"The flights over and back were uneventful, and the transfers were fine both ways.
Reception at the hotel took ridiculously long as we were all asked for hotel vouchers. No guest had even heard of a hotel voucher since the 1980’s, so we were asked for a copy of our receipt from Easy Jet holidays. This contained personal information which I was unhappy about but I was told that unless I provided them with this information, I couldn't be checked in. We were then taken to the room which was OK on a three star level but most annoyingly had a view of a car park, a car wash, a child’s play area and the rubbish bin. The room was described as a side sea view. No it isn't, it's a "no sea view" but it is a view of the car wash etc. I contacted the reception who took me to see other rooms. These were 200m further inland in a separate building or on the lowest level in the same hotel wing below ground, ideal for passing pedestrians to look into. I wasn't impressed that the patio door had been jemmied open on the ground floor room with no effort made to repair it. This obviously made me nervous about staying there for security reasons, but when I pointed this damage out my concerns were dismissed as nothing to worry about. I did contact Easy Jet who just passed on my issue to the hotel, so we just went round in pointless circles. Once I accepted neither Easy Jet nor the hotel were particularly keen or interested in resolving this we put the issue to one side to save for a Trip Advisor review. I’m not going to spend my holiday arguing, but a side sea view is not a car park however you try to twist it.
Unfortunately, the issues didn't end there. The food was so bad we ate out every evening after the first night. If one considers a week old cheeseburger as a fine dining experience, then the quality of food offered at the Mare Blue could probably appear tempting.
Then there is the unexpected charge for sunbeds, which is absolute madness. The sunbeds are clearly shown in the promotional photos Easy Jet provide and yet there is no mention of a 10 euro/day charge. We were there for 10 days, that's a 100 euro unexpected charge for something that should be part of an all inclusive holiday. Easy Jet explained very carefully in the sales details that there was a charge for using the hotel safe. At the time I thought this was a bit mean and penny-pinching, but I was forewarned so I was given a warning and therefore a choice, so no complaints about the safe charges, beyond being mean. There was no such forewarning of any charges for sunbeds or the beach towel charge plus an additional cleaning fee. There were no sunbeds by the pool at Mare Blue and the chargeable ones were the only sunbeds available. I enquired at other hotels along the same strip about sunbed costs. They were complementary to their guests and they didn't understand how an all inclusive holiday could exclude the use of a sunbed. To add insult to injury, the sunbeds at Mare Blue were filthy, a few were broken and discarded to one side, probably to be cannibalised when others broke. What next, 5 euro a day bedsheet hire or a water meter on the shower or maybe a knife and fork charge? Not that they'd make much from that one given the poor food quality.
The pool steps were closed off with tape for 10 days. The Wi-Fi was flaky and kept dropping out. It didn’t even reach the sunbeds, but other hotels much further away managed it onto Mare Blue’s sunbeds. The massive umbrella in the dining area that offers both sun shade and protection from bird droppings launched from the overhanging tree above was broken for our ten day stay. I was dumped upon by birds the first evening there whilst trying to enjoy and evening drink. This area also gets full morning sun, so people queued for a vacant shaded table at breakfast, unable to get any shade under the broken umbrella which covered 5 tables. And who willingly wants to eat where birds are likely to defecate on the food? That’s roughly a third of all available tables unusable.
I found this hotel to be mean in spirit and in need of basic repairs that directly impact the quality of a stay. That said, the staff behind the bar and those clearing tables worked tirelessly and deserve thanks from both guests and the hotel. The room and hotel were kept clean. The cleaning staff did a great job.
This hotel should be re-evaluated to a 2/3 star and not offered as a four star all inclusive unless the sunbed charges are removed and updated. The hotel needs to also improve the food and maintenance program to qualify for that 4th star.
We will take at least 4 holidays this year. This was our first ever holiday with Easy Jet, having used Tui and self booking for the last 30 years We have only found one place worse for inaccurate descriptions and disingenuous selling. Whether I use Easy Jet Holidays again will depend on the quality of the reply I receive, if one is actually forthcoming.
Tip. There are some lovely places to eat in the village like Babis and Rodaria. Pay an extra 3 euros to use the sunbeds at the Tropicana bar next door. Much better all round and if you eat there, they sometimes don't charge for the sunbeds. The tropicana also does great meals and they clean the beach."
