Dom Afonso|Dom Afonso

We are currently staying in Monte Real for a couple of days, and initially, we booked just one day to get a feel for the hotel and determine if it would be worth extending our stay. Unfortunately, our experience hasn't been satisfactory. To start with, they assigned us a room with a balcony facing a wall. I had mentioned to my wife that if this happened, it would be a deal-breaker, making it a one-day stay, and that's exactly how it turning out. The hotel has a very dated feel, with hideous and out-of-fashion carpets in the corridors and rooms, reminding me of the Spanish hotels catering to Brits in the 80s. Additionally, the Wi-Fi infrastructure is poorly designed and doesn't work well at all. The service is spotty, and the connection speed is painfully slow. Fortunately, the room and toilet seem new, but there is a lingering strange smell. It's possible that the toilet should be closed when the rooms are empty, or perhaps the choice of detergents is poor, or maybe a kid peed in the bed. The room and bed definitely have an unpleasant lingering smell. While reviews mention that the staff is nice, we have not experienced this so far. The reception was unenthusiastic, and the regular staff did not greet anyone. Hope that breakfast will change our perception in this regard. The pool, although it allows kids (which is important for us as we are traveling with one), is quite noisy. As others have pointed out, the rules are not enforced, and noisy families with kids seem to be everywhere, even in the jacuzzi. I attempted to enjoy the pool for a bit but had to give up as I couldn't hear my own thoughts, and I eventually returned to the room. My wife didn't even bother trying. Another drawback is the presence of flies. Between my wife and me, we had to kill a dozen flies just to have some peace. It's astonishing that this is a regular complaint. Furthermore, allowing smoking in the hotel is another negative point. It's a disgusting and outdated practice that detracts from the overall experience. On a positive note, the indoor parking seems to be spacious enough and is closed at night. The Wi-Fi appears to improve slightly in the wee hours of the night, and the rooms are clean and the beds comfortable. In terms of suggestions for improvement, addressing the fly issue should be a priority. Lastly, reserving the front parking (which was full) solely for check-in purposes could be more convenient for guests. Overall, while there are some positive aspects, our stay at the hotel has been underwhelming. We hope that the management takes note of these issues and works towards enhancing the overall guest experience.