"Our stay at Hotel Girassol was a shock right from the moment we arrived. Apart from the good food and 3–4 helpful staff members, this hotel was a complete disaster for our family.
Unprofessional Reception & Failed Room Service
Check-in was cold and unwelcoming. The receptionist spoke very poor English, handed us the meal schedule, mentioned the tourist tax, and that was it. No "welcome" or basic information.Our room had two single mattresses pushed together and an extremely small sofa bed. Since our child sleeps with us, we requested a room change to avoid the gap between the mattresses. Another receptionist, Xavier, explained (unprofessionally, with his hands in his pockets) that they would place a double topper on the bed the next day to solve the issue, as housekeeping was unavailable at 7 PM. Nothing happened the next day. I called, and another receptionist promised to fix it. On the third day, the maid arrived with two single toppers, which solved nothing. When I explained the issue, she told me to call reception again. I ended up talking to the first receptionist, who simply replied with a dismissive "Okay, ma'am." In the end, nothing was fixed, and we never received an apology.
The Pool NightmareWe booked this hotel specifically for two features: the heated pool (as it was late May and the weather was cool) and the in-water sunbeds.The Restriction: Upon arrival, we were told that the heated pool is strictly adults-only. Because we had a child, we were forced to use the freezing cold pool.
Chemical Damage: The pool water completely ruined our swimwear, leaving permanent yellow-green stains that will not wash out. Worse, our child—who spent hours in the water—came out with yellow-green stained skin every single time! We were not the only guests affected by this. When we complained, the staff dismissively showed us their chlorine levels and claimed it was "fine." It clearly contained an unsafe amount of copper or poor chemicals.
Poor Hygiene & Cleanliness
At breakfast, the water glasses were repeatedly dirty, covered in leftover orange pulp from previous use. Finding a clean glass was nearly impossible.The rooms are extremely dated. Cleanliness was poor from day one—the room was dusty, and the toilet was not properly cleaned before our arrival. Daily housekeeping consisted only of making the bed and quickly wiping the mirror and sink.
Conclusion: The food was good (though not very diverse), but it does not make up for the outdated rooms, terrible service, and chemical hazards in the pool. We absolutely do not recommend this hotel for families with children."
