Hôtel la Solitude

We stayed in apartment Esperanza behind the hotel. Which is accessible by two flights of stairs going down. And then up a few steps to the apartment. There is no ramp. We were a family of 4 with children aged 3 and 1 and 2 grandparents. We thought the apartment would be a good option as our youngest still uses bottles which require sterilising. Sadly, the kitchen has no tea towels or oven gloves. And was missing a kettle which we had to ask for. Although being attached to the hotel, the apartment is not serviced. There is also one bin for the whole apartment and no sanitary bin in the bathroom. The washing machine is not a washer/dryer so although usable, it is difficult to dry clothes as there is no clothes horse. The toilet smells of damp as there is no ventilation and no ventilation in the shower room. The double room is located behind the twin room so the air con does not reach that room. We therefore had to request a fan. There is also no hairdryer in the apartment, as the hotel was full there were no spares to borrow from reception. Although the apartment gives you access to the hotel swimming pool, there are not enough towels provided. reception were unable to provide extra towels as housekeeping had gone home. And I quote Thomas “the apartment is like an Airbnb” all Airbnb’s I have stayed in have provided these small necessities. This was very disappointing as we had young children which was explained to the receptionist. Lastly, there are a lot of flies and we were bitten a few times, the front door to the apartment could do with the fly screen as could the windows. If these issues could have been rectified I think our stay would have been more enjoyable.

Arrived here on a 5 day pilgrimage with JWT Ireland. Paid the single room supplement of €35 per night making the trip full board over €1100. The room(124) is pokey and dark, the lighting is also bad, the view is a dirty wall, The bathroom is a health & Safety hazard with little or no clearance between the shower and the toilet,(see picture below)The Shower itself is so small you literally could not "swing a cat in it" Imagine an 80 year old trying to get in and out of this shower! The food for all meals is buffet style, however, there is little choice with , numerous repeat items between lunch and dinner. The meat selection is extremely poor, chicken for instance is ONLY leg and thigh, no breast, pork appears regularly with a number of recycled fish dishes, if you like salad you can have it for breakfast, dinner and tea! Deserts are "mini style " with the same selection each day! €1100 (including flights) is extremely expensive for the standard of accommodation and food on offer. I took the liberty if checking with other pilgrims and most had the same view, accommodation was sub standard and the food if awful. I suggest tour operators consider negotiating better standards for pilgrims, 90% of pilgrims are Irish at this Hotel during our stay and yet not one traditional dish on offer.

I found the food had significantly reduced in quality & choice since last year. My room was very strangely configured, having to leave the toilet & cross the room to use the bidet & wash handbasin. The carpet was very very worn and faded. The staff in the dining room were excellent