Royal Hideaway Sancti Petri

We were planning our wedding at Royal Hideaway Sancti Petri for May 2025 and had high expectations due to its reputation as a 5-star luxury venue. Unfortunately, our experience was marked by delays, errors, and a lack of professionalism. Delays in Contract Delivery: It took over five months to receive the contracts for the wedding and guest accommodations, despite multiple visits to the hotel in June, July, and September 2024. Errors in the Contracts: The contracts contained numerous mistakes, including miscalculations of costs, incorrect guest numbers, and room reservations for only two nights instead of the requested multiple nights. Our wedding suite was listed as a "Deluxe Double Room" instead of the repeatedly requested suite with a sea view. Lack of Transparency: Despite repeated inquiries, we were told to "trust the process" and that the issues would be resolved. Unfortunately, we did not see concrete results. Cancellation Suggestion: On December 12, 2024, just five months before our wedding, the hotel suggested we look for another venue. The communication was handled directly by a senior staff member, the Sales Manager (Jefe de Ventas), who we felt was unable to provide clear solutions. When we escalated the situation and sought to involve a higher authority, we were contacted by the Area Director of Barceló Hotels Cádiz, who offered the same resolution as the Sales Manager, with the addition of a complimentary stay in the repeatedly requested suite. We felt that this offer did not adequately address the financial and emotional challenges we experienced. At that point, we decided to terminate further discussions as we no longer felt taken seriously as customers, and this further eroded our trust in the process. This experience has been incredibly frustrating and stressful, especially given the hotel's reputation. While we understand challenges can arise, we expected much more professionalism and clearer communication from a venue of this caliber. We hope this feedback encourages the hotel to improve its services, communication, and respect for clients, especially those planning such an important event. the bride and groom

a superb place to stay, especially for its extraordinary garden and surroundings. The employees are very helpfull and friendly. For a longer stay a rental car is usefull to visit this part of Andalucia.

Barcelo: Barcel-NO! Royal Hideaway: Sancti Petri is a hybrid operation of a Convention Centre and Hotel and the Meeting Rooms for the Convention Centre are located in the central core of the hotel. The effect is that the hotel feels that it is half-closed all of the time. Further, the bars that service the Convention Centre are listed as part of the facilities for the hotel but they never open because the Convention Centre is closed. The Buffet Restaurant is also located in the central area and if you wished to have a pre-dinner chat and a drink, the choice is yomp down a hill to a bar near the beach (and then an uphill return for dinner) or descend down about 30 steps to the Dublin Bay Pub. The Dublin Bay Pub is a windowless room with MTV blaring from various televisions plus four lanes of American Bowl in the middle of the Pub? The noise is not exactly conducive with a quiet chat and a drink before dinner. Neither option was attractive and the other bars were closed. The same options apply after dinner of course. On the night that we arrived (2nd September 2024) I went to Reception to ask why everything appeared closed and to enquire if there was any other option to go for a chat and a drink. I was told that they could call a taxi to take us into town. We went back to the room and looked in the mini-bar and found a couple of beers, (no wine - in Spain?) but there was a small bottle of champagne. I looked around but the only available glasses were bathroom glasses. The champagne remained uncorked. We went out and purchased a bottle of wine locally only to return and find that the room didn’t have a corkscrew (in Spain?). We gave up. The room was small but adequate; the only real issue was the very limited wardrobe space. I can only assume that the Hotel was designed with the Convention Centre in mind with wardrobe space for delegates on short stays. Tea making facilities were provided but only one teabag (I’m not a fan of herbal infusions)? So, we tossed a coin to see who had the morning cuppa. Initially, I lost until it was discovered that the only milk was powdered. I haven’t seen powdered milk in a hotel room since the 1980’s. There were numerous other issues, but in summary, the holiday was booked on the strength of the hotel claiming to be 5-star under a decent brand name; Barcelo. The reality is that the holiday fell well short of our expectations. It was indeed pretty poor and certainly not 5-star. In future, Barcelo: Barcel-NO!

We stayed at the Royal Hideway for 5 nights, Rooms, staff, food fantastic. But you have a piano bar in the lobby outside the buffet which has not opened. If you require a drink after dinner you have to go to the sunset bar . The hotel seems to have good occupancy judging on the amount of people at breakfast. For a five star property I find the lack of evening entertainment a disappointment which would stop me recommending or returning. I like the area but would try one of the other properties along the coast

A lovely hotel, with great facilities, friendly staff and beautiful gardens. This beachfront hotel is situated in one of Andalucia’s most beautiful and natural coastlines. Well worth a visit. I have been going to this hotel for over ten years, that in itself proves my love for the place.