Valverde Santar Hotel & SPA

We stayed here for our wedding night, and while parts of the property are well thought out, the overall experience didn’t meet expectations for the price and rating. Positives first: the hotel is beautiful and tastefully designed. The spa is a highlight—well kept and run by a warm, professional attendant. The saltwater pool is nicely maintained and a thoughtful touch. However, service overall lacked consistency and polish. A number of small missteps throughout our stay accumulated into an experience that didn’t meet 5-star standards. At the pool—during a heatwave—we couldn't get service for nearly 2 hours. No one was staffing the bar, though it was stocked and locked with a tick chain—odd, especially since there’s an honesty bar inside. I tried calling reception, bar, room service—no one picked up. It felt like I was filling in for missing staff. Eventually someone came and we could finally order drinks. At breakfast, I had a frustrating exchange. I asked for sliced bread or a knife to slice the rolls, and the server replied defensively, saying I should slice the bread at my table and return to toast it—but I only had a butter knife… Breakfast overall didn’t meet expectations. Ingredients were good, but offerings were limited. One morning, there were no eggs at all on the buffet. Hot items were available on request (for sustainability), but with just one staff member, service was slow and inaccurate. Waiting 15 min for coffee or wrong egg orders isn’t aligned with luxury standards. By contrast, breakfast at Solar de Vilar Seco—where we stayed just before—was luxurious and abundant, with premium cheeses, international options, and stunning variety. Chef Gilbert deserves praise. Our room was fine by 5-star basics but felt small and underwhelming for the price and the setting (a former royal manor). Again comparing with Solar de Vilar Seco: rooms there were bigger, airier, and restored with original 18th-century details, creating a far more luxurious feel. There were also some odd quirks. Guests have to ring a bell and explain themselves multiple times—even to re-enter from the garden or spa. I get the intent is security, but the execution felt intrusive and didn’t match the relaxed vibe expected in a place like this. The service tone, while not rude, felt more guarded than warm. Staff rarely smiled, and basic interactions—from front desk to breakfast to housekeeping—lacked the ease and attentiveness that define luxury hospitality. Service should anticipate needs, not react to them—and here it often felt reactive and flat. Finally, a personal note: we mentioned this was our wedding night on our booking, a detail many hotels mark with a small gesture. I’ve had handwritten notes, a treat, a spa perk, even upgrades—all of which make a guest feel seen. In this case, nothing. I mentioned it again at check-in—it was brushed off. This isn’t about freebies; it’s about feeling that the hotel values your special moment. That was completely missing.

We had the pleasure of attending a live music event at Valverde Santar with friends and family, and it was nothing short of exceptional. From the moment we arrived, we were enchanted by the charm of the space, elegant, intimate, and rich with character. The setting provided the perfect backdrop for an unforgettable evening.

We stayed at this hotel as part of a special occasion - our wedding night - and while there are certainly elements of the property that are well thoughtout, the overall experience fell short of what I would expect from a hotel positioned at this price point and star rating. To start with the positives: the property is beautiful and tastefully designed. The spa is a highlight and particularly well maintained - the attendant there was warm, welcoming, and professional - a highlight in terms of service. The pool area is also nicely kept, and the use of salt water in the pool is a detail we appreciated. That said, the service experience overall lacked the consistency and hospitality one would expect from a five-star establishment. There were a number of moments throughout our stay where small service missteps accumulated and created an experience that missed the 5-star mark. For example, during our time at the pool - which happened to be in the middle of a heatwave - we were unable to get any service for nearly two hours. There was no one staffing the bar. It was weird to see a fully stocked fridge on the bar, locked with a literal tick chain and lock - the kind you'd see in a warehouse - but no one there to serve them. It was very odd given there was an honesty bar in the hotel. Since no one was staffing the bar, and there was a phone there, I tried to ring someone as my wife was very thirsty. I called reception, restaurant, the indoor bar, and even room service, but no one picked up. I felt I was covering for a staff shortfall, when I shouldn't need to - especially in such an establishment. The fact no one picked up only made it more surreal - like no one was in the hotel. After 2 hours, eventually someone did arrive and we were able to order drinks. 
Once at breakfast, I had an unpleasant back and forth with the server. I wanted some toast with butter, but the only bread in the basket was big rolls that wouldn’t fit. I pointed this out to the server and asked if there was sliced bread available, and if not, if I could have a bread knife to slice the buns (myself). The reply was very defensive, with some random excuse, and the server suggested I take the bread to my table, slice it there, and come back and toast it. I only had a butter knife at my table… Talking about breakfast, this was another area that didn’t quite meet expectations. While the ingredients were of good quality, the offering was limited. On one morning, for example, there were no eggs available on the buffet at all. We were told that many items could be made to order ‘to avoid waste and promote sustainability’ - which is a perfectly acceptable approach - but with only one staff member managing orders, the process was slow and there were issues with accuracy. Waiting 15 minutes for coffee or having egg orders arrive incorrectly just isn't in line with the type of seamless experience luxury hotels typically strive to offer. We had just came from 2 nights at the nearby Solar de V