Gloria Palace San Agustin Thalasso & Hotel

I wouldn’t recommend this hotel for families with toddlers. While it advertises as a family-friendly place, it’s really more suited for older kids. There’s no kiddie pool, and there aren’t many activities for little ones.

The most uncomfortable part of our stay was a middle-aged man who kept showing up at the mini disco and seemed to be following my son. It made us very uneasy, and I feel like the hotel should do more to ensure a safe environment for children.

The rooms were spacious, but they weren’t very clean—there was dust and dirt under the bed.

The only highlight was the black entertainer—he was fantastic with the kids, full of energy, and really made an effort to create a fun atmosphere.

Overall, our experience wasn’t great, and I wouldn’t stay here again.

Our recent stay at Gloria Palace San Agustín was a mixed experience, to say the least. While there were some notable positives, several areas left much to be desired.

Room and Spa Experience
:
The hotel rooms were quite nice, offering a comfortable and pleasant stay. However, the standout feature of this hotel is undoubtedly the spa. It was lovely and provided a relaxing escape, arguably the best aspect of our stay.

Arrival and Initial Impressions:
We arrived with a young baby on a delayed flight at 11:30 PM, only to find no cot in my sister’s room as previously arranged. After numerous calls to reception, we were initially provided with a broken cot with filthy, black stains on the mattress, definitely not fit for purpose. It wasn't until 2:30 AM, after further insistence, that we finally received a safe and clean cot. By this time, my niece was very upset, making for an unpleasant start to our holiday. One staff member at reception was extremely unhelpful and did not make our request a priority, despite our family having confirmed via email that a cot would be provided.

Dining Experience
:
Unfortunately, the dining experience was underwhelming. The food was very similar each night and consistently cold. The buffet layout contributed to pure chaos during meal times, and the staff struggled to keep up with restocking, especially when the hotel was busy, which was almost always.

Pool and Sun Beds:
Securing a sun bed was a daily challenge. They were often reserved early in the morning, but many remained unoccupied for hours, with no staff enforcing any policy to prevent this. Additionally, there were not enough umbrellas for all the beds, so we frequently had to hunt for shade, which was particularly inconvenient with a young baby in our family.

Entertainment and Activities:
The kids' mini disco was a hit, providing great entertainment for the little ones. However, the other entertainment offerings were quite average. Another frustration was the complicated process for getting drinks. You always needed your room card, despite wearing an all-inclusive wristband, and it was often unclear which drinks were included.

A Disappointing Dinner
:
A highlight of our trip was my boyfriend proposing to me on the roof terrace at the Gorbea restaurant. Unfortunately, the service fell short. Despite my family arranging for champagne, it never arrived, and our requested table wasn't available. Service was so slow that we ended up leaving, tarnishing what should have been a special moment. Additionally, one staff member's sarcastic "bye" as we left was very unprofessional. Christian, the only fantastic staff member, was the exception. For a better dining experience, I recommend the Greek Taverna in San Agustín, which had much nicer food, staff, and ambiance.

General Ambiance and Service:
The hotel felt overcrowded and chaotic everywhere we went. Many staff members were rude and seemed indifferent to guests' needs. Despite voicing our complaints during our stay, the team’s response was disappointing. They offered us bed vouchers for the roof terrace, which was lovely, but then tried to charge us on check-out. This disorganisation and lack of professionalism was frustrating. We met other UK holiday-goers who had similar complaints, particularly about the cold food, yet no improvements were made.

Security Concerns
:
To add to the chaos, items were stolen from our sun beds while we were at lunch or in the pool. So I would recommending keeping your belongings with you at all times.

Conclusion
:
Overall, I wouldn’t recommend Gloria Palace San Agustín. Perhaps booking on a bed-and-breakfast basis might be better value, but be prepared for crowded breakfasts and a fight for sun beds. The hotel’s day pass policy likely contributes to the over-crowding, making it a less pleasant stay for guests staying for a week plus. For those seeking a relaxing and well-managed holiday experience, this hotel might not meet expectations.