Unfortunately, our stay did not go well, and I cannot recommend this place based on several major issues:
Check-in and Welcome:
- Poor reception: The check-in was rushed, and the staff clearly prioritized local guests who arrived after us. We were told we could bring our passports later while we were actually waiting to finish the registration
- No information was provided about activities or the property. I had to find the info myself from a nearby sign. We were only given the breakfast time, but not its location we only found out later by asking ourselves. This is quite important since breakfast is in a completely different building.
- The receptionist didn't seem happy to welcome us and made no effort to use a translator app, even though I was using mine and trying to bridge the communication gap
- She didn't bother to show us where the elevator was to reach our room, which was hard to find. However, she did personally escort the local guests who arrived after us to their rooms.
The Room & Health Issues:
- If you are sensitive to strong odors, I strongly advise against this place. The rooms reeked of a mix of chemical smells and mustiness. We reported this to the staff, who kindly showed us about 10 different rooms and another room in a different building, but they all had the exact same issue. They also offered us an upgrade,
which we declined since the smell was present in literally every room. This caused severe migraines and very poor sleep especially concerning since we are asthmatic.
For those looking for privacy, please note that the toilet and shower areas, despite being separate, are still connected and open, meaning smells and sounds can easily be heard.
Activities:
- On paper, the activities look great, but there is a lack of engagement. The bread-making activity sounded like something we would love, but the staff seemed annoyed by our presence.
- There was no regard for hygiene (we weren't asked to wash our hands), and the activity was very rushed. We only made one loaf of bread we would have liked to make more, but we didn't know if it was allowed and felt like we were bothering the instructor
The Swimming Pool:
- I specifically booked this accommodation even though other options were of better quality and cheaper just for the outdoor pool, only to be extremely disappointed
- The maintenance was terrible: there was a foul odor right next to it, algae or sludge at the bottom, and the water level was extremely shallow, like a wading pool. I can understand that for children, but why build such a large pool in that case? Why not build two separate pools (one for adults and one for kids)? It is extremely disappointing.
I do want to add that the receptionist later tried to make things right by using a translator & asking for changing our rooms, bringing room fresheners (which is also too strong, as toilet scent), and being available for our requests, but it is hard to salvage such a poor experience.
The Positives:
- On the bright side, the other front desk staff members were kind and wished us a happy Mid-Autumn Festival.
- Breakfast has a good variety of savory dishes, but I really would have appreciated fresh fruits, especially given that the region produces them.
- The rooms are spacious
I hope you will take my recommendations into account, because you have a great concept and a beautiful property that deserves to be maintained at a proper standard, rather than continuously promoting it when the actual standard doesn't match.
BR
