Hotel Hesperia Playa Dorada

It was our 5th visit to this hotel.We choose it because of the great location and the quality of the food,helpful friendly staff and a pool that is actually properly heated in winter (unlike many that claim to be but are far from it)! We go for the Deluxe as we like the extra touches and this time as we were there over Christmas we chose to go all inclusive. I think the hotel has upped its game on the food quality and variety, especially at lunch times. Our only slight niggle was that the staff did not make it easy to eat lunch on the terrace . The hotel is looking a little tired around the edges but is having a major refurb this spring and will be exciting to see the improvements.The big plus is the location ,right on the sea front and midway between Marina Rubicon and the town. Looking forward to our next visit

The hotel and grounds are very nice and well kept. Rooms are reasonably generous in size. Entertainment team were great particularly Oz & Florin who were friendly and fun. On arrival our rooms (we went with friends) were not ready and 1 was on 1st floor whilst the other was on 3rd and both at the BACK of the hotel, This implied it would not have a particularly pleasant view and wouldn't be ready for another hour. So when we were offered an upgrade to DELUXE rooms which would incl. sea view rooms, kettle , VIP room & full access to SPA, room were ready immediately and only 2 rooms apart , having been up since 3am we agreed. Believe me this was NOT WORTH IT. Looking around the hotel later that day the rooms at the BACK actually overlooked another pool which would have been quite acceptable but we weren't told that.We did get a sea view room, we did get use of the spa and the VIP room. That said, the VIP room was far too hot to spend much time there. We were Half Board basis and understood that this did not include any drinks but having UPGRADED to DELUXE room the very least we expected was bottled water in our room together with a supply of tea & coffee but NO this which was only given as a welcome pack on arrival. We would have been happy to pay for it elsewhere in the hotel. We didn't question this at the time of upgrading but were extremely disappointed to find out that we had to PAY FOR ALL water tea & coffee replacement in our room. The restaurant upgrade was so disappointing also. The food was the same in both restaurants with the exception of a chef cooking pasta at dinner or the option of Poached eggs at breakfast. Plates were cold & not cleared any faster, general service was no better - definitely NOT WORTH EXTRA COST. We could have FREE Tea/Coffee/Water at breakfast but at no other time ! I think they need to address the word DELUXE or make absolutely sure guest fully understands what they ARE NOT GETTING for the extra cost.

Not sure where to start, my first experience writing what can only be considered a negative review on a holiday experience Check in Check in was ok, had expected a seaview room as l booked online with Loveholidays, our room was next to a building site dreadful noise and a cloud of dust , given l was having breathing difficulties l went to reception to see what could be done to make a room change, they said my booking was for a standard room not a seaview so l asked for a room airy room , got moved to room 1229, dark, big tree blocking the whole balcony but at least not as bad as the previous one so didn't want to complain about it. I understood from my holiday booking that with Loveholidays that l had a standard room with seaview, when we went to the room we were given , we found ourselves looking on to a building site and when l opened the balcony door l was met with the dreadful noise of machinery and a cloud of dust, which given that l was suffering from breathing difficulties , it was impossible for me to stay in a room with so much dust, unable to open the balcony for fresh air. I went to reception to ask and was told my booking was for a standard room , l asked if we could move given l needed a more airy room and was given room 1229, at least away from the building site but far from airy, a huge tree completely blocking the whole balcony ( photo ) Dinner first night was ok, no issues.breakfast next morning was fine, food bland but editable. Second night went down to dinner, both had mutton chops, couldn't eat them like leather, opted for salad Instead, ordered a bottle of water for our table, was asked for a room card which we hadn't brought with us as it had never been explained to me that it was required and we hadn't been asked for anything the previous night even though we ordered water then too, simply signed for it to our room which we has6set up an account for our stay,the young waiter made a fuss and eventually after 15 minutes brought the water after we were finished our meal. On leaving the restaurant the dining room Manager Nicholas was standing at the door and l asked if all that fuss had been necessary over bottle of water and he was so rude to me l was simply shocked, he as good as implied l was trying to get a bottle of water without paying, l this going g on in front of a dining room full.of guests, l was mortified. In tears l went to reception to tell them about my experience, the next morning ĺ had a meeting with Andrea from guest services who although was Very polite said that Nicholas had limited English and didn't understand how he had upset me, he had pretty good English when he was humiliating me in the dining room, we continued to have our meals in the dining g room but to be honest it ruined my whole experience, Nicholas did approach me with a half hearted apology in front of a colleague but on every other he either ignored us or threw glares at us , maki g the whole dining experience horrible. I myself am a chef and have worked in catering and the service industry for over 30 years and this is unacceptable in my mind The food was poor, l could predict to my partner what would be in the black cast iron pots the next day, some concoction made from the previous days leftovers, as a chef that didn't go unnoticed Chairs in the dining room failing apart, safety hazard, many older guests would be lowering and raising themselves up from these , definitely unsafe I ended up having to go on oxygen at a clinic while there through both stuffy room and stress On the whole, l would not return to this hotel if it were free never mind as a paying guest nor would l recommend it to anyone else Holiday are precious time away from life and should be a positive experience, not at the Hesperia 😥 I understand it is due a makeover which it surely needs but that wont solve its issues with rude staff