2 /5
Évaluation
★
★
The Ostella Bastia, Corse October 30, 2020. We booked Ostella hotel for it’s indoor pool. We arrived and the women at the reception desk told us that the pool can only have 8 persons at a time (due to COVID). She showed it to us and there were 5 people in it then. We took the suitcases up to the room. My son put on his swimsuit, donned a robe (mandatory, 3€ each), a mask, and went down to count the people in the pool area. Covid rules were in place and we abided by them as per indicated protocol. On our way to the pool, an older lady stopped us in the hall and told us that we cannot go to the pool because there were already 10 people in it and that 10 was the maximum. We were told at reception that it was 8 maximum and my son wanted to count how many people were in the pool area. The plan was that if the pool was at maximum we’d go back to the room and count again later on. Why I explained this, I do not know why. I’m asking myself who is this person? She wore no uniform or badge, she did not introduce herself nor indicate any affiliation to the hotel whatsoever. She seemed to he a slightly confused elder traveller. Anyway, arms flailing, voice raised, and inflamed in tone, the lady states “forget it! The pool is closed!” The receptionist came over to see what the commotion was about. The woman then proceeded to state very loudly that she will “give us our money back!” When I asked “for what?” the lady yelled and gestured wildly stating “pack up and get out!” The reception person and the lady then had a verbal discourse, back and forth, as to whether the limit was 8 people allowed or 10 people allowed in the pool. Meanwhile, we retreated back to our room. No sooner had we done so, the phone rang. it was then suddenly ok to proceed to the pool. The time lapse here was approximately 10 minutes. Having said that, The Ostella is actually a pretty hotel. It is easily located off the main road and has free parking. They allow dogs. There is an indoor pool (rare) and a hot tub. There is a gym with decent work-out machines. Our room was very charming, a small terrace facing the water. The bathroom redone. The kids room was dated however, with an older, cramped bathroom but a little terrace also facing the water. There is an elevator. Keycard room locks. It is quaint in that Ostella has banquet rooms and a large room with a TV and chairs at the entrance. The downside: The hot tub was not hot at all (pool temperature) There is no accessible lawn to walk your dog. Neither just outside the property. We did not try the restaurant for fear of the yelling lady. The traffic is loud with room windows open. No fridge in room. A strong bleach smell in pool/hot tub room. After 20 minutes in the pool, my eyes and nostrils began to burn, 10 more minutes skin. Somehow, smoking is allowed in the hotel, the hallway on 2nd floor was foul with cigarette smell. In closing, as it turned out, the lady described above is actually affiliated with the hotel. I wish I could say that her behavior and words were the result of an over abundance of caution where covid is concerned however I doubt it. As evidenced by way she treated us and spoke to the Ostella staff it appeared par for the course. Approach with caution.