Hotel: Plus Fariones Suite Hotel, Canary Island
In over two decades of travel, I have stayed in everything from no-frills budget hotels to five-star resorts. I have endured delayed check-ins, cold breakfasts, and the occasional dodgy plumbing. What I have never experienced — until now — is feeling genuinely unsafe at a hotel. This is that review.
Reviews like mine are uncomfortable to read and even more uncomfortable to write. But I kept thinking about the traveler who finds themselves in the same position I was in. They scroll through seemingly glowing reviews and excitedly book a break. Then they arrive to something very different from what was advertised. If this review spares even one person that experience, it’s worth every word.
The interior
The interior of the hotel itself was beautiful and although the views from our rooms were poor, the good sea view rooms have a nice view of the beach. There was a defunct bar
The rooms
First impressions matter. Ours were not good. The room assigned was noticeably worn- outdated furnishings, tired decor and the neglect that suggest years of deferred maintenance rather than a one off bad week. Their rooms are not accessible as you will find mini stairs which was a hindrance to a member of our group. For a property marketing itself as a four star suite hotel, the gap between expectation and reality was jarring.
The food
By European hotel standards — where breakfast buffets and evening menus are typically a reliable highlight — the offering felt like an afterthought. My advice: eat out wherever possible.
The staff & service
I have saved the most serious concern for last because it stands far beyond a typical bad hotel experience — it speaks to a complete breakdown in professionalism, accountability, and basic respect for guests. During our stay, we encountered deeply troubling conduct from two reception staff members, Carmen and Ismael, whose behaviour was not only dismissive but openly disrespectful.
When we raised a legitimate complaint through the proper channels — calmly, clearly, and without hostility — we expected, at the very least, to be heard. Instead, we were met with laughter. Not nervous laughter or misunderstanding, but outright mockery. As paying guests at what is advertised as a four-star hotel, this response was both shocking and unacceptable.
The situation escalated when we attempted to press the matter further, simply asking for it to be taken seriously. At that point, rather than offering assistance or escalating the issue appropriately, one of the staff members told us, plainly and without hesitation, to “call the police” if we were unhappy. Take a moment to consider that. A guest raising a reasonable concern was effectively dismissed and challenged in a way that felt both hostile and intimidating.
What made this even more disturbing was that this behaviour was not subtle or open to interpretation. We documented the interaction, including images and video footage showing the staff laughing and behaving in a disrespectful manner during the exchange. This was not a misunderstanding — it was clear, observable conduct that no guest should ever have to experience.
The dismissiveness, the mockery, and the confrontational attitude left my entire group feeling not just disrespected, but genuinely unsafe. That is not a word I use lightly. I have travelled extensively and dealt with difficult service situations before, but this was categorically different. There was no attempt to de-escalate, no apology, and no effort to involve management in a meaningful way.
Even more concerning is what happened afterwards. Our attempts to leave honest feedback have repeatedly been removed, which raises serious questions about how this hotel handles criticism and whether it is actively trying to suppress negative guest experiences rather than address them.
This is not simply poor service — it is a fundamental failure in guest care, transparency, and accountability.
Plus Faironess Suite Hotel fails on almost every dimension: the rooms are below standard, the food is forgettable, and the conduct of key staff members crosses a line that no hospitality establishment — let alone a four-star one — should ever approach. The positive reviews online do not tell the full story. Book elsewhere, and don’t look back.
