El Olivar Palace

I stayed at this hotel from 31 July to 5 August 2026, and I can honestly say it was one of the worst hotel experiences I have ever had. I have stayed in many hotels over the years, but the standard here was extremely disappointing and, in several areas, simply unacceptable.

The food was particularly poor. Some of it appeared to be improperly cooked, and there was little to no labelling, meaning guests often had no idea what they were actually being served. The dining area was also unbearably hot. The temperature outside was around 43°C, yet the air conditioning in the dining area was either not working or was so ineffective that you could barely feel any difference. Eating in those conditions was extremely uncomfortable.

Even more frustrating was the fact that drinks were being served at room temperature, with no properly chilled drinks or ice available. In temperatures of 43°C, I find this completely unacceptable for a hotel. Guests should not have to ask for something as basic as a cold drink in extreme heat.

There were also flies everywhere in the dining area. We spent a significant amount of our mealtimes trying to keep flies away from our food. This was not an occasional fly. it was a persistent problem and raised serious concerns about hygiene and food safety.

The Wi-Fi was extremely slow and barely usable. Our room was also far below an acceptable standard. When we arrived, the room was not properly clean and the bedsheets were stained. The shower head was rusty, and after taking a shower, the bathroom floor would flood because the water drained extremely slowly.

What makes this experience even more disappointing is that these are not luxury requests, clean rooms, clean dining facilities, properly prepared and labelled food, functioning air conditioning, basic hygiene and cold drinks in 43°C heat are fundamental expectations of any hotel.

Unfortunately, based on my stay, I would not recommend this hotel and I certainly would not choose to stay here again. The overall standard was nowhere near what I expected, and there is significant room for improvement across cleanliness, food, hygiene, facilities and guest comfort.

Our stay at this hotel was unfortunately a very mixed experience. We arrived late in the evening after a delayed flight, well past dinner. We asked at reception if it would be possible to get something to eat, and they kindly arranged for food to be sent to our room, which we appreciated. We were exhausted, and we had an early night. The following morning, however, we realized the room was not up to an acceptable standard. It appeared as though it had not been properly cleaned or adequately maintained. There was hair in the bathroom, wallpaper peeling, and water dripping from the ceiling. It certainly wasn’t the standard we expected. We reported the issues to reception and requested a room change, as we were not prepared to stay in those conditions. We were repeatedly asked to come back later, only to be told the room still wasn’t ready. This happened several times and gave the impression that we were simply being delayed rather than given clear information. Eventually, instead of moving us, a cleaner was sent to thoroughly clean the room. By that stage, with my family already settled and tired from traveling, we decided to stay. Breakfast was another disappointment. There appeared to be a significant wasp and fly problem in the dining area, making it difficult to enjoy a meal comfortably. Although there was a good variety of food available and generally the food was fine, the insect issue really impacted the experience. Overall, the hotel shows clear signs of wear and needs renovation in places. In my opinion, it doesn’t reflect five star standards, but that said, the staff were undoubtedly the highlight of our stay. They were incredibly hardworking, friendly, and always willing to help. A special mention goes to the lady who cleaned our room after we raised our concerns. I didn’t get her name, but she works in the family room section. Her attention to detail was exceptional and she left the room spotlessly clean. The entertainment team also deserves huge credit, especially Billy, whose enthusiasm and passion for his job really stood out, and the Kids’ Club leader was fantastic. Our children absolutely loved the slides and the evening entertainment. The restaurant staff were also a real asset. Raja was always smiling and welcoming, and Yunus was attentive and efficient. At reception, Mustafa was extremely helpful. On the day we checked out, we had a late flight and he arranged for us to remain at the hotel and use the facilities, which made a huge difference. Sarah, the reception manager, was also very welcoming and approachable. Unfortunately, our reception experiences were inconsistent. While Mustafa and Sarah were excellent, one other receptionist came across as dismissive and condescending, which left a poor impression. Overall, I would describe the hotel as average. The hardworking and genuinely pleasant staff made the holiday far more enjoyable than it might have been, and they deserve recognition for that. However, due to the room condition on arrival, the maintenance problems, the insect issues in the restaurant, and the inconsistent experience at reception, I personally would not return.