"Exceeded expectations – fantastic stay, amazing location, and unforgettable entertainment
We stayed at La Barracuda Hotel and, after reading some mixed reviews beforehand, I arrived with fairly low expectations. I’m very happy to say we were all genuinely surprised—in the best possible way.
Location, location, location
This really is the hotel’s biggest selling point. It sits directly on the beach and promenade, with no road or traffic between you and the sea, which makes such a difference. The views are absolutely stunning—you can sit on a sunbed and look straight out over the ocean.
Pool & outdoor areas
The pool is large and clearly very well maintained, with what appears to be a good water treatment system keeping everything clean and pleasant. The surrounding area is also well looked after, with a huge sunbed space and plenty of comfortable, good-quality loungers. Even though the hotel was full in early April, we had no problem finding sunbeds as long as we didn’t leave it too late (we tended to head out just after breakfast).
The sea views from the pool area are stunning and really elevate the whole experience.
A couple of small aesthetic points: the fencing around the pool is a bit of a shame visually, and some of the tiles just above the water line could do with maintenance—but these didn’t take away from our enjoyment.
Rooms
Our rooms were clean, spacious, and very comfortable. Highlights included:
Comfortable, firm mattresses with nice bedding
Plugs next to the bed
Lovely room lighting
Big sliding windows and a door to the balcony, making the room feel bright and airy
A nice balcony
A sofa bed which was really useful for keeping belongings organised
Plenty of wardrobe space—great for two people
We had rooms 216, 221, and 222. These were not pool-facing and stayed in the shade all day. This didn’t bother us as we didn’t spend much time in the room, but it’s worth noting. Room 216 was closest to the sea and had the better view.
Room location tips (sun vs noise):
Request a pool-facing room if you want sun on your balcony most of the day
Be aware these rooms may come with more poolside noise
Morning noise note:
Our rooms were on the road side of the hotel (a cul-de-sac with no through traffic), but there was noticeable morning noise from bin lorries and hotel deliveries (food and laundry).
If you enjoy a lie-in, this is definitely something to consider when choosing your room.
Also worth requesting a room away from lifts or stairs.
Room facilities & bathroom
Quiet air conditioning—great for sleeping
Full-size fridge with a small freezer compartment
Excellent hairdryer
Toiletries provided (combined shampoo/body wash plus a small bar of soap), and they smell lovely
Large mirror in the bedroom—perfect for getting ready
The shower was excellent—hot, powerful, with both an overhead rain shower and a handheld option over the bath.
A couple of small points:
Towels are on the smaller side and could be bigger
No bin in the main bedroom (only a small one in the bathroom)
Food & breakfast
Breakfast was good, with a decent selection. The sausages were particularly good quality.
One thing to note: breakfast finishes promptly at 10:30, and they begin turning off lights and setting up for dinner immediately. It didn’t bother us, but may not suit everyone.
Entertainment & atmosphere
Evening entertainment downstairs had a relaxed, enjoyable vibe with good, chilled music.
Miguel – a standout part of the stay
Miguel truly made our holiday. All three of us (in our early 40s) agreed he brought so much energy and fun to the hotel.
We loved the daily complimentary aqua aerobics (aqua gym)—his enthusiasm, encouragement, and positivity were infectious. He made everyone feel included, regardless of age or ability.
He also hosted a quiz, which was brilliant—we had so much fun taking part. It really brought guests together and added an extra layer of enjoyment to the holiday.
What stood out most was his dedication—he seemed to be running activities constantly throughout the day for all age groups. He is an excellent motivator and clearly cares about guests having a great time.
He is a real asset to the hotel.
Rooftop bar
The rooftop bar was a highlight, especially in the late afternoon. It’s bathed in sunshine and offers incredible views of the beach, marina, sea, and mountains, including beautiful sunsets.
The outdoor furniture is बेहद comfortable, and the drinks were great—especially the non-alcoholic cocktail, which I really enjoyed.
Staff & overall experience
Staff were friendly and welcoming throughout our stay.
A few minor downsides
WiFi doesn’t extend to the pool area
No shower facilities if you can’t secure a late checkout (and the hotel was full, so we couldn’t)
Final thoughts
I have quite high standards when it comes to hotels, and this was originally a compromise to suit our group’s budget, so I was a little anxious beforehand.
But I can honestly say it was a great stay. The location is unbeatable, the hotel is well run, and the atmosphere is fun and relaxed.
Most importantly—we had the best time.
I would absolutely recommend this hotel and wouldn’t hesitate to return."
