9.4/10 Exceptional! (538 reviews)
First-Class Prices, Third-Class Service
The property is attractive and clearly markets and prices itself as a high-end hotel, but the service falls well short. The main problem was not simply that things went wrong, but the indifference when they did: almost no apologies, little sense of ownership, and nobody once asked how my stay was.
At check-in, with only one person on reception, I waited around 15 minutes while a complicated multi-room booking was handled amid loud confusion. On departure day I was locked out of my room at 10.00 a.m., despite an 11.00 a.m. check-out. Reception could not fix the key, had to send someone with a master key, and offered no apology.
At the bar, staff were often more focused on conversations than service. On two occasions, a bartender stopped making my cocktail for around 30 seconds to continue chatting, then seemed to lose track of what they were doing.
Poolside service was equally indifferent. A few minutes before 7.00 p.m. I was simply told that last orders had gone, with no attempt to help. The pool area was chaotic, with children taking over loungers and using cushions to build play castles, while dirty plates, half-eaten food, glasses and wet towels were left around.
Finally, the valet took my keys while I collected luggage, then disappeared; nobody knew where they were, causing another 15-minute delay.
Hotel Bardo looks and charges like a luxury hotel, but the staff do not seem to understand what high-level service means.
Reviewed on Aug 7, 2026
