A very disappointing experience. Checking in was a protracted and arduous ordeal, not great after a 16-hour flight from the UK. The hotel looked great from the approach, but, on closer inspection, it was as tired as our weary selves. Our room smelt strange throughout our reservation. It was not as clean as it first appeared. Aged blood dried on the wall adjacent to th the sink from a previous occupant, I guess? As soon as I noted the extremely cheap toilet roll, I knew we were in trouble for the next 14 days. Our first use of the shower exposed a blocked drain. AC was very noisy. Furniture and fittings throughout the hotel are desperate for an update. The food was very disappointing, particularly for the price. The chicken we ordered was tough. My partner returned hers, but it came back just as inedible!
Breakfast was an odd selection of what looked like steamed wedges, pizza made with filo pastry, and glazed carrots. Each time we gave the restaurant another shot, we were very dissatisfied. The fruit juice was, thankfully, okay. I kept getting accosted by staff to pay an additional £273 to attend the "mandatory" Gala Christmas dinner. I had already explained in great length that we had no intention or desire to attend any such event. I was not told about this whilst booking, and I come on holiday to do what I want to do, not what somebody else has decided for me! My partner suffers from anxiety and would not be happy being made to socialise amongst strangers. When I was initially approached, I was told it was a formal, black tie occasion. Due to the lack of transparency, I had not packed a suit and/or tie. However, in a bid to get us to attend (Pay), the invite I received the day before had been changed to smart casual. Due to the pressure I was getting from staff, each time I passed reception, it became embarrassing and untenable. In the end, my partner and I decided that, on ballance, the best thing we could do was check out some four days early. My partner had contracted impetigo from unclean towels and/or bedding. Having observed the cleaner, clean our toilet and move on to bed-making without washing his hands... also, he'd quite happily wash our coffee cups in our bathroom sinks using nothing else but his dirty hands. It was an awfully bad and expensive experience. There is no refund policy, and an early flight home has put me way out of pocket. Thanks for nothing, DoubleTree. Never again.
