"A really enjoyable 10-day stay – don’t be put off by the reviews!
We recently stayed here for 10 days at the end of August. I had read some of the TripAdvisor reviews before we arrived and, if I’m honest, I was a little apprehensive. However, we had a really enjoyable holiday and I’m glad we didn’t let some of the negative reviews put us off.
We were warmly welcomed on arrival and our room was in Block 1. We were a little surprised by just how small the room was. It was a twin room with a drop-down bed, which our 12-year-old son slept in. During the day it was absolutely fine, but with three of us in the room, it was very, very tight on space. If we were to return, I would definitely look at booking a larger room.
The room itself looked like it had recently been decorated. It was fresh-looking and, most importantly, really clean. The bright orange bathroom was a little dated, but it was perfectly fine and, again, spotlessly clean.
We booked all-inclusive, although we did eat out a couple of times as that’s something we always do when we’re on holiday.
The restaurant is absolutely massive and, yes, it can get very busy, but we never waited more than five minutes for a table. I have to mention the two older gentlemen who seemed to be there every single day! One was on the desk and the other directed guests to their tables. They were absolutely brilliant and always seemed to be working hard and keeping everything organised.
The rest of the restaurant staff also worked very efficiently throughout our stay, clearing tables quickly and getting them reset for the next guests.
I’m definitely the pickiest eater out of the three of us, but I always found plenty to eat. There was a good variety of choices at breakfast, lunch and dinner. People who complain that the food is repetitive seem to be the same people who put a little bit of everything on their plate every night! There was enough choice for us to have something different each day if we wanted to.
We also had no issues with the temperature of the food. Everything we ate was hot enough. There is also a snack bar, which we used a couple of times for lunch. The food there was fine, although the choice was more limited.
The all-inclusive drinks selection was also very good, with plenty of branded spirits included.
We spent all of our pool days at the upper-level pool. The area was clean and spacious, with what looked like new sunbeds. The pool was lovely for cooling down, although a few more movable parasols wouldn't go amiss.
There is only a very limited shallow end at this pool, although the pools on the lower level have much better options for smaller children.
My only real complaint was the inconsistency with the lifeguards. On some days, floaties and rings were allowed in the pool, while on other days a different lifeguard wouldn't allow them. This wasn't because the pool was particularly busy, as there were days when it was busier and they were still allowed. I could have understood it if older children were causing problems, but they – including our son – simply wanted to sit in them and float around.
The location was absolutely fine for us, even with my arthritic hip. Yes, the hotel is up a hill, but it isn't a particularly long one. There are more steps if you head down towards the beach, but we found alternative routes that avoided the steps both down and back up. My advice would simply be to get out and explore a little rather than assuming you have to use the most obvious route.
Overall, we had a great holiday. Would I have liked a bigger room? Absolutely! But apart from that, we really couldn't complain.
Sometimes you just have to go with the flow, relax and enjoy your holiday – and that's exactly what we did."
