Hipotels Hipocampo Palace

Newly refurbished and very very clean. Large balcony as we had a suite nice hotel, staff were friendly and welcoming but I think catered more for German guests as bit of a language barrier. food was good although we only had breakfast and one morning saw there was ants all over the honey. As we had a suite we were across the road from the main hotel and it was very quiet, too quiet infact. We was also next to the staff and delivery entrance which could be noisy sometimes with staff loitering or coming and going, vans coming in and out also we were facing the bins. As this was newly refurbished our view was dirt and a few trees which im sure will be landscaped soon but still there was any greenery. The hotel was situated at nearly the end of the resort which meant a walk to get to a nice sandy part of the beach and to resturants. Nice 5* hotel but not for us we wouldn't go back unless it was in a different area.

Let your imagination run away with you....You make a booking in 2025, being told how lovely it all will be post the refurbishment. I saw the pictures of the pool suite and looked forward to this for 9 months, 5 star hotel with excellent service, the plush room, soft pillows, green surroundings... And then we arrived......we checked in at 9pm. There is no service in the evening, and got pointed over the road to the other block, pulling our suitcases behind us, only to be pointed in the right direction by the next reception, me trying to drag the cases up a small flight of stairs. The bed is like sleeping on slate, with what can only be described as a draft excluder as a pillow. Next morning, I ask for some more coffee pods, water, non alcoholic drinks (I cannot drink alcohol) and normal pillows (there is a menu! the choice is feather or synthetic...). Normal pillows are arranged, they are not able to provide non alcoholic beers to the room, and get this....coffee pods have to be paid for at €1 per pod. Water? there is a shop at the end of the road..... Let's ignore the €465 per night room tag, and just think if this is still 5 star... Towels are old and thin, and hard. The room is not quite finished, but it doesn't stop you using it in any way, just looks tatty with unfinished grouting etc, but clearly the rooms upstairs need more work as there is drilling in the day. The landscape outside is barren mud as the grass has not actually been planted yet. To look on the bright side, at least it meant nobody was walking in front of the room. But then as there is no shade provided, you cannot use the terrace between 1 and 6 anyway so perhaps a moot point. Breakfast is okay. Usual fair of heat lamp food (croissants and melon do run out though!). Coffee? Get it yourself from a machine. And, yes, it tastes like it is from a machine. Which runs out of milk.
Lunch in the pool bar. The pizza is tasty. Don't take any toasted sandwiches though as they heat the mayonnaise and lettuce. On more than one occasion food was burnt. The service was hit and miss, and language was an issue more often than not. One lunch I thought I would stay for a coffee whilst my son went back to the room. After 15 minutes of waiters looking everywhere bar at customers, I gave up and paid at the bar. When I went back to the room, I asked at the suite block reception for aforementioned coffee pods, only to be told he had run out and I could try at the other reception over the road. After losing my temper, he said he would get me a coffee. Expecting a nice coffee (5 star remember) he arrived at my door with a handful of pods. Dinner. It looks great. If you want a freshly cooked piece of meat you can wait for this (around 10 mins) but when there are two of you that means someone is on their own for dinner so I didn't try this. The precooked was okay. The sauces were delicious, but I would question the quality of the meat/quality of the cooking of it. Children's options are very limited and unimaginative. Puddings, again look delicious, but with questionable labelling, you were never quite sure what was what and most bakery items were rather dry and bland.
Evening entertainment. If you wanted to go to the bar in the evening, you were subjected to the entertainment. There was no quiet area anywhere. Bearing in mind the clientele, having some 'international music artist' screaming through a microphone to clap and get up and dance etc was not very fitting. Why the lovely setting of the pool bar was not used in the evenings I am not sure.
The hotel as whole lacks any atmosphere, and it didn't look like anyone was having much fun. There really is nothing to do in it unless you play tennis, and with the lack of atmosphere it could be classed as boring. At the end of the 10 nights (by this time we couldn't wait for some comfort) the checkout was not allowed in the reception in our block, and also the airport transfer they orgnanised for me could not come to our block, we had to do it all at the other reception. Miguel did actually phone us and ask if he could come over and get our bags. This was the first bit of service we had received, and it was to send us on our way.... 5 star? No, this hotel is not. Would I give it a 4? I am not certain. Overpriced? Yes, vastly. Would I go back? No.