Barceló Isla Canela

Muy bonito el hotel con una ubicacion estupenda para la playa. Necesita algo de reparacion pero por estar en la playa sufren mas los materiales

O que menos gostei foi a limpeza dos quartos e corredores. Todo o resto foi bastante bom.

Just back from 10 days at the Barcelo where we had a good stay overall. There are some really nice aspects to the hotel but one or two things for us, that could be improved a little so understand some reviews on TA. The grounds are lovely and well maintained. The pool is OK but shallow and was very cold. It’s basically one pool, with a connecting *****. We booked a suite, which was well laid out. The bathroom was well designed with bath and a separate double shower, the bed was very comfortable and the lounge area was spacious, but a couple of pictures on the wall would make it less stark. Our patio are was rather small and we did not use it. House keeping was OK but the app was a bit hit and miss ordering stuff. Hand soap was in the bathroom and shower gel by the sink. Had to request a change of sheets as whilst I don’t expect this done every day at least once is what I would expect. Minor points really but they make a difference The suite was advertised having tea and coffee making facilities. But we had to ask 3 times to get it sorted, which it eventually was. Reception staff were ok and functional with check in and check out. We had B and B, which was a buffet style. Food choice was good. Coffee from machines was not the best and in other hotels with buffets you get served this. Possibly this hotel catering for large numbers of (predominantly elderly) customers means this is not an option. We did not see any activities in the entertainment area and it did look a little like a dark 1980s set up. There are other planned activities such as aqua size and there is a kids club but this hotel seemed really not the choice for many young couples or families. We knew there was not much in Isla Canela and that was fine for us. There are a few restaurants, but watch the opening times. Puccinis was excellent with the Bomadill and Didiers worth a visit. Bus to Ayamonte is €1 .50 and it’s OK for a day trip. Be wary when planing for the siesta times as things literally shut down for 2-3 hours. The bus goes via the Marina area and you can walk it in around 45 minutes along a good walkway . It’s OK but again not much was open. Boat trip for €14 around the harbour with some shrimps and wine was good. There is a tourist train ( reception told us it was not running!) that goes to the Marina but €4 per person each way and only runs 3/4 times a day. The beach is superb and really enjoyed walking along it literally having no one around you for miles during the week. A shame the hotel does not have a bar/ sunbeds on the beach. Overall we did enjoy our break but would not return to the hotel/area. Much is good about the Barcelo but a few aspects ( subjective I know)in our view could be improved.

Excellent hotel, from the accommodations to the service provided and kind and professional staff. We loved everything about our stay and we’ll go there again for sure. The rooms were impeccable and extremely well cleaned. All the staff from room service to reception very kind and professional. The swimming pool area very organised and extremely clean also. The breakfast is excellent with wide variety of choices.

First of all, this hotel is more of a 3.8-star experience — definitely not a 4.5. The pictures on the website and TripAdvisor are not accurate. The actual standard of the hotel feels outdated and in need of a lift in every single corner. The staff at reception act more like gatekeepers than service-minded hosts. They do the bare minimum. Be prepared to ask several questions to get the information you need. In general, expect to ask at least five follow-up questions to receive a proper answer. I guess this is what you can expect from a 3.8-star hotel — though I’ve never actually stayed in one rated this low before. They also charge a completely unnecessary 3 euros per day to use the safety box in the room. Really? It’s not about the money — it’s the principle. These are the kinds of small details that show how cheap the experience feels, and they really do make a difference. The only real highlights are the restaurant and bar staff, the cleaning staff, and the young lady at Barceló Experiences — they were all fantastic. Always super kind, polite, one can see they work hard. The food was okay, sometimes good, and that might be what brings the hotel closer to four stars rather than three. The wine was also good. The beach and sea are decent, but bring your own tent or umbrella — otherwise, you’ll be paying around 15 euros per day for a set of chairs and an umbrella. The island itself is far from everything. If you want to explore, you absolutely need a car. The only town nearby is Huelva, and although there’s a bus, you’ll need to check the schedule at the hotel — there’s no reliable info available in town. Don’t rely on taxis either; they’re practically nonexistent. You’ll need to have the direct phone number of a taxi driver. What was good were the excursions — the trip to Sevilla with TUI and the Algarve tour with the agency recommended by Barceló Experiences were both excellent. Are we coming back? …Not really. Would I recommend it? Honestly, I think you can find a better island with higher standards and better service.

Excellent hotel with lovely gardens and water features, friendly helpful staff and the food in the restaurant was delicious and so much to choose from.