Sheraton La Caleta Resort & Spa, Tenerife, Spain CLOSED 1 Jul 2022 [Master Thread]
Apr 13, 19, 3:26 am
#76
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: London. Edinburgh, Cornwall
Programs: BA GGL, British Midland Lifetime* Loser
Posts: 7,728
It is a very nice place to stay, so do not let me put you off! But just do not expect any Platinum/Titanium benefits except the bare minimum. Some people have been given an upgrade but it has never happened to me 🤷.♂️
They are still selling late checkout and then claiming they do not have to provide it to elites as a benefit because they are a resort. However, this has already been ruled incorrect and I asked a second time and was granted 3pm checkout without further argument. I guess that is progress of sorts!
They are still selling late checkout and then claiming they do not have to provide it to elites as a benefit because they are a resort. However, this has already been ruled incorrect and I asked a second time and was granted 3pm checkout without further argument. I guess that is progress of sorts!
Apr 13, 19, 11:17 am
#77
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Germany
Posts: 174
Originally Posted by aschb
As a PP member you get free access to the Club Lounge on the ground floor. In addition there is a nice breakfast area near the pool.
If you are not a PP member (but have paid for a Club room) you have no access to the Club Lounge or the breakfast area near the pool. You have to pay an extra charge (25 Euro?)
Enjoy!
If you are not a PP member (but have paid for a Club room) you have no access to the Club Lounge or the breakfast area near the pool. You have to pay an extra charge (25 Euro?)
Enjoy!
Jul 11, 19, 9:29 am
#79
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: London. Edinburgh, Cornwall
Programs: BA GGL, British Midland Lifetime* Loser
Posts: 7,728
Two stays this year, my 13th and 14th at this hotel. It’s still a great property, with a thoughtfully-designed pool area, easy access to a beach and club lounge/breakfast facilities. Recent changes include the introduction of pool towel cards and astroturf to replace the grass by the pool.
Most of the rooms are pretty similar in size, the only major differences are that the higher floors are brighter and quieter. The ground floor and ‘zero’ floor rooms are quite gloomy and the windows obscured by shrubbery (necessary for privacy tbh). There are few suites, and most are not available for upgrade anyway; I’ve been inside a ‘zero’ floor suite and would definitely rate it below a higher-floor room for a week’s stay.
The lounge offering in the evening is still a mini-plate of canapes with a self-serve bar that includes cava. The poolside club breakfast remains an excellent benefit, far more peaceful than the main buffet bunfight. Most of the service staff have been there for many years.
As for Bonvoy benefits, here’s my recent experience:
February: two rooms for seven nights at €220 per room per night
I did complain to Marriott about the second stay and the hotel responded that it had offered us an upgrade at check-in (a total lie) and that it always offers welcome amenity points as part of the check-in process so I must have just forgotten about it. It also said I had merged two separate bookings (I hadn't!) so we would have had to move rooms anyway as they would not have upgraded a points stay. It said it would fix the points. I don't even know where to start with that response, and Marriott doesn't care.
This hotel sells room packages well below the public rates offered to Marriott Bonvoy members so might be worth considering booking a room with benefits through a discount OTA and forgetting about Bonvoy altogether.
If you need the Bonvoy points and night credits, an alternative would be excellent Sheraton Fuerteventura. I’ve stayed there twice and while the property is more family-focused, not quite as nice and doesn’t have a lounge, the staff were incredible and the hotel was very welcoming. It couldn’t do enough for us. The 100% opposite of La Caleta. Unfortunately for me, my elderly parents quite like La Caleta <shrug>
Most of the rooms are pretty similar in size, the only major differences are that the higher floors are brighter and quieter. The ground floor and ‘zero’ floor rooms are quite gloomy and the windows obscured by shrubbery (necessary for privacy tbh). There are few suites, and most are not available for upgrade anyway; I’ve been inside a ‘zero’ floor suite and would definitely rate it below a higher-floor room for a week’s stay.
The lounge offering in the evening is still a mini-plate of canapes with a self-serve bar that includes cava. The poolside club breakfast remains an excellent benefit, far more peaceful than the main buffet bunfight. Most of the service staff have been there for many years.
