Lopesan Baobab Resort

The hotel was ok.Very nice architecture reminding of Africa. They even have some real baobabs. But there was one issue why we will not return. The light in the evening was so dim, they you could not read the menu in the bar. Same in the rooms. They do not give the guests the opportunity to decide how much light there is in the room. No extra lamps or a dimmer. There is only this African savannah light everywhere. Also light from outside all over the day is dim, due to loggia construction instead of balconies. Difficult to read a book in the evening.

Since arriving at the hotel my thoughts and feelings have been extremely mixed. As such I’ve debated how to rate and review on TA. Given we are currently unable to sleep due to excessively loud drum and bass echoing throughout the entire hotel and subsequently through our pillows, now felt like a good time to begin a review. It’s 1.30am and we have been advised the music will continue until 3-4am as ‘it’s a wedding madam’. I’ve never stayed at a ‘5 Star’ hotel that subjects guests to this kind of noise throughout the night. *** Update: The music finished at 3.45AM this morning. Absolutely all of the hotel guests at breakfast this morning looked exhausted and unhappy. It’s now the next evening and the music has started up again. We are exhausted and are due to fly home tomorrow. Can’t begin to explain what a terrible sleeping experience this ‘5 star hotel’ has provided. Now onto the rest of our stay; Upon arrival we were assigned a room in block 4, which we nicknamed the Avery, as it’s like living in a dark bird cage. Hundreds of birds live in the opening between the rooms and consistently tweet 24/7, therefore if you fancy a lay in, why would you on holiday ? It’s not possible without earplugs. The first room I was given (as a single woman with a small baby) was in block 4, level 4, facing the roundabout. This was the furthest possible room away from reception and any amenities in the hotel. Surely some consideration to the location of a solo traveler with baby would have been prudent here ? I immediately requested a change of room and was advised it would be €450 for my stay! What a lovely way to start my holiday. After visiting reception upset (a very long walk after traveling from the UK) a girl named Laura was sympathetic to my situation and helped me change locations without trying to fleece me for €450. Thank you Laura. I could not read the name badge of the lady who initially assigned me the room farthest away, it could have been Petra although I couldn’t be sure as her name tag was written in italics, difficult to read. The staff throughout the hotel are generally friendly and helpful, the cleaning staff do a fantastic job. There were one or two incidents which jaded my view slightly including the checkin experience already mentioned. One further example was at breakfast; when looking for a small tea spoon I was told to “get back to my area” by a dark haired lady as I had inadvertently asked a staff member serving a different section of the restaurant! Upon returning to ‘my section’ and hunting down the relevant employee I was advised by a lady “we don’t have any tea spoons”! Really ? A 5 star hotel doesn’t have any tea spoons, this is incorrect as we had used one at dinner the evening before. My son likes a smaller spoon. The attitude was just couldn’t be bothered. At breakfast I shouldn’t be spending 20 mins hunting down a teaspoon! It’s a shame as every other member of waiting staff were fantastic, especially the waiters work