TIVA del Mar (ex. Caesar Palace)

Do not book this place. Customer service is appalling. They don’t give money back that they owe and they don’t respond to emails for months on end

Terrible experience. They owe me some money. They have not paid me and no one has answered any emails for months. This is the worst customer experience I have received from a hotel

Detailed Review of the Hotel and Our Terrible Experience Arrival: Our arrival at the hotel was pleasant; we were offered a damp towel and a glass of cheap wine while we checked in (this was the only nice gesture during our entire stay). Hotel Layout: The hotel has 10 floors but only 2 elevators, so be prepared to wait a long time for the elevator or ride up and down multiple times before reaching your desired floor (we stayed on floor A - which is the 5th floor from the reception level and the 10th floor from the beach bar level). Room: The room was old, large, and two-story. The refrigerator buzzed, the air conditioner buzzed, and the electrical box outside buzzed too. The sink on the first floor was clogged. The Wi-Fi on the second floor didn’t work, and overall, the Wi-Fi throughout the hotel was poor. Noise Issues: Without the air conditioner, it was impossible to sleep because some electrical box was buzzing on our balcony. Air Conditioner: The air conditioner leaked from the first day, dripping so loudly that it could be heard on the first floor, making it impossible to sleep. After we complained, the kind staff brought us a bucket, which stood in the middle of the room. During our rest, two maintenance workers came, but they did nothing; the air conditioner continued to leak. When we asked to change rooms or have something done, they fed us empty promises and continued to ignore us. In the end, I slept with the children on one sofa downstairs, while my husband slept with the air conditioner and bucket on the second floor. Staff: The staff was unprofessional and unfriendly. During lunch (and dinner), they were joking around, staging mock fights with each other, while the tables were dirty and the cushions on the chairs were covered in food. We found poorly washed spoons and forks a couple of times. Everyone was as relaxed as possible, giving the impression that the hotel is managed exclusively by students who know nothing and can’t solve anything. Bar: The complimentary alcoholic beverages were undrinkable, with very low-quality alcohol. The bartender was a young guy who mixed this swill with cola, Sprite, or tonic water – that was the extent of the cocktails. Beach: The loungers and umbrellas are not free! A set will cost you 15 euros per day. The man renting out the loungers was an unpleasant type who repeatedly scolded our 4-year-old child for digging a hole near the lounger. On another day, he complained that our child sat on a nearby lounger with sandy shorts (while he chatted amiably with Bulgarian tourists). Housekeeping: In 5 days, our room was cleaned only once, and shampoos and shower gels were never replenished from the moment we checked in; we had to ask for them ourselves. Entertainment: The entertainment staff were students who tried to come up with something new every day – one day they were dancers, the next day magicians, and then comedians. It was obvious that the hotel didn’t invest anything in entertainment or props. Gym: The gym was a total disaster; everything was broken and cheap, with poor ventilation. Food: There was always something to eat, but the desserts were of low quality and artificial. Positives: The only real advantage of the hotel is its location on the first line of the beach, and we were lucky with the sea – it was clean with a gentle slope. Beach Bar: Oh, and the paid beach bar had nice staff who made tasty cocktails, but of course, you had to pay for them. Overall, this hotel is worth at most 2 stars; compared to Turkish 4-star hotels, this one is an absolute disaster – everything is musty, dirty, unfriendly, and old. The staff couldn’t care less. After such a vacation, you realize how you don’t want to spend your holidays – EVER again.