As for Bonvoy benefits, here’s my recent experience:
February: two rooms for seven nights at €220 per room per night
- no pre-arrival email for special requests
- room keys not ready despite late evening arrival at the time specified in mobile check-in. “Have you stayed here before?”
- no mention of Platinum benefits; points requested, club access added to key after discussion with front desk manager
- no mention of upgrade despite many available rooms; was told “there are no other rooms available”; presented with evidence from the website, “those rooms are not bookable”; presented with a fully refundable booking made from my phone, a shrug.
- rooms manager responded on the second day and offered a higher floor room but had settled in by that stage and the higher room was without a balcony so declined
- best available room rate on check-in was €30 per night lower than booked, but our booking was non-refundable and the hotel wasn’t interested in honouring the lower rate or helping with a best rate guarantee
- MAGC requested 5 nights but vouchers only delivered on 3 nights
- 1pm checkout initially refused, then offered at a fee, then finally granted
- stay did not post
- request to meet/hear back from GM was ignored
- otherwise enjoyable stay
- no pre-arrival email for special requests
- room keys not ready despite 7pm arrival as specified in mobile check-in. “Are you sure you have a reservation? I can’t see it. Have you stayed here before?”
- no mention of Platinum benefits; points requested
- club access initially refused “You have to be staying in a club room”) but granted after the requested intervention of a manager
- was offered a ground floor room (beginning 1xx); no mention of upgrade despite many available rooms; was told “there are no other rooms available”; presented with evidence from the website, “those rooms are not bookable”, presented with a fully refundable booking made from my phone, a shrug.
- best available rate for both nights had dropped to €139 a night, couldn't face another argument about the rate
- rooms manager responded on the second day and offered a higher floor room, would send a porter with new key to help us move; no porter/key ever arrived but went to reception instead
- pool towel card missing from both key folders
- 2pm checkout initially refused, then offered at a fee, then finally granted
- stay did not post
- request to meet/hear back from GM was ignored
- otherwise enjoyable stay
I did complain to Marriott about the second stay and the hotel responded that it had offered us an upgrade at check-in (a total lie) and that it always offers welcome amenity points as part of the check-in process so I must have just forgotten about it. It also said I had merged two separate bookings (I hadn't!) so we would have had to move rooms anyway as they would not have upgraded a points stay. It said it would fix the points. I don't even know where to start with that response, and Marriott doesn't care.
This hotel sells room packages well below the public rates offered to Marriott Bonvoy members so might be worth considering booking a room with benefits through a discount OTA and forgetting about Bonvoy altogether.
If you need the Bonvoy points and night credits, an alternative would be excellent Sheraton Fuerteventura. I’ve stayed there twice and while the property is more family-focused, not quite as nice and doesn’t have a lounge, the staff were incredible and the hotel was very welcoming. It couldn’t do enough for us. The 100% opposite of La Caleta. Unfortunately for me, my elderly parents quite like La Caleta <shrug>
Jul 11, 19, 1:44 pm
#81
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: London. Edinburgh, Cornwall
Programs: BA GGL, British Midland Lifetime* Loser
Posts: 7,728
Hehe. You know what? If I relaxed more and accepted it for what it is, it would be more relaxing. But when you stay at so many other hotels and this one is the outlier in terms of service, it gets annoying. This hotel gets more of my money than any other Marriott in the world, and does the least to earn it. Whatever 🤷.♂️
Jul 12, 19, 9:43 am
#82
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Milano (Italy)
Programs: Marriott TITANIUM, BWR Dia, IHG, Millemiglia Alitalia
Posts: 475
Originally Posted by ajamieson
Hehe. You know what? If I relaxed more and accepted it for what it is, it would be more relaxing. But when you stay at so many other hotels and this one is the outlier in terms of service, it gets annoying. This hotel gets more of my money than any other Marriott in the world, and does the least to earn it. Whatever 🤷.♂️
Sep 4, 19, 12:22 pm
#83
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: North East
Posts: 206
Originally Posted by ajamieson
Two stays this year, my 13th and 14th at this hotel. It’s still a great property, with a thoughtfully-designed pool area, easy access to a beach and club lounge/breakfast facilities. Recent changes include the introduction of pool towel cards and astroturf to replace the grass by the pool.
