the welcome at reception and at the restaurant are warm and genuine; the maid service at all times seeks perfection and the restaurant provides arguably the best meals available anywhere on the island - their steaks are to die for! We have holidayed there for all but three years since it opened for business in 1993. It really does represent excellent value for money.

Me and my boyfriend visited Balito Beach last year and were less than impressed. I have stayed in many all inclusive budget hotels, and sorry to say that this one was the worst by far. The hotel should not be allowed to sell an "all inclusive" pacakge. There were usually 3 or 4 dishes a night and the same few were repeated throughout the week. Breakfast was okay, as it was what we expected, but other than that we found ourselves having to eat out a lot. Considering we ahd paid for meals already, we weren't impressed. The bar also stopped serving all inclusive drinks at 9pm! ALL drinks had to be paid for, even just a lemonade to take to bed! In our opinion this was a ridiculous hour and they shot their prices up because they knew people would stay later than 9!

The hotel itself was undergoing refurbishment in some areas. It wasn't a terrible hotel; the rooms were good sized, clean and adequate for what we wanted them for - sleeping and showering. If you wanted to spend more time in your room then this is perhaps not the place to go. The hotel is built in the cliff face and we had a lovely view of the sea from our balcony. For what you pay, the room really can't be complained about.

The location is not the best. The hotel isn't on the beach as it is described. Although I am sure it was once a lovely beach, it is now no more than a stoney waste ground where many locals walk their dogs. Puerto Rico is a 6Euro taxi ride away or a 5 minute bus ride. The bus stop is opposite the hotel so you can get to town pretty easily. You would be mad to walk down the winding main road full of fast Spanish drivers! The resort of Anfi was the opposite way and we stumbled upon it by accident. It was like a dream town and we spent most of our days here. It is a 5 minute walk over the "beach" and round some dangerous looking rocks! But it's well worth it.

Overall, the holiday was what we made of it. We had a lovely time and went on a few trips from Puerto Rico, and just spent the remaining time relaxing. The main let down was the food and the bar. Sold as a self catering holiday, I would recommend this hotel, but it is not what I would class as all inclusive.

we booked a last minute holiday to balito beach hotel never stayed there before and we would never stay there again !
its in the middle of nowhere and right next to a main rd that is like a motorway day and night !!
we did not sleep for 3 days and then we asked to be moved the staff in recepton were rude and eventually moved us to a room away from the road and we slept.
the pool is horrible with green fake felt around it the drops around the hotel are very dangerouse i would not take kids and there is no beach.
teenagers were running arond the hotel day and night and you could hear everything as the walls are so thin every stomp every shout .....
in the end we hired a car as there is nothing there its in the middle of no where no shops nothing .

I really can't understand what all the moaning is about. I've stayed in quite a few 5* All-Inclusives in the past, and I know that this place doesn't compare to a 5*, but for goodness sake, it's pretty darn good for a 2*! The rooms are great, the location is good and the price is brilliant! Ok, the food isn't up to Gordon Ramsay's standard, but I certainly didn't get any 'Spanish tummy' it always looked freshly cooked and there was always plenty to go around.

I heard from some other English guests that they are considering closing the All Inclusive option to the english because all we do is moan, whinge, drink our own weight in beer and pay half of what the other Europeans pay, so it sounds like they're getting fed up of us (who could blame them).

Couple of slight moans: The blonde woman who serves behind the pool bar tends to be a bit miserable and can't wait to cut your All-Inc wristband off (I think that she is nicer to the guests who are 'paying' for their drinks) and there's a guy who works there who grabbed my backside 'accidently'! Apart from that, if you want somewhere to stay with beautiful views, conveniently located for Puerto Rico and Anfi Del Mar, then