My stay at Villa La Valencia was very disappointing, especially considering the $2,600 we spent. While the resort itself is visually beautiful and clean, the overall experience did not match the price or expectations.
First, we were charged $80 per day per room just for cleaning, which felt excessive and unfair — especially since this charge wasn’t clearly explained ahead of time. The food at the resort was not good at all, yet extremely overpriced. I highly recommend eating off-resort if you choose to stay here.
Unfortunately, the atmosphere at the resort didn’t feel welcoming for Black guests. From the moment we arrived, we noticed a clear difference in how we were treated compared to white guests. Staff at the on-site market even followed us around while shopping for snacks, which made us feel uncomfortable and targeted.
Another major issue was how aggressively hotel staff pressured us into signing up for a resort membership. Even after we said “no,” they continued to push — taking up nearly half of our day trying to convince us. After declining the membership, a staff member tried to change the discount we were promised on excursions, only honoring it when we called her out.
To top it off, we were unexpectedly charged a $500 deposit at check-in, which was not mentioned anywhere during the booking process. Many staff members frequently begged for tips, which added to the uncomfortable feeling of being constantly pressured.
Overall, I would not recommend . A waste