Esplendid Hotel in Blanes

I didn’t like the unfriendly vibes from the staff thought I had booked break fast asked them for a number for ******* but claim they didn’t have one

Chronicle of a getaway to the horror hotel (with sea views, of course)

A terrible experience. But so bad that I'm writing this review with a frown and a linden tea in hand.

We arrived excited, wanting to unwind, breathe in the sea air... and the only thing that didn't disappoint was precisely that: the sea was perfectly visible. A consolation amidst so much disaster.

The hotel, on the other hand, looked like something out of a low-budget horror movie: old, dirty, and with decor that's straight out of the '80s. The room... room? A matchbox. So narrow that if one of us wanted to go to the bathroom, the other had to climb onto the bed. And yet we paid extra for "sea views." Thank goodness they were there.

But the best part was the staff, who seemed trained for a dislike contest. The receptionist couldn't find our reservation. She explained to us, with no kindness, that "it was poorly done," and that my 12-year-old daughter counted as an adult. The result: an extra charge (thank you!), but no room change. The same box of matches, now more expensive.

At 10:00 p.m., already in pajamas and looking like we're "having a bad day," we called reception because they were short on towels. They promised us that someone would come "soon." And yes, they did... what we didn't expect was for them to enter the room like they were at home, without saying hello, waking my daughter up and blurting out, like someone entering their living room: "There must be enough towels here." But the best part: they went into the bathroom to check. I, incredulous, covered up to my ears, witnessed this nocturnal inspection while she grumbled as if she were doing us a favor she would regret for the rest of her life.

And if the final touch was missing, when we left, I asked another receptionist if I could keep the room card because I collect hotel cards (each with its own quirks!). And she balked. Excuse me? Are they charging them in gold? I handed her the card with a (forced) smile and told her not to worry, to keep it, lest the hotel lose money because of me.

The spa is for adults only. Although, at this hotel, adults only means "12 and over, pay more" and "18 and over, enjoy." Wonderful.

The rooftop pool looked like an abandoned puddle, and the cleaning... well, the cleaning probably went on vacation years ago and never came back.

We'll never come back. And if you're reading this, good luck. From the bottom of my heart. You're going to need it.