Marco Aschwanden

Review of Steigenberger Al Dau Beach Hot...

Conclusion: good 4 (!) - star hotel - we paid for ...

Conclusion: good 4 (!) - star hotel - we paid for a 5 star hotel and that's why we came back a little sobered.

First the positive points:

- The buffet is very extensive and vegans can easily be satisfied
- The pool area is very beautiful and the "river" invites you to leisurely laps
- Beautiful, spacious gardens
- Comfortable beds
- For a change, you can visit restaurants that are not supplied by the same kitchen (sushi, noodles, teriyaki, ...).

What I didn't like so much:

- The bedroom / bathroom is getting on in years (almost 4-star level; we have already stayed in a few 4-star hotels and this belongs to the lower category from the room point of view)
- The staff are helpful, but often you can't help but get the impression that it's all about a generous tip. (A few examples below)
- The providers of offers are on the move. (See below)
- The range of alcoholic beverages is on par with booze - in short, apart from (standard) beer there are few drinkable alcoholic beverages ... and now I don't have to have beer every day. In short: The all-inclusive drink offer may be tempting for undemanding guests. For us it was a turn-off ... 5 stars? More like 2-3 stars worthy!
- Zimmerverarsche - we saw about 3 discussions at the front desk in which people had booked a room with a sea view and insisted on it. On the way back to the airport, we realized that we had booked a sea view. We got a completely different room without a sea view. 5 stars worthy? If I feel ripped off by the hotel, then probably not - I paid a surcharge and didn't receive it.
- The beach and especially the sea bathing area is very manageable.

Here are a few more comments on points that, in my opinion, do not fit the class of a 5-star hotel:

- Employees: It may be that many guests like the jovial way of dealing with things and sometimes also brute "pick-up lines". I find it inappropriate and it annoys me when an employee with a quick-witted mentality tries to make good friends. Then the processions of the employees to their farewell guests in order to get their reward for the fun. Personally, I don't find it particularly "classy" - no, it rather disgusts me and I feel uncomfortable because of this sticky covering by the employees.
When we were in one of the bookable restaurants outside, I wanted to go to the toilet. I went into the building where the toilet was and asked a member of staff exactly where the toilet was ... instead of pointing diagonally across, he started the tipping machine: he took me to the toilet, held the door for me, turns off the water, handed me drying towels and when I made no move to tip over, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a few coins and asked: "Cash?" I would have liked to have reached in and taken the coins for the uncomfortable closeness that he brought me - but that was probably not what he meant.

- Pusher mentality: The daily crowd of offer sellers (diving, spa, yoga, tours, ...) is annoying. If I want that, then I know where the stands are!
After my wife was annoyed for the umpteenth time about these pushy salespeople, but also after she said for the 5th time that she doesn't want to drink - and then had to justify her 5th nasty no to the employee (!) - scolded if you don't want that, why don't you hang up a red sack. Kind! So we learned on the 2nd last day that you can defend yourself against such harassment ... why is that not standard and everyone who wants to be harassed all the time just hangs up such a sack? Sorry ... not classy.
As we observed during a leisurely river run: Apparently wellness and cosmetic prices are negotiable - no, we don't feel ripped off at all.