I don't mean to be nasty about the Souleias as the staff were very kind to us, but for the prices they charge, I feel I must be honest. The management run the place from their own perspective, ignoring all opportunities to be somewhere special, as well as client feedback and suggestions. The location is so amazing, I really hope that someone snaps this place up and refurbs it as it could be sooo fantastic.

The main gripe we had is the decor. The inside is DATED, extremely run down and does not look like it has been updated since it was done in the 1980s. The leaflet about the hotel uses photos that were taken in the 1980s and that pretty much sums this place up... Yes the terrace and restaurant are lovely, but for the prices they charge there are better options in the area. We rejected the first room we were shown - a tiny cramped, damp outdoor 'garden' (chalet) room with water marks, ants and cracked terrace, not to mention mosquitos. It had a beautiful view of the sea, but the room just didn't justify 300 Euros a night. It was like a bad butlins nightmare...

So we negotiated with the manager and she offered us a suite, normally 411 Euros, at a reduced rate. We normally stay in standard rooms but we really could not stay in the first room they showed us, so we took a deep breath and put it on Visa. The room was in the main building and was the most expensive room they had (and the only alternative at the time). It was much larger, with hideous white lacquered furniture, twin beds and a cheese plant - plus cracked terrace with ant infestation and a very old, worn out, wonky, plastic table and chairs. But of course a gorgeous view!

The staff were sweet enough but pretty basic service. For example the poolside restaurant is open from 12 - 4pm, but on one day when we went over for lunch at 2.30pm they told us they had closed early as it wasn't busy. We were the only people by the pool and they hadn't come to let us know so that was pretty annoying. We had to get dressed, with our 2 year old daughter and drive down to one of the beach restaurants. I mentioned it to the manager (being a believer in constructive feedback) and she was very blase about it - "yes I know it says 4pm, but if we are not busy we close".

The path down to the beach is pretty treacherous - we only took it once. Broken steps, bits of metal sticking out of the ground, overgrown plants - not particularly pleasant. Its much easier to stick to the main road (but a bit of a trek back up afterwards).

We had dinner in the restaurant once and it was lovely. The beautiful view (again), watching the sun set as we enjoyed a bottle of local rose wine and fresh fish. Lunches were fresh salads, again v tasty. Breakfast was fairly basic - no freshly prepared cooked food, just a boiler to boil your own eggs! At Euros 22 quite expensive we thought. I wouldn't go for the half board option - we had breakfast in the hotel a couple of times, but mainly drove to a boulangerie for amazing fresh pastries - rather than the doughy mini croissants the hotel had. Lunches are fine, but the local restaurants also offer great food and we found it nice to try out different places.

It really is stuck in a by gone era. Most of the other guests were in their 70s/ 80s and seemed to have been visiting for many years.

All hotels are expensive here, but when we return (which we will as the location is so beautiful), we'll stay at the Pinede Plage or Chateau Valmer. We visited both and they were lovely. Plage Gigaro is fine, but Plage Heraclees is the best place to sunbathe, with some great lunchtime restaurants.

I'll write a separate review about the local renowned restaurant Couleurs Jardin - but be warned, it won't be glowing!!