"Lovely getaway with stunning views, but bring a mattress topper!
We had a lovely stay here and were lucky enough to have a room overlooking both the pool and the sea. The view was absolutely fantastic and one of the highlights of our holiday.
The hotel layout works really well, especially for anyone with mobility issues. There are plenty of lifts, making it easy to get around without feeling like you're training for a mountain expedition.
Food
Breakfast had loads of choice. Bacon, eggs, pancakes, fruit, salads and plenty more besides. The only let-down was the orange juice, which seemed to be missing the orange flavour!
Lunch was definitely the best meal of the day. There was loads of variety and some genuinely delicious dishes. The barbecue pork belly and chicken day was a particular favourite.
Dinner also offered plenty of choice and clearly aimed for a more sophisticated style. As a notoriously fussy eater, though, I found there wasn't quite as much that appealed to me personally.
Bars
The pool bar opens at 10am and is staffed by one heroic barman all day. There was a good choice of drinks, including Diet Coke and Sprite, and we enjoyed both the beer and a few cocktails. As there don't seem to be any measures used, some cocktails packed a little more punch than others!
A special mention has to go to Hemmel at the bar, who was a real asset to the hotel and a genuinely great guy. Always friendly, always smiling, and happy to have a chat. Staff like him make a real difference to a holiday.
One thing that would really improve the experience would be self-service soft drinks. Waiting behind people ordering six cocktails just to get a Diet Coke can be a bit of a faff.
The evening bar is much the same but indoors, with comfortable seating and some rather fun swirling chairs.
Pool and facilities
Around the pool there were sun loungers everywhere, so finding a spot was never an issue. The loungers themselves were rather hard though, and I think some sort of topper or cushion would make them much more comfortable for a full day in the sun.
Another simple improvement would be to provide a chair alongside each lounger. Sometimes you just want somewhere to sit properly rather than lie flat all day.
One thing I did notice was that I never saw the pool being cleaned during our stay. Usually you'll spot someone first thing in the morning with the long poles scrubbing the floor and walls. The water looked fine, but some of the pool vents looked quite black and appeared as though they hadn't been cleaned for quite some time.
The Wi-Fi was excellent indoors and mostly good outside, although it occasionally dropped out.
The outdoor terrace was a lovely place to sit with a drink in the evening and enjoy the atmosphere.
I would also love to see a better smoking policy. A few designated smoking areas would be a great idea. Smoking seemed to happen pretty much everywhere, including on balconies, and unfortunately the smell drifts into neighbouring rooms and seating areas. I know smokers need somewhere to go too, but I'd rather enjoy the sea air than an unexpected waft of cigarette smoke. It's just a bit manky.
The room
The room itself was perfectly fine and the view more than made up for any shortcomings.
That said, I was surprised to find there was a €13 charge for the safe and a €5 charge for the TV remote control. Personally, that felt a little excessive.
The bathroom was okay, but the bath was incredibly narrow. Showering became a balancing act as your feet end up halfway up the sides, and I don't exactly have oversized feet!
Now for the bed...
Oh my days. This has to be the most uncomfortable bed I have ever slept on. I honestly think a sheet of cardboard might have offered slightly more cushioning.
A quick word on the lobby toilets
I have no idea who designed them, but I suspect a tape measure was not involved. The door practically collides with the toilet, making access unnecessarily awkward. There seems to be plenty of room to move the wall or door out by 15-30cm and make life much easier.
Entertainment
We're fairly boring people and don't really seek out evening entertainment, but there was something on every night on the outdoor terrace. Great if that's your thing. Less great if, like us, you're tucked up in bed early. Falling asleep while somebody enthusiastically murders Hey Jude at karaoke can be a challenge!
Reception were pleasant on arrival, although they seemed slightly more interested in selling us a boat trip than discussing the hotel.
Overall
Despite a few niggles, we had a really lovely getaway. The views, lunch offerings, terrace, friendly staff and overall atmosphere were excellent. A few tweaks, a lick of paint, better attention to pool maintenance, some cushioning for the sun loungers, a sensible smoking policy and, most importantly, some new mattresses would make a huge difference.
I'd happily return... provided the beds get an upgrade first!"