"I’ve genuinely gone back and forth writing this review because Atlantica Oasis isn’t terrible… but it also isn’t quite the luxury family resort the photos might have you believing.
Did we have a nice holiday? Yes.
Did the kids have a brilliant time? Absolutely.
Would I rush back? Probably not.
Let’s start with the obvious question.
Does the hotel look like the photos?
Yes… and no.
It does resemble the photos, but the marketing team deserve a standing ovation because those filters and camera angles could probably sell ice to penguins. The hotel isn’t awful, but there were definitely moments where it felt a little like being catfished by a holiday brochure. In reality it feels much more like a budget family package holiday than the luxury resort vibe the photos suggest.
We arrived around 11pm after travelling all day with children and suitcases. Unfortunately the welcome from reception could have frozen the Mediterranean.
I politely asked if there was any help available with luggage because the lift only fits one person and one suitcase at a time and we were struggling. The answer was essentially no. Not the end of the world, but when you’ve been travelling all day with children it isn’t exactly the warm welcome you hope for.
Unfortunately reception remained the weakest part of the hotel. There were some lovely staff around the resort, but asking reception a simple question often felt like getting blood out of a stone.
Need an iron?
Off you go to the ironing room.
The ironing room looked like it was last renovated around the same time as Friends was first aired.
Now for the positives.
The cleaners work incredibly hard and the hotel is generally clean. Housekeeping were friendly and our rooms were cleaned daily. We occasionally found hairs around the bathroom afterwards and our shower wasn’t working properly during part of the stay, but overall they clearly work hard.
Food-wise, it was absolutely fine. I’ve definitely had worse at all-inclusive hotels.
Was I dreaming about the buffet at night? No.
Did I find something to eat every day? Absolutely.
The freshly made pizzas were genuinely lovely, the pool bar food was surprisingly good and the à la carte restaurant was one of the highlights of the holiday.
There isn’t really a dedicated children’s section in the restaurant which surprised me considering how family-focused the hotel is, but most children will find something they like.
Christianos from the entertainment team deserves a special mention. He genuinely makes an effort to talk to people, remembers faces, has a great sense of humour and actually seems interested in whether guests are enjoying themselves. The hotel could do with a few more Christianoses.
The rooms are where things become a little confusing.
We booked both a regular room and a family suite and somehow ended up in completely different blocks, meaning our family was separated.
The regular room had been updated and looked fairly decent.
The family suite, however, gave strong “IKEA after a difficult divorce” vibes. Modern-looking from a distance but tired, worn and definitely not the luxury family suite the photos had led us to expect. The sofa had clearly lived a full and meaningful life before we arrived and the bathroom was tiny.
The family suite block is also directly above the adults-only bar and entertainment area. Thankfully my children are older so it wasn’t a huge issue, but if I’d had younger children trying to sleep early, I wouldn’t have been thrilled.
The lobby also occasionally smelled of drains, which didn’t exactly scream luxury.
Now for what should be listed as an official hotel activity:
🏅 The Atlantica Oasis Sunbed Olympics.
This was honestly the most stressful part of the holiday.
There are simply not enough sunbeds for the number of guests.
By 6am the towels had begun migrating.
By 7am the prime locations had gone.
By 8am you were basically relying on luck, hope and a small miracle.
I genuinely think I got less sleep on this holiday than I do at home because every morning became a military operation to secure somewhere for the children to sit.
The sunbeds weren’t the only thing being claimed either. Guests were also reserving the little drinks tables with towels and clips. By day three the pool area felt less like a relaxing holiday and more like a game of Risk. Territories had been established, boundaries drawn and everyone knew exactly which patch belonged to who.
The real entertainment wasn’t the evening programme, it was watching the daily Sunbed Wars unfold. There were dirty looks, disappointed faces and strategic towel placements worthy of military planning. At times it felt like some guests believed possession was nine-tenths of the law.
The crazy thing is the pool itself is lovely. The problem isn’t the guests, it’s simply that there aren’t enough sunbeds for the number of people staying at the hotel. Add more beds and half the drama would disappear overnight.
The pool itself was actually one of the better parts of the holiday. The temperature was lovely and I really liked the gradual depth. As a parent of a child who isn’t the strongest swimmer, it felt much safer and more comfortable than pools where the floor suddenly disappears beneath you.
The atmosphere around the pool sometimes gave off strong Benidorm package holiday vibes. There were queues waiting for the bar to open, people starting on the beers before I’d finished my morning coffee and the occasional heated debate over sunbeds.
At first I found some of the pool bar staff quite grumpy. However, after watching them all week my opinion changed. They looked absolutely exhausted. Long shifts, constantly on their feet and seemingly very little time off. By the end of the holiday I felt more sympathy than frustration. What initially came across as grumpiness seemed more like pure exhaustion.
Entertainment is another area where the hotel falls short.
If your children are under 6 and enjoy Baby Shark on repeat, they’ll absolutely thrive.
If your children are 10+, there honestly isn’t much for them. There are a couple of ping pong tables, the pool and not a great deal else. Christianos does his best and genuinely tries to get people involved, but one person can only do so much.
Evenings felt a little flat too. Once the temperature dropped there was nowhere indoors for families to relax together. Families were left outside slowly turning into human ice lollies while the adults-only bar enjoyed warmth, singers and comfortable seating.
There isn’t a huge amount immediately outside the hotel either other than a small shop, a pub and a few local places, so if you’re expecting lots to explore right on your doorstep, you may be disappointed.
There are also cats everywhere.
Some people will love this.
Personally I wasn’t expecting to share my barbecue dinner with several highly motivated feline food inspectors who seemed determined to secure an all-inclusive package of their own.
There was also a flashing smoke alarm/light near our room for two days. Reception repeatedly told us it was “normal” despite there also being a smell of gas nearby at one point. Strangely enough, after enough complaints, it was eventually fixed and stopped flashing.
Funny that.
Overall?
I don’t think Atlantica Oasis is a bad hotel.
I think it’s a decent 3-star family hotel trying very hard to look like a 4-star online.
If you’re looking for luxury, romance, premium service and a peaceful atmosphere, this probably isn’t the place for you.
If you’re after a cheap and cheerful family holiday, especially with children aged 6 and under, you’ll probably have a lovely time. The pool is nice, the food is perfectly acceptable, the kids will make friends and you’ll come home with some lovely memories.
The children will remember making friends, splashing in the pool and staying up too late.
I’ll remember Christianos, the pizzas and setting my alarm for 6am to compete in the daily Sunbed Olympics."
