Spain
, Costa de Azahar 
ibeth
I recently stayed at Hotel El Cid Marina and unfortunately would not return.
The biggest issue was the smell throughout the property. Many areas smelled strongly like sewage, and our original room had a terrible odor that reminded us of dirty laundry. We eventually requested a room change because the smell was unbearable. I especially would not recommend the Marina rooms near the lake, as the odor seemed even worse in that area.
The staff was also disappointing. We often felt that guests without Platinum membership were treated differently. Staff came across as condescending at times, and it was obvious that Platinum members received preferential treatment.
The reservation system for dinner was frustrating. We were told to make reservations at the front desk, but when we did, we were informed that everything was already booked. However, other guests we spoke with—many of whom were Platinum members—had no problem securing reservations. Even more confusing, when we arrived for dinner around 9:00–9:30 PM, the restaurants were far from full, making it hard to understand why no earlier reservations were available.
Although El Cid promotes access to three resorts, the food options felt surprisingly limited. For lunch, there was typically only one restaurant open, which became repetitive very quickly. The food was average at best and not what I expected from an all-inclusive resort.
Getting around the property can also be difficult, especially for anyone with mobility issues. G
The biggest issue was the smell throughout the property. Many areas smelled strongly like sewage, and our original room had a terrible odor that reminded us of dirty laundry. We eventually requested a room change because the smell was unbearable. I especially would not recommend the Marina rooms near the lake, as the odor seemed even worse in that area.
The staff was also disappointing. We often felt that guests without Platinum membership were treated differently. Staff came across as condescending at times, and it was obvious that Platinum members received preferential treatment.
The reservation system for dinner was frustrating. We were told to make reservations at the front desk, but when we did, we were informed that everything was already booked. However, other guests we spoke with—many of whom were Platinum members—had no problem securing reservations. Even more confusing, when we arrived for dinner around 9:00–9:30 PM, the restaurants were far from full, making it hard to understand why no earlier reservations were available.
Although El Cid promotes access to three resorts, the food options felt surprisingly limited. For lunch, there was typically only one restaurant open, which became repetitive very quickly. The food was average at best and not what I expected from an all-inclusive resort.
Getting around the property can also be difficult, especially for anyone with mobility issues. G
