Superb service, beautiful hotel and grounds

We rarely visit the same town twice let alone the same hotel but have made an exception for Hotel Botanico. I can’t help but believe that the essence to it’s success is that it is family-run. The hotel has service to the customer running through its DNA, with an attention to detail that can only come from a dedicated owner rather than a corporate entity. Service is impeccable from attentive, polite and willing waiting staff, to room service that is actioned within minutes, to room maintenance that includes what must be on-site maintenance crew. Cleanliness is also impeccable- rooms are clean not just generally but they are clearly deep cleaned so that there are no areas where grime is allowed to hang around! The common spaces from the toilets up to the main entertainment areas. The gardens are something else- they are incredibly beautiful and I’d hazard a guess even the grass blades are all the same height!! Food quality at breakfast and lunch in the buffet and poolside bar/ restaurant are superb. I would however say that the 3 formal hotel restaurants are probably our only criticism- they are old-fashioned and over-priced for what they are and there is better quality settings and food quality easily accessible in the town. If I was going to say why I thought this was, I’d say that the world has moved on and restaurants are far more informal these days and whilst there is still room for one restaurant with white table cloths and silver service, families and adults prefer casual dining. I think that the restaurants should modernise their menus, settings and service and find a way to hold true to the hotel’s core values and proposition. The two pools are fabulous, one serving families and the other adults only. Each has comfortable loungers with plentiful towels and good service. We haven’t gone to the spa as yet but we have no doubt it will be superb. The decor of the hotel is arguably old- fashioned but I think in a way it sets it apart from other more glitzy modern hotels. Once you get to know it, it’s actually very regal and really comfortable to boot- there are sofas everywhere allowing people to lounge and relax and the hotel and the customers it attracts are respectful to everyone so that you can have a peaceful stay. The kids club is well run with staff that are responsible, caring and attentive. It currently runs from 10am till 1.30pm and 3pm till 6.30pm. There are also occasional day trips and extra events which they organise which the kids can enjoy. They also run a film club 3 evenings. There is cabaret or live music every evening and it’s really popular. Again it’s arguably a bit old fashioned but it’s actually in reality full of well chosen quality acts that genuinely entertain the hotel guests and also help create a wonderful ambience for those that want to sit on the periphery or at the bar and allow it to be lovely background atmosphere. So all in all a fabulous hotel and we forgive it some of the ild fashioned idiosyncrasies that are prevalent throughout because in reality it is trying at its heart to provide 1st class service and quality in everything it does and overall it absolutely succeeds! And for us that is the most important aspect that has brought us back and we know from speaking to others that there are generations of guests that come back year after year, decade after decade- that says it all!