"Unfortunately, this was one of the more disappointing hotel experiences we have had, and while there were some positives, there were too many issues for us to consider returning.
The biggest issue was the lack of air conditioning. This was not made clear during the booking process and only became apparent shortly before our holiday. We know we weren't the only guests surprised by this, as several other holidaymakers told us they had experienced the same confusion. We contacted the hotel in advance and were initially told all rooms had air conditioning, only to discover a week before travelling that this was incorrect. By that point we were told there was no availability to change rooms and that we would need to discuss options on arrival.
When we arrived, we were informed that fans were available to hire, but there were not enough for every room and we would need to check back after three days to see if one became available. Charging guests for fan hire in a hotel without air conditioning also felt unreasonable.
The standard rooms allocated to our group were large enough, but ours had a strong sewage smell in the bathroom. Describing it as a "cabbage" smell does not really do justice to how bad it was. The smell was so overpowering that I avoided using the bathroom whenever possible. We reported it and ultimately had to pay an additional €136 to move into a superior room.
While the superior room solved the smell issue and included air conditioning, we discovered another problem: the shower water turned bright yellow when using hot water. This appeared to be related to rust or issues within the hot water system. Another member of our group staying in a superior room also experienced problems with a faulty shower head.
Sleep quality was another major concern. Our original room was located above the bar. The sea breeze helped make the room bearable without air conditioning, but keeping the window open meant dealing with noise from the bar area and surrounding guests. Although the bar itself closed at 11pm, noise from other guests regularly continued well into the early hours of the morning. In addition, a nearby light remained on throughout the night and shone directly into the room.
My parents remained in their room above the bar and were repeatedly disturbed by neighbouring guests and children knocking on doors in the early hours. Unfortunately, there seemed to be little enforcement of guest behaviour despite the hotel's strict enforcement of other rules.
The hotel was very strict about drink collection procedures, including limiting drinks and requiring token-operated reusable cups alongside all-inclusive wristbands. This felt unnecessarily complicated and resulted in many guests spending time searching for cups and tokens rather than relaxing.
The sunbed situation was also frustrating. Despite rules regarding reserving beds with towels, these rules were not enforced, making it difficult to find available loungers in the morning.
Service was mixed. Some staff members were friendly, efficient, and genuinely helpful. However, there were often queues for drinks at both the pool bar and evening bars. Communication could also be difficult at times.
One particularly disappointing issue was that several personal items disappeared during our stay, including a charger, an adapter, and a pair of children's shorts. These incidents were reported to reception on multiple occasions, but despite being told the cleaning team would investigate, we never received any update or resolution.
There were, however, some positives. The pool area was pleasant, and the saltwater pool was something different. The on-site shop and souvenir store were useful, and the gym was well equipped. The hotel also made booking taxis very easy.
The food was acceptable, although fairly repetitive. Lunch regularly consisted of burgers, hot dogs, chips, and other familiar British favourites. I personally found the desserts disappointing, although others may disagree.
Outside the hotel, there are some excellent options. The nearby water park was fantastic and one of the highlights of our trip. The nearest town is only a short taxi ride away for under €5, and I would highly recommend Fado Rock Steak House, which was one of the best meals and evenings we had during the entire holiday.
Overall, while there are some good facilities and a handful of helpful staff members, the lack of air conditioning, room quality issues, sewage smell, yellow water, noise problems, poor handling of lost property, and additional charges significantly affected our stay.
The hotel is advertised as a 3-star property, but based on our experience I would rate it closer to a 2-star standard. The beds were comfortable, but that alone was not enough to outweigh the numerous issues we encountered.
Sadly, we would not return."
