"I'm unsure how many times I have visited this hotel, twice this year and numerous over the previous years.
I love the proximity to the beach, bars, restaurants etc. I think the staff are amazing and they always remember you but there is the good, the bad and the downright ugly in this review.
The Good :
* I am emailing the hotel direct again the thank staff who's names I noted, but I have yet to find any single staff member that doesn't go above and beyond. A special mention to Claudia from Columbia who diligently cleaned the external smoking area and who always made time for a chat. Javier (Reception), Rafael,Anna, Maria and Sofia (Restaurant), Matias,Veronika,Louis and Louisa (Bar). And to all the other staff I interacted with - yet again, name badges would help. Thank you stars!
* Thanks to Chef and the hardworking kitchen staff - you have a thankless task but I always found something delicious to eat.
The Bad :
* Emailing ahead of arrival to request an upgrade but being met with an absolutely chaotic check in and allocated a Floor 1, Street side room. I lasted 3 days before Javier got me a move. It was a good job my 92 year old dad didn't fly (altho he did pay so you made a handsome profit there!) as he wouldn't have managed the bath! Poor form there.
* At check in being required to complete a written form with my credit card details - this is illegal in the UK, and realising my details were being held in a folder on reception with numerous other guests personal and credit card details I was very concerned about the security of my card and got them removed. This could have been a thieves massive pay day and ripe for fraud!
* Being lied to in the restaurant. I am used to signing for goods/services in the hotel. On my first evening I was told that due to a computer issue all drinks etc now had to be paid for in cash/by card, this was an obvious lie and made me wonder, did you have a mass of runners who didn't pay, or are you having cash flow problems. My spend went down from an average of over 800 Euros to nearer 300 during my stay. The only winners I saw were the bar staff who generally got to keep the additional 2 Euros when most drinks cost 8.
* Sadly I had to spend some time round the pool whereas I am usually a beach girl. I'm not sure what the answer is but its downright embarrassing seeing towels on sunbeds from 9am without their owners. I was tempted on my last day to throw all the towels in the pool!
The Downright Ugly :
* Having no flushing toilets or running water for 6 hours one evening was a disaster in terms of legitimacy for your hotel. All guests should've been notified immediately and plans put in place to ensure there were no risks to health and that strict hygiene protocols were enacted, particularly as it took place over dinner service. Although I cannot pinpoint mine and other guests illness to this incident, a number of us were taken ill with a norovirus approx 4 days later despite my own best efforts to keep my hygiene/handwashing standards high.
On the whole I enjoyed my stay but it will be my last. I now prefer strictly Adults Only hotels (I understand this is not allowed in Spain and you are an Adult recommended), but there are more children now accessing the hotel. I also prefer more of a 5 star experience and for the price I paid here, I can spend the same for a 5 star hotel such as the Ivi Mare in Paphos where I am guaranteed a sunbed with a mattress, tablecloths at dinner service where I am in a restaurant (not what feels to be more of a canteen) alongside a more ambient, chilled stay. Sadly I won't be returning as the cons for me now outweigh the pros. But, thank you for all the happy memories.
Joy Flynn"
