"Only a 25-30 min trip from the airport, the location is great for transfers. The gardens and planting at the hotel are lovely and well maintained. Watching the white little egrets follow the lawn mowers around is very entertaining. It is not a long walk to the beach, even from the main hotel area, no more then 12 minutes. But for the poeple who don't like to walk there is the Reggae playing bus/train down to the shore from the hotel
The room was big (we had a double first floor pool view room), also kept very clean by the very cheerful Mohamed, who set our room into 'disco mode' on one of the days, which was good fun.
Only one very small adult only pool (only six sunbeds); I think they could take the smaller of the other three pools and make it adult only aswell, with little impact on most of the guests. Pools were cold which was amazingly refreshing. Sunbeds were a little 'worn' but comfrotable and also the helpful Ali was always there to help with towels and putting up umbrellas.
Noise level by the pool and in the room areas was generally quiet. The noise of the foam party and disco aerobics was kept to just one of the four pools. But it was off season, so could get noisier in the accomodations. Unfortunately, despite it being quiet, this did not the sunbed wars with poeple putting out towels and then leaving for 3-4 hours; something the hotel should look at? Or maybe try allocation?
Warning it can get a bit windy, but there are wind breaks at both the beach and pool areas.
Beach area was nice, but while we were there you could not access the sea directly opposite the hotel, as it was roped off. Not sure if this was due toteh wind or coral just offshore. So if you like running into the sea to cool down, you will have to make do with beer from the beach bar instead.
Food was amazing, the buffet was so good, either people prefered it to the al la cart, or maybe did not know about the two dinners you could book in them. The seafood down at the beach was great and the service was super. One comment, local deserts were great, the other beautiful looking ones could do with a bit more flavour (mostly just vanilla); but that is being super critical!!
In the main buffet, made very welcome by Nour, who always greeted with an amazing smile each day. Also Ali who made sure the drinks, wine beer and water kept flowing and despite the number of poeple remembered our orders after a few days. Finally a thank you to the egg queen, Kholoud who made omlettes and eggs each day for us, always with a smile. The staff were amazing, some a little gruff, but assume this is langauge more than being unfreindly in anyway.
Finally, partner lost a necklace while dining (somewhow), the security team and staff did an amazing job finding it after the dinner service and handing it back the next morning.
The gym could do with some more disc weights, anyone wanting to "lift" will be dissapointed, ther was only 35kg available. but there a few different machines.
There are people selling services (that are based at the hotel) Beauty, diving/snorkelling and spa. But once you say no a couple of times they leave you alone.
Overall a great experience / location /stay for out of season sunshine."
