"We travelled with TUI and, to be fair, the flights and transfers were excellent. Everything was well organised, and there were representatives waiting at the airport to direct us to our transfer bus. We had no issues with the journey.
On arrival at the hotel, however, it quickly became apparent that almost every interaction with staff seemed to involve an expectation of a tip. From the bus drivers to the musicians playing to welcome guests, hands were held out for money before we’d even checked in. It’s understandable that porters expect tips for carrying luggage, but the constant requests throughout the holiday became quite tiring.
We stayed in room D401. The room was very basic and could really do with refurbishment. The shower curtain looked old, several tiles needed replacing, and the grout throughout the bathroom could do with a thorough refresh. The bedding was also very basic. On the positive side, the air conditioning worked perfectly throughout our stay, and although we hardly used it, the television also worked without any issues.
The housekeeping staff started very early, usually around 8:00 am, which often meant being woken up if you wanted a lie-in. Once we explained that we didn’t need the room cleaning every day, they were happy just to provide fresh towels and toilet paper whenever we asked.
The swimming pool is extremely busy, particularly when the beach is closed because of rough seas or strong winds. When that happens, everyone heads to the pool, and finding a sunbed becomes almost impossible.
The sunbed situation was probably one of the most frustrating parts of the holiday. We placed our towels on three sunbeds before going for breakfast, returning less than 30 minutes later to find two of our towels had disappeared and other guests sitting on our beds. When we spoke to the lifeguard, we were told that unattended towels are removed after 30 minutes. However, the guests using our beds apologised and explained that they had paid the lifeguard to find them sunbeds and had watched him remove our towels before giving them our places. Despite raising this with the lifeguard, we were simply told there was nothing that could be done because no other sunbeds were available. This left a very poor impression and didn’t feel like fair management of the pool area.
Although the hotel was fully booked, it also welcomed local day visitors. At busy times this significantly increased the number of people using the facilities, particularly the pool and restaurant. Some large family groups were friendly, but on several occasions we experienced queue-jumping and behaviour that we felt was inconsiderate towards other guests, which unfortunately affected the atmosphere.
The entertainment team is huge, probably one of the largest we’ve seen at a holiday resort. Throughout the day there is always something going on, including volleyball, archery, darts, boccia, yoga and other activities. The team isn’t pushy about getting people involved, and our two teenage boys thoroughly enjoyed joining in with many of the activities.
One member of the entertainment team, Diego, deserves a special mention. He came across as genuine, friendly and respectful, and hopefully one day he’ll fulfil his ambition of becoming a professional goalkeeper because he certainly made a positive impression.
Unfortunately, we were less impressed by some of the behaviour we observed from other members of the entertainment team. There appeared to be a strong focus on approaching young female guests, and from conversations we had during our stay, it often seemed that once an entertainer became interested in someone, they continued pursuing them unless they were firmly turned down. We also witnessed disagreements and drama between members of the entertainment team, which wasn’t particularly professional and was noticeable to guests.
The evening entertainment was disappointing. There didn’t seem to be a clear programme, and it often felt as though events were decided on the night. The fire show was by far the highlight of the holiday and was excellent. Unfortunately, the karaoke night was poor, and the comedy night felt unplanned and lacked any real structure. For the middle of the summer season, we expected a much stronger evening entertainment programme. On many evenings we simply went back to our room.
One thing that became increasingly frustrating was the number of people trying to sell additional services. It’s understandable to be approached while walking through reception or the main pathways for spa treatments, jet skis, excursions, fruit, nuts, hair braiding or henna tattoos. However, once you’re relaxing on your sunbed by the pool, these sales approaches continue throughout the day. Even after politely declining, many of the sellers repeatedly returned. Guests should be able to relax without constant interruptions while using the pool area.
The all-inclusive drinks were another disappointment. The local spirits bore little resemblance to vodka or rum and were among the worst we’ve experienced at an all-inclusive resort. The beer was perfectly drinkable, but if you wanted branded spirits you had to pay extra. Considering you’ve already paid for an all-inclusive holiday, this was disappointing.
The restaurant was incredibly busy at almost every meal. It often felt more like a cattle market than a relaxing dining experience. The staff worked hard, but tables couldn’t be cleared quickly enough because of the sheer number of guests. The food itself was perfectly acceptable, with enough choice for most people, although it became repetitive after a few days.
The snack bar also caused some confusion. As TUI guests we were entitled to additional snack options, but this wasn’t explained clearly on arrival. When we ordered them, staff often responded by saying the wait would be an hour, which gave the impression they were trying to discourage guests from using the service.
Overall, this hotel has the foundations to be much better than it currently is. The beachfront location is lovely, the daytime entertainment is varied, and the TUI flights and transfers were faultless. However, the hotel appears to be operating at full capacity while also welcoming day visitors, making almost every area feel overcrowded. The rooms need updating, the evening entertainment requires significant improvement, the all-inclusive drinks are poor, and the constant expectation of tips and persistent selling around the pool take away from what should be a relaxing holiday.
Would we return? Probably not. We still made some lovely family memories, but for the money there are better all-inclusive hotels that offer a more relaxing experience."
