Barcelo Hydra Beach

We recently stayed at the Hotel Hydat Beach Resort for 14 days, and unfortunately, the sheer number of issues we encountered completely ruined our vacation. For a hotel that rates itself so highly, the management, service, and infrastructure are nowhere near a true 5-star standard. ❌ The Cons & Major Issues Isolated Location & Parking Nightmare: The hotel is completely isolated in the middle of nowhere, with absolutely nothing around it. If you travel by car, finding a parking spot is a matter of pure luck. If you go out for an evening drive, it is incredibly difficult to find a free space when you return. Constant, Noisy Cart Traffic: Service and housekeeping carts driven by the staff were constantly buzzing up and down the resort pathways at all hours. It was highly disruptive and completely took away from any sense of peace or relaxation. Poor Housekeeping & Hygiene: The overall cleanliness was not up to par. Our bedsheets were only changed after 8 days, and that was only because we went to reception to complain. Furthermore, fresh towels were almost always delivered late in the afternoon (around 3 PM or 4 PM), which is highly inconvenient. Unresponsive Reception & Service: We asked for an extra chair in our room multiple times, but it was never delivered. Most of the staff, especially at the reception, seemed completely clueless and undertrained. Fake Entertainment & Tours: The hotel advertised entertainment programs that simply did not exist. To make matters worse, we signed up for a scheduled walking tour, but nobody from the staff showed up. When we asked at the reception, they told us they had no idea who was even responsible for it. There is also virtually no daytime entertainment or activities for children. The "Exclusive" Restaurant Disaster: Our 14-day stay supposedly entitled us to two dinners at the hotel's exclusive à la carte restaurant, but we were only given one. During that one dinner, the staff accidentally soaked my wife with water. On top of that, we were strictly told we could only order one salad. Subpar All-Inclusive Food: The buffet food was incredibly repetitive and definitely not 5-star quality. Fresh seafood was a rare sight. You can find much better, fresher, and higher-quality food in any of the local tavernas nearby. No-Smoking Policy Disregarded: Despite EU laws, there was virtually no separation between smoking and non-smoking areas. Smoke was everywhere. Pool & Beach Facilities: Finding a free sunbed by the pool was an impossible task—we couldn't find a single one during our entire 14-day stay. Most of the sunbeds are old or broken, far from anything modern. Furthermore, beach towels can only be exchanged once every two days. Beach Infrastructure: There are no changing rooms on the beach. There is only one beach shower, which regularly gets clogged and flooded by noon. Exhausting Layout: Depending on your luck with room assignment, if you get a room at the top of the resort, be prepared for a steep, mountain-like hike multiple times a day just to go to your room and shower. The Only Positives The Beaches: The resort has 3 relatively good sandy beaches. If you go down around 9:00 AM, you can still easily find a free sunbed on the beach. Bar Staff: Unlike the reception, the people working at the bars were actually nice, polite, and hardworking. 📢 Verdict We strongly advise looking elsewhere if you expect a true 5-star luxury experience, good food, and proper guest treatment. This resort severely lacks management and organization.

The location is great, right on the beach front for the kids to choose between beach and pool. Food was good, there was a snack bar and a main restaurant to choose from. We were let down by the kids club, the lady Maria was very rude towards me and my kids and seemed to be annoyed that we had brought our kids. We also looked forward to the kids disco but it was only music, with no interaction.

Currently departing from this vacation complex located between the mountains and the sea I am mixed about this place, which is at once peaceful with vast gardens that are sorely lacking maintenance aging rooms, with good bedding, The housekeeping also leaves something to be desired. The beach, there are 3 of them, good but nothing transcendent, the lounge chairs are old, broken, made of wood without cushions, but a new arrival these last few days of new lounge chairs in dribs and drabs, but it's still something. The catering, long live the cafeteria, no charm, plastic cafeteria-style chairs, wooden tables that leave something to be desired, sticky. The meals, too much frozen food, no theme, nor local products, where is the fish?? Extremely repetitive. Breakfast is very decent. Bottles of water are available throughout the day. The bars... no choice of cocktails, the bare minimum. The pool is rather pleasant, with its infinity side. So now the entertainment... well, we are still looking for it, no presence from the resigned entertainers, because there are few of them, only 1 person for Oclub, strength to him! It's sad enough to die for, nothing to do in the evening, no show... NADA The staff in general, it's like the entertainment, few in number, lack of motivation, not very friendly, not a smile, not a hello... in short! Hotel left as is, not to say abandoned, despite some efforts in renovating equipment. I wouldn't say to run away, if you want rest, no noise, or almost because many locals are very noisy 🤷🏻‍♀️speaking loudly, go for it!