Portes Beach Hotel

"Hotel, on first acquaintance, looks as though it has every chance of providing the peaceful week researched for. There are 2 main areas; hotel building itself (breakfast/dinner restaurant, evening bar etc.) &, maybe 200 metres away, pool/beach/lunch restaurant/daytime bar area. There are bedrooms in the main hotel, but most are in a number of blocks between the principal areas - mainly 3 floors, with 5/6 rooms per floor. E-mailed in advance, & reiterated at check-in, that as an older solo traveller as QUIET a room as possible would make all the difference. Was put in the middle room of 5 on the middle floor, in a building with no concept of soundproofing, amongst kids & young people who KNOW they're the only guests in the whole place (the ones above seem to have a perpetual road walking, high jump & shot putt competition on) & the uncovered access path to all blocks and facilities, 100 m. in each direction, right outside. At this point should mention that it's rained, heavily, on 2 of 3 days so far (with more forecast for next 2 - not the hotel's fault, of course)...so, though can walk OK, running is out of the question, so getting to/from the room is 'restricted', to say the least. Second feature - never encountered before; in the b'fast/dinner restaurant( not the case at lunch by the pool) there is, out of perhaps 70 tables, ONE table for 2...otherwise - a couple of 3s, fair number of 4s, then 6/8/10....but nothing if you're on your own & prefer to be that way. Did try to wait it out on night 1, but when finally got onto a now unoccupied table about 80 minutes after service started it was clearly 'winding down' time for all. No dinner next 2 nights at all. This is a personal review. Clearly other people have had an entirely enjoyable holiday here, and that should for sure be possible for some/many, but maybe a few reading this might have to think a little longer before booking. Will, sad to say, be happy to get home for some sleep (time now just short of midnight, Oct. 13th...enough said !)"

"In the spa, Gelly is especially recommended! Great experience!"

"I was in the spa and booked a massage with Eleni. She loosened up all my tense muscles and really helped me relax. Overall I had a great experience which I will definitely repeat! 5/5 Stars 😄"