NAU Sao Rafael Suites All Inclusive

Hotel, first appearances look great, the Reception area was modern, clean and looked quite new so was great at first impressions. We were then given our all inclusive wristbands which was also our room key, what a genius idea! First impressions of the room, very big! On entry, if you went to the right you had a lounge area with TV, dining table and mini fridge. There was also a wardrobe so I'm presuming the sofa turned into a sofa bed, this lead out to a balcony. The seating on the balcony was practical to keep clean but uncomfortable to sit on. Then if you went left to the entrance there was a bathroom with a shower, toilet and sink. You then headed through another door into the bedroom with a massive bed and another balcony. The wardrobe space was unreal, I've never stayed in a Hotel with so much wardrobe space and hangers, it was great. Then into the main bathroom which had a double sink, toilet, bath with a shower over it. The rooms were looking a little tired and need of TLC in quite a few aspects but not the worse I've seen. However to sell yourself as 5 star, you need to have some better maintenance. We also had a problem with the air con, if you left the air con on overnight, which you needed to it started making a dripping noise, to the point it sounded like a big leak and there was going to be a flood so often woke you up. We never mentioned to Reception as we couldn't be bothered to pack up and move rooms but we did mention it on departure so i hope they fixed it as it wasn't good. The dining room, although they had 2 restaurants plus the pool bar, you could only use the buffet restaurant if you were all inclusive. The tapas bar was at an additional cost but it was always empty so maybe that's something you need to look at going forward as staff must be so bored! Even if you offered one night to all inclusive guests in there, that would be something. The buffet restaurant was rather welcoming, modern and looked recently refurbished so maybe the bedrooms are due to get an upgrade next? Breakfast was the standard you would expect. We found the best meal of the day was lunch, compared to evening. Lunch, there was always something exciting and tasty, whereas dinner seemed to fall a bit flat so we used to fill up at lunch. There was always something to eat though, you wouldn't go hungry. Drinks are limited when in the restaurant, water is readily available, then you have the choice of soft drinks, lager or house wine. We found you would struggle to get more than one drink, but we always used to dine outside so maybe that was why. However, this is not a problem as we didn't used to sit and ponder over food, we just used to eat and go so you can get whatever you want from the bar next door. The pools are great, we preferred the bottom pool nearest to the pool bar as this had the better sunbeds, we tried the top pool one day and the sunbeds were all stretched and very uncomfortable. The top pool is a lot deeper than the bottom pool, there is also a kids pool in between. There is one female and male toilet outside but aren't attended to enough so often out of toilet paper and end up in a bit of a mess. Another downside is the pool bar where the food is served, it isn't overly clean on the floor area. The decking could do with a good jet wash as it wasn't very pleasant but as long as you have your shoes on you're ok. It wouldn't take much to tidy it up. 3 days before we were due to leave, an influx of kids arrived which totally changed the feel of the Hotel for various reasons, I feel if this would have been the case for the whole holiday, we'd have spent far less time in the Hotel. Overall a great stay, don't think we'd return as we've seen other Hotels we'd like to try like The Kimpton or The W. Don't let the bad reviews put you off, I would say it's more of a 4 star than a 5 star but it still has plenty going for it providing you get it at a price that reflects that which we did.

I chose to stay at this hotel expecting a true five-star experience, but unfortunately, it fell short in many areas. First Impressions First impressions matter, and while we were greeted warmly by the reception staff and check-in was smooth, the property itself quickly showed signs of age. The lobby is decent and makes an effort to look inviting, but it doesn’t live up to what you’d expect from a genuine five-star property. I tried to reserve judgment until I saw the rest of the hotel and our room. The Property & Room The biggest disappointment was how different the hotel looked compared to the photos online. The images give the impression of a modern, fresh property, but in person, the building’s age is very apparent. Lobby furniture is basic and dated, and the same can be said for the rooms. Our room was spacious, and the bed was reasonably comfortable—probably the only true highlight. We travelled as a group of three (two adults and one child), but instead of providing a large bed and a proper single bed, the hotel gave us a small cot for the third person. For the price we paid, this simply wasn’t acceptable. On the surface, the room and bathroom looked clean, but closer inspection told a different story—mould on some bathroom walls, limescale build-up in the shower, and a general lack of detailed cleaning. Housekeeping Issues Housekeeping was another major let down. After returning from a beach and boat excursion, our sheets were sandy and marked with makeup. The following day, we came back to find the bed made, but the same dirty sheets still on it. I understand that many hotels don’t change sheets daily, but visibly dirty sheets should always be replaced. We called housekeeping, but the staff member who arrived seemed visibly annoyed. She initially dismissed my request until I pulled back the duvet to show the stains, at which point she reluctantly changed the sheets. This happened on 12th July in room 105. A few days later, we had to strip the bed ourselves just to ensure fresh sheets were provided. Dining Experience The buffet was fine—nothing exceptional. The standout was the chef who prepared fresh pasta every evening. He was friendly and engaging, which made dinners more enjoyable. The rest of the kitchen and dining staff were hardworking, polite, and kept tables cleared promptly. However, a major concern was the flies around the pastries and salad areas of the buffet. This was a daily occurrence, and there didn’t seem to be any noticeable effort to prevent it. It’s not something you’d expect to see in a property claiming five stars. Facilities & Entertainment Entertainment was inconsistent. The hotel advertised a kids’ club, but in the six nights we stayed, I didn’t see anything happening for children. The indoor pool had a €15 fee to use, which was disappointing given the already high price of the stay. The outdoor pool was colder than expected for July. At a genuine five-star hotel, I would expect the indoor pool to be complimentary. Overall This hotel was a let down in many ways—dated facilities, subpar housekeeping, underwhelming entertainment, and hygiene issues at the buffet. While some staff members were lovely and clearly tried their best, the overall experience did not match the standards or value promised by the five-star rating.

I booked this hotel specifically because it’s advertised as dog-friendly, and I was traveling with my dog. They clearly promote their pet policy on the website as if it’s a core part of their values. However, the reality turned out to be very different. Pet Policy – Misleading and Poorly Managed • First, although I was paying extra for bringing my dog, I had to remind the staff to provide any pet-related amenities. Nothing was prepared in advance – no bowls, no bed, nothing. • Second, I was initially allowed to dine with my dog on the terrace during lunch. But during dinner, they suddenly changed the rules without explanation, and I was told I could no longer stay with my dog in the same area. • When I asked the staff why this changed, I was met with rude and completely unprofessional behavior. No one could give me a clear reason – just confusion and attitude. So much for their “hospitality.” It’s clear their pet-friendliness is more of a marketing gimmick than a real commitment. Other Issues • Food was mediocre at best – nothing memorable. • Rooms were not very clean, and felt like they hadn’t been properly maintained. • Basic requests like an extra towel were denied, which is honestly ridiculous. Bottom Line If you’re considering this hotel, especially as a pet owner, look elsewhere. There are plenty of better-managed places nearby where your expectations are more likely to be met.