A lovely stay....until the last day

We returned from a week’s stay at this beautiful hotel nearly two weeks ago. We really enjoyed our stay until the last day, when certain events totally ruined our stay. I will give the review I was going to provide based on our experience before I go on to cover these events. Reception and public areas – the entrance to the reception area is flanked by two large and very beautiful displays of orchids in glass cases on either side. It really is a lovely display. In fact, the fresh flower theme continues throughout the hotel in the large and beautifully decorated reception and public areas. There are also many artworks by Spanish artists on display and oriental ornaments. There is a library, TV and billiards room and a small internet room (two terminals) where you can access the internet for free. Rooms – we stayed in a standard deluxe room. It was a fair size, well furnished and spotlessly clean. One thing sadly missing was tea and coffee making facilities. The bathroom was also spotless, well set out and fully tiled (looked like polished porcelain or Terrazzo), with his and hers sinks (embedded in marble) and a three piece suite. TV Channels – a bit disappointing if you’re looking for channels in English, with only BBC 1, BBC 2 and ITV, plus BBC, Sky and CNN news channels. This wouldn’t be so bad if there were on demand movies to pay for and download – but there are not. Breakfast – the breakfast is probably amongst the best we’ve had anywhere in a hotel, with a fabulous choice including cereals, yoghurts, fruit, breads, cakes, salads and cooked breakfasts (including an egg station). There is something for all tastes (even a section for kids or adults with seriously sweet teeth – featuring marshmallows and sweets) and dietary requirements (including gluten free bread and pastries and soya milk). Restaurants – we had lunch a couple of times at the Palmera Real (where breakfast is also served). Lovely salads and cake. Staff very efficient and friendly. Il Pappagallo – we were on a bread and breakfast tariff as we like to eat out and about, but we ate here a couple of times, including on our last night. The service is formal, although not overly so and the staff were friendly enough. It’s a bit on the pricey side but what you’d expect from a five star hotel. The food was good but not outstanding. I’m a vegetarian and was disappointed with the choice being limited to salads and pasta – no vegetarian mains, although I was offered the option on the first night to choose a main I would like if I ate there again on any other night. The Spa – the spa area is beautiful and very well equipped. On the way to the spa treatment rooms are small ponds populated with Koi Carp, which come towards you and pop their heads up out of the water when it’s approaching feeding time. Very sweet. I had two treatments – a Polynesian body massage and a facial. I felt great afterwards and while enjoyable they are on the pricey side (exchange rate of £ against Euro not helping with cost). Pools – there is a large pool adjacent to the Palmera Real. It is large enough for doing laps if you want a proper swim – but the pool is popular with kids too and so this may not be possible. There is a small children’s pool nearby. There is another pool near the Spa. This has jacuzzi jets, which when on at full pelt make swimming a bit of a challenge (like swimming against the tide). Adjacent to this is a large jacuzzi with spaces for at least 6 people. There’s another jacuzzi behind the swimming pool, located in a small cave (looks man made but I may be wrong). The spa pool area is quieter than the main pool area and suitable for adults but probably not for children (didn’t see any children there – may not be allowed because of the jacuzzis). Pool not really designed for a proper swim but if your thing is just taking a dip to cool off, or if you love a jacuzzi then you’ll have great fun. Gardens – the gardens are absolutely beautiful – with an abundance of exotic trees, shrubs and flowers. They are immaculately maintained. They are also home to numerous birds and fish – the main pond being home to what looks like hundreds of Koi Carp, two black swans and numerous other birds I could not identify. On the last day we decided to have a walk around the gardens. At this point I was planning on returning to the hotel because I had enjoyed my stay so much. That all changed with what happened next. We came across some traps, inside which were some Collared Doves (about three or four). I was upset to see them trapped and went to the reception to enquire why they had been trapped and what was going to happen to them. I was told that they were to be taken to Loro Parque to be set free. I immediately went back to where the traps were to find they had been removed by one of the grounds men. I asked him where the doves were and he said they’d been set free. He then said they’d been taken to Loro Parque. While looking at the herb garden I spotted the cages. They were empty with no sign of the doves anywhere about. I can only guess at their fate but I don’t believe they were released (otherwise why trap them in the first place) nor that they had been taken to Loro Parque (within 5 minutes of my enquiring about them). I can only surmise that the hotel considers these lovely little creatures to be pests. Not only was I upset by this, but in the main breakfast area there is a glass atrium containing a number of exotic birds. While they are fed and provided with nesting boxes – they are trapped and at least one of the birds displayed behaviour to suggest that it is not happy being in captivity. Unless there is a genuine need to keep them captive (conservation of species for example) they really should be free and not held behind glass for diners to stare at and take pictures of. Overall, we really loved this hotel and if it hadn’t been for the debacle with the doves we would have happily returned. Unfortunately, instead, of returning home with happy memories I came away feeling really sad and helpless.