Our stay at Portals Hills Hotel was pleasant enough overall, but unfortunately there were several issues that affected our experience, and ultimately it wasn’t the 5-star experience we expected.
We stayed in Room 205 and witnessed Room 206 flooding, with water coming from the bathroom and reaching the carpet in the corridor outside. Unfortunately, the smell from the affected area was absolutely awful and lingered for the rest of the week. Every time we returned to our room, the odour was noticeable. We tried to cover it, but it was impossible to get rid of completely. I really feel the affected carpet needs to be replaced rather than simply cleaned.
There were also ants in our room towards the end of our stay, which wasn't ideal. We were surprised to see guests being put into Room 206 before we had even left, given the flooding and ongoing smell.
The staff were generally friendly, but unfortunately the odour wasn't properly resolved despite being raised several times. I also felt that some guests received better or more attentive service than others, which was disappointing.
On the positives, the pool area was very nice, the hotel was pleasant and the staff were welcoming. Breakfast was okay, although the bacon wasn't particularly good and there were no sausages.
Overall, we enjoyed the holiday, but the flooding, persistent smell, ants and inconsistency in service meant the stay fell short of the 5-star experience we expected. Hopefully the hotel addresses these areas