This hotel had been highly recommended but unfortunately it did not live up to its billing as a star luxury hotel.

First impressions were that the hotel was squeezed into a very small plot on the main road of the town. The front desk were welcoming when we arrived and showed us to our 2 ‘standard’ interconnecting rooms, which are approached down a long, dark and narrow corridor. The rooms were small and neither bathroom a bath only a small shower -not ideal with 2 small children. We enquired about this and were told that the rooms with baths cost more money - a little surprising when we were already paying £600 (sterling) for 2 rooms per night!!!!! However the mgt did agree to move us to 'upgraded rooms' at no extra charge when they could see we were not impressed. The next rooms were larger however still not what you would expect from a 5 star hotel, with no room for a chair in the room or dressing table. Cupboard space was at a premium and you had to store things on the shelf above the mini bar and on the floor of the wardrobe. There were no spare electricity sockets so to plug something in you had to unplug a lamp and the sockets were coming away from the wall!

The beds were excellent - very firm and new. However blankets are not supplied as a matter of course and have to be requested from housekeeping, The air con in the rooms could not be turned up or down and we were told that the front desk needed to do this centrally and you had to phone down. We did but it made no difference it still remained at 25 degrees throughout our stay.

The food was mixed - all cooked food is served tepid and when we remarked about this we were told that only the English had a problem with this and they found it strange that we wanted our food served hot!!! The pasta was at times disappointing with bland sauces. The cold buffet of salads and fresh fruit was excellent - the fruit was superb.

The hotel claim to be on the beach however what they don't tell you is that you have to cross an unmade dirt track to get to it. This service road is used for deliveries to the hotels and for ad hoc parking and is where all the dustbins are kept - not a pleasant sight. The beach is not directly across from the hotel either but rather it is 4 beaches along the strip. The track is full of pot holes and stones and with cars coming from all sides it is not easy to get children safely to the beach.

The beach itself was fine. You are allocated your beds on the first day and the front desk determine where you will sit. We were put about 15 rows back however following a request to move so that we could see our children in the sea we were moved to close to the front. The beach is empty and would be fine where it not for the fact that there are a host of people approaching you selling fake designer handbags and watches and offering you massages as you are trying to rest, In front of the Palace's beach are a number of stalls selling more of the same and as a result there is a constant stream of people walking past.

The town itself has very little to offer for children and if the weather is bad you really are stuck. The hotel has an indoor jacuzzi and sauna but it costs 20 euros per person per visit.

The majority of the staff were very helpful and friendly and really tried their best to please. The hotel was spotless throughout.

One word of warning - dogs are welcomed at the hotel and are allowed to sit at meals at the outside tables, sit by the pool and go to the beach.

A disappointing hotel which could have been so much better.