Most of the rooms are pretty similar in size, the only major differences are that the higher floors are brighter and quieter. The ground floor and ‘zero’ floor rooms are quite gloomy and the windows obscured by shrubbery (necessary for privacy tbh). There are few suites, and most are not available for upgrade anyway; I’ve been inside a ‘zero’ floor suite and would definitely rate it below a higher-floor room for a week’s stay.
The lounge offering in the evening is still a mini-plate of canapes with a self-serve bar that includes cava. The poolside club breakfast remains an excellent benefit, far more peaceful than the main buffet bunfight. Most of the service staff have been there for many years.
As for Bonvoy benefits, here’s my recent experience:
February: two rooms for seven nights at €220 per room per night
I did complain to Marriott about the second stay and the hotel responded that it had offered us an upgrade at check-in (a total lie) and that it always offers welcome amenity points as part of the check-in process so I must have just forgotten about it. It also said I had merged two separate bookings (I hadn't!) so we would have had to move rooms anyway as they would not have upgraded a points stay. It said it would fix the points. I don't even know where to start with that response, and Marriott doesn't care.
This hotel sells room packages well below the public rates offered to Marriott Bonvoy members so might be worth considering booking a room with benefits through a discount OTA and forgetting about Bonvoy altogether.
If you need the Bonvoy points and night credits, an alternative would be excellent Sheraton Fuerteventura. I’ve stayed there twice and while the property is more family-focused, not quite as nice and doesn’t have a lounge, the staff were incredible and the hotel was very welcoming. It couldn’t do enough for us. The 100% opposite of La Caleta. Unfortunately for me, my elderly parents quite like La Caleta <shrug>
Most of the rooms are pretty similar in size, the only major differences are that the higher floors are brighter and quieter. The ground floor and ‘zero’ floor rooms are quite gloomy and the windows obscured by shrubbery (necessary for privacy tbh). There are few suites, and most are not available for upgrade anyway; I’ve been inside a ‘zero’ floor suite and would definitely rate it below a higher-floor room for a week’s stay.
The lounge offering in the evening is still a mini-plate of canapes with a self-serve bar that includes cava. The poolside club breakfast remains an excellent benefit, far more peaceful than the main buffet bunfight. Most of the service staff have been there for many years.
As for Bonvoy benefits, here’s my recent experience:
February: two rooms for seven nights at €220 per room per night
- no pre-arrival email for special requests
- room keys not ready despite late evening arrival at the time specified in mobile check-in. “Have you stayed here before?”
- no mention of Platinum benefits; points requested, club access added to key after discussion with front desk manager
- no mention of upgrade despite many available rooms; was told “there are no other rooms available”; presented with evidence from the website, “those rooms are not bookable”; presented with a fully refundable booking made from my phone, a shrug.
- rooms manager responded on the second day and offered a higher floor room but had settled in by that stage and the higher room was without a balcony so declined
- best available room rate on check-in was €30 per night lower than booked, but our booking was non-refundable and the hotel wasn’t interested in honouring the lower rate or helping with a best rate guarantee
- MAGC requested 5 nights but vouchers only delivered on 3 nights
- 1pm checkout initially refused, then offered at a fee, then finally granted
- stay did not post
- request to meet/hear back from GM was ignored
- otherwise enjoyable stay
- no pre-arrival email for special requests
- room keys not ready despite 7pm arrival as specified in mobile check-in. “Are you sure you have a reservation? I can’t see it. Have you stayed here before?”
- no mention of Platinum benefits; points requested
- club access initially refused “You have to be staying in a club room”) but granted after the requested intervention of a manager
- was offered a ground floor room (beginning 1xx); no mention of upgrade despite many available rooms; was told “there are no other rooms available”; presented with evidence from the website, “those rooms are not bookable”, presented with a fully refundable booking made from my phone, a shrug.
- best available rate for both nights had dropped to €139 a night, couldn't face another argument about the rate
- rooms manager responded on the second day and offered a higher floor room, would send a porter with new key to help us move; no porter/key ever arrived but went to reception instead
- pool towel card missing from both key folders
- 2pm checkout initially refused, then offered at a fee, then finally granted
- stay did not post
- request to meet/hear back from GM was ignored
- otherwise enjoyable stay
I did complain to Marriott about the second stay and the hotel responded that it had offered us an upgrade at check-in (a total lie) and that it always offers welcome amenity points as part of the check-in process so I must have just forgotten about it. It also said I had merged two separate bookings (I hadn't!) so we would have had to move rooms anyway as they would not have upgraded a points stay. It said it would fix the points. I don't even know where to start with that response, and Marriott doesn't care.
This hotel sells room packages well below the public rates offered to Marriott Bonvoy members so might be worth considering booking a room with benefits through a discount OTA and forgetting about Bonvoy altogether.
If you need the Bonvoy points and night credits, an alternative would be excellent Sheraton Fuerteventura. I’ve stayed there twice and while the property is more family-focused, not quite as nice and doesn’t have a lounge, the staff were incredible and the hotel was very welcoming. It couldn’t do enough for us. The 100% opposite of La Caleta. Unfortunately for me, my elderly parents quite like La Caleta <shrug>
Wanting to touch base re potential forthcoming stay
Thanks
Sep 5, 19, 1:09 am
#84
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: London. Edinburgh, Cornwall
Programs: BA GGL, British Midland Lifetime* Loser
Posts: 7,728
Oct 21, 19, 7:25 am
#85
Join Date: Sep 2016
Programs: Marriott Ambassador Elite
Posts: 4
I just stayed here last week for 3 nights on a paid stay. I had planned to stay at the Ritz-Carlton Abama for 10 nights but they had a block for 3 of the nights because of an event so I decided to give the Sheraton a try during that time. It's only a 15 min drive apart and there is a bit more in terms of promenade for a nice evening walk.
Unfortunately, I have to totally concur with what ajamieson mentioned. I'm glad I was prepared for it thanks to this topic, but the service this hotel offers is far from what you would expect at Marriott, especially as an Ambassador member.
Check-in was very unfriendly and a night and day difference to checking-in at the Ritz. They hadn't assigned me an upgrade pre-check-in, and made a huge deal about upgrading the room with the usual excuses "We're completely booked out sir!" (BS, every room and suite was bookable online and the pool area was half empty so no way they were full). After some back-and-forth I was offered a club-room on the 5h floor. Just a regular room but with a decent view on the pool and ocean. however, the room wasn't ready (we checked in at 17:00) so we had wait and I had to request them to give us access to the lounge to wait. After waiting for an hour I checked back at the front desk. Nothing had happened yet so we had to wait again for "10 minutes", the excuse was that the room had a balcony that still needed to be cleaned (turned out to be a small balcony with two chairs and a little table, nothing that would explain another 30 minutes of waiting before they finally showed up with the keys.
The breakfast area for club-members was really nice, and apart from the front desk staff the others were really friendly. We once had breakfast at the normal area and even though they offer a very extensive buffet, we found most of the warm food to be dried out like it had been prepared early in the morning and kept warm for hours.
The second day I requested a 4pm check-out which was initially refused. I was told my room was already booked for a new arrival so it had to be empty. I offered to leave by 3pm as this is the official check-in time but this was not possible either. I had to be out by 12pm because they had to guarantee the room to be available for the new arrival. I told them I had checked in at 5pm and still had to wait 1.5 hours before I was finally given my room but that didn't change anything. Eventually I was offered to move to a new room to get the late check-out which didn't help me much so we decided to just leave the hotel early and return to the Ritz.
On the morning of checking out housekeeping tried to enter the room at 9am whilst I was still in bed and my girlfriend was in the shower. Thankfully the deadbolt prevented her from entering as the do-not-disturb sign hanging on the door was completely ignored. Check-out was fun to, very unfriendly again and when I asked for a copy of the bill (having read about the experience of points not posting) I was told I didn't need a copy(!?!) as there were no additional charges on it. Of course I insisted and who would have thought, points still didn't post.
I would recommend anyone visiting the area to have a good look at the Ritz
Unfortunately, I have to totally concur with what ajamieson mentioned. I'm glad I was prepared for it thanks to this topic, but the service this hotel offers is far from what you would expect at Marriott, especially as an Ambassador member.
