Cala Ponte Hotel

We had a VERY disappointing experience at Cala Ponte. Upon arrival, we found our room with a large oil stain on the bedding, as if someone had just been sitting there. The corners were filled with spider webs and live spiders, with spider poop on the floor. The toilet ring was stained and clearly hadn’t been cleaned properly, and small bugs kept crawling out from various spaces (door,underneath bed, etc).

Underneath the bed was also a shocking sight— what looked like years of dust and dirt, suggesting it hadn’t been cleaned there in ages. After voicing our concerns, we were told we could only switch rooms the next day, forcing us to spend the night in that unsanitary room. They did try to clean it though, but we still felt uncomfortable because of what we had just seen and the dirt and bugs that were still there.

The next day, we were informed we’d received an "upgrade" to a pool view, along with an hour at the spa. Unfortunately, we never utilized the spa because the available slots were during the day while we were out exploring - question is if this was for the better, knowing how not clean the room was? The new room was also not much of an improvement, still had bugs and a significant amount of dust and also trash from previous guests under the bed. There were some stains on the pillows and mattress, and the wooden floor by the shower was rotting, with a small hole already forming.

Breakfast was decent but nothing to rave about. Also the pool is very pretty, but slightly dirty on the bottom. Not sure if it was open as we stayed here in October, and that’s the reason to the dirt? On the positive side, parking was safe and convenient, and the location is close to the highway (negative note: you could hear it while sitting outdoors).

In summary: the state of the rooms was unacceptable. The owner needs to invest in maintenance and cleanliness, or risk losing all future guests. I cannot recommend this hotel at all.

My experience at this hotel had its ups and downs. The staff, in general, were very unfriendly and cold. The rooms were quite good, although there was a noticeable problem with a musty smell. In the bathroom, especially in the shower and toilet areas, there was a dark stain, probably caused by water leaks. One day, we used the bidet, and to our surprise, everything ended up flooded. We also saw ants, which was very uncomfortable.

Despite these problems, I must highlight that the cleaning staff did an excellent job. Every time they cleaned, they left the rooms looking brand new, which is a big plus. The air conditioning also worked very well, which was appreciated on hot days.

The hotel's surroundings are very beautiful, with well-maintained gardens, olive trees, and generally an ideal atmosphere for resting. It has two pools, although one of them was closed during our stay, which was a bit disappointing. The experience at the main pool also had its setbacks. The pool attendant, seemingly adhering to the principle of minimum effort, was often on the phone rather than assisting guests. In situations where we needed help, like opening umbrellas, not only did he not allow us to open the one we wanted (located in the spot we preferred due to the sun), but he also didn't offer any help until we explicitly asked for it. On another occasion, he didn't provide the necessary towels, and we had to go fetch them ourselves, which was very inconvenient. He was frequently absent from his post and took a long time to return.

The hotel is located in a quiet area, but it's worth noting that it only has one main entrance, and you have to walk quite a bit if you want to reach the beach or the nearest restaurants. There is a back door in the hotel, but it wasn't in good enough condition to be used, which made us have to walk further than necessary.

Regarding breakfast, they started clearing it away 15 minutes earlier than scheduled, and they didn't replenish what was running out. I was particularly surprised that basic options like a fried egg or an omelette had an additional cost. On the positive side, the coffee was excellent. There was also a young worker with long, slightly curly black hair who spoke English, which made communication easier, and she was excellent in her service every day we interacted with her. Unfortunately, the staff members are not identified by their names, so I can't say her name. Other waitresses followed the general lack of friendliness that we perceived throughout the hotel.

The restaurant has a very nice terrace, perfect for enjoying good weather, but to my surprise, we were not allowed to use it on our last breakfast day, even though the weather conditions were perfect. This was really frustrating, as it takes away one of the main advantages of the place, and the waitress's rudeness in denying us that option was remarkable (note the irony).

To top it off, the internet rarely worked during our stay, which was very inconvenient.

The lack of friendliness from the staff was what made me focus on the negative aspects the most. I could continue writing about more things, but I think I've captured a general idea of my stay, and I've tried to highlight positive aspects so that, if this review serves any purpose, it reinforces the positive and improves the negative.

Overpriced, bad service, a "4-stars" hotel which serves you rotten orange juice and expired/frozen fruits. Decent room despite the toilet door not closing. The swimming pool is nice but that's pretty much it.
An advice, you can find better elsewhere.