to settle for water instead. Why there is no facility to provide properly boiled water for guests at breakfast is beyond me.
Power cut and basic facilities
On day six, we experienced a power cut that continued into the night and into day seven.
The food available during the power cut was extremely limited and what there was, was very cold. Most alcoholic drinks were suspended, and by the following day there was no hot water and no hot food or hot water available for drinks.
What was particularly concerning was the apparent lack of emergency lighting facilities during the power cut. This was a worrying situation and certainly did not inspire confidence.
Pool area and environment
While staying at Mare Garden, there was also a noticeable sewage smell around the pool during the day. This was unpleasant and certainly detracted from the experience of relaxing by the pool.
We were also disappointed that plastic glasses were used throughout our stay. I understand there may be reasons for using them around swimming pools, but I struggle to understand why glassware could not be used inside the hotel. Given the environmental impact of single-use plastics, this seems an unnecessary use of plastic.
Bar, entertainment and additional costs
The bar closes at 10pm, which is precisely when the entertainment starts. This makes little sense. Guests should surely be able to enjoy a drink while watching the evening entertainment rather than finding the bar closed just as the entertainment begins.
The entertainment itself is very limited. If DJ music and karaoke are your thing, you may be satisfied, but anyone expecting a varied programme or quality entertainment should manage their expectations. Entertainment only runs from Tuesday to Friday, meaning there is nothing at the weekend.
There are also additional costs that we found surprising. Sunbeds on the beach cost €10 per day, while beach towels require a €20 deposit per towel, plus a €3 laundry fee per towel. Although the €20 deposit is refundable, the additional charges quickly add up over a 14-night holiday.
I have stayed at hotels where sunbeds and towels are included, so having to budget for these extras on top of the holiday price was disappointing.
Overall experience
What should have been a relaxing two-week holiday has instead involved considerable stress, wasted time, additional expense and significant disappointment.
The initial room allocation was handled poorly, the communication from staff was frustrating, the food was consistently cold, and becoming seriously unwell meant we no longer felt comfortable eating at the hotel. The power cut, lack of hot water, sewage smell and general standard of service only added to our concerns.
We appreciate that electrical faults and power cuts can happen, and no hotel can guarantee that everything will always run perfectly. However, it is how these situations are handled that matters. In our experience, communication, customer service and the standard of the facilities were simply not good enough.
For a 14-night holiday, we expected far better. We also expected to receive the type of room and adults-only experience we had specifically booked.
Unfortunately, based on our experience, we would not return to Mare Blue and Suites or recommend it to anyone looking for a relaxing, quality holiday.
We hope management takes these concerns seriously and makes improvements for future guests."