Check-in was very unfriendly and a night and day difference to checking-in at the Ritz. They hadn't assigned me an upgrade pre-check-in, and made a huge deal about upgrading the room with the usual excuses "We're completely booked out sir!" (BS, every room and suite was bookable online and the pool area was half empty so no way they were full). After some back-and-forth I was offered a club-room on the 5h floor. Just a regular room but with a decent view on the pool and ocean. however, the room wasn't ready (we checked in at 17:00) so we had wait and I had to request them to give us access to the lounge to wait. After waiting for an hour I checked back at the front desk. Nothing had happened yet so we had to wait again for "10 minutes", the excuse was that the room had a balcony that still needed to be cleaned (turned out to be a small balcony with two chairs and a little table, nothing that would explain another 30 minutes of waiting before they finally showed up with the keys.
The breakfast area for club-members was really nice, and apart from the front desk staff the others were really friendly. We once had breakfast at the normal area and even though they offer a very extensive buffet, we found most of the warm food to be dried out like it had been prepared early in the morning and kept warm for hours.
The second day I requested a 4pm check-out which was initially refused. I was told my room was already booked for a new arrival so it had to be empty. I offered to leave by 3pm as this is the official check-in time but this was not possible either. I had to be out by 12pm because they had to guarantee the room to be available for the new arrival. I told them I had checked in at 5pm and still had to wait 1.5 hours before I was finally given my room but that didn't change anything. Eventually I was offered to move to a new room to get the late check-out which didn't help me much so we decided to just leave the hotel early and return to the Ritz.
On the morning of checking out housekeeping tried to enter the room at 9am whilst I was still in bed and my girlfriend was in the shower. Thankfully the deadbolt prevented her from entering as the do-not-disturb sign hanging on the door was completely ignored. Check-out was fun to, very unfriendly again and when I asked for a copy of the bill (having read about the experience of points not posting) I was told I didn't need a copy(!?!) as there were no additional charges on it. Of course I insisted and who would have thought, points still didn't post.
I would recommend anyone visiting the area to have a good look at the Ritz
Last edited by FelixFi; Oct 21, 19 at 7:34 am
Mar 21, 22, 6:04 am
#87
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Switzerland
Programs: Marriott Titanium Elite
Posts: 61
Originally Posted by maccymac
There is no availability for points redemptions past June this year....nothing for the winter 22/23... any idea why?
I assume the hotel may reopen again in January without Marriott managing the hotel. Sad.
https://www.iberian.property/news/ho...ton-la-caleta/
Mar 21, 22, 6:17 am
#88
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: London. Edinburgh, Cornwall
Programs: BA GGL, British Midland Lifetime* Loser
Posts: 7,728
This place has clearly wanted to be out of Marriott for some time (it hates SPG/Bonvoy, loves OTA bookings it can upsell to) so maybe it will switch brand or even improve; still a great property, better off aiming for the cheapest deal to stay here.
Mar 21, 22, 2:30 pm
#89
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: LEJ BRU
Posts: 1,104
Originally Posted by aschb
I have booked the hotel for 30 days in Nov/Dez just before the hotel has deleted all future days starting July 1 2022. Up to now I got no cancelation of my booking.
I assume the hotel may reopen again in January without Marriott managing the hotel. Sad.
https://www.iberian.property/news/ho...ton-la-caleta/
I assume the hotel may reopen again in January without Marriott managing the hotel. Sad.
https://www.iberian.property/news/ho...ton-la-caleta/
Apr 8, 22, 6:16 am
#90
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: LEJ BRU
Posts: 1,104
Originally Posted by aschb
I have booked the hotel for 30 days in Nov/Dez just before the hotel has deleted all future days starting July 1 2022. Up to now I got no cancelation of my booking.
I assume the hotel may reopen again in January without Marriott managing the hotel. Sad.
https://www.iberian.property/news/ho...ton-la-caleta/
I assume the hotel may reopen again in January without Marriott managing the hotel. Sad.
https://www.iberian.property/news/ho...ton-la-caleta/
