Solar de Sao Joao Hotel

When we arrived our booking was not found, but this got sorted out within about 20 minutes. For the first night we were allocated room 126, which they did say we would be moved from the following day as not many people liked it as its near the pool (reason given!). When we were shown to the room, we noticed cockroaches on the outside wall, which the receptionist said they had problems with at this time of year and had to keep getting the pest control in to deal with. Upon opening the door we were hit with an overpowering damp musky smell from the living room (even though the windows were open), and this followed through to the bedroom. Clear evidence of a bad damp problem all over the walls, bedroom and living room. The shower room was very small and there were two dead cockroaches on the floor, so the cleaning was not to particular. Decoration wise, it was very very out of date, not even what you could call basic accomodation. This was very poor.
Next day we were moved to room 120, this room was an improvement on the other and after they gave it a second clean (when we first went in there was a bad toilet smell through out the room) it was ok.
During the week we had a problem with very large cockroaches in the room. On one occassion we had 4 in the room.
Other points ; it took anything up to half an hour to get served at the bar/food area. The lady working there appreared to be on her own taking orders and preparing food, under pressure when more than one person at the bar. The lady working here was vey nice and rushed about her best to see to people. Also, the bar closed at 6pm - something not published on the web site. So no where to get snacks or water/drinks after this time unless you left the hotel.
On coming back from an evening out we noticed a commotion at reception where the gentleman behind the desk was reprimanding someone for bringing a guest back, he said no guests were allowed in the hotel ater 12 mid night, that was the rules, he said this is a hotel for elderly people wanting a quiet time. This should be stated on their website so people understand the accomodation criteria.
On our last day, we were offered to put our cases in the luggage room, which we did, it was basically an under stair area with a locked door, again the damp in this area was terrible, absolutely stank, clear evidence on the walls and floor.
Anywhere that is claiming to be 3 star should not have a persistent damp problem, which was evident in more than one locaion of the hotel. The doors to the patio area were also not secure, did not lock and were broken in part.
It was by far the worst accomodation I have stayed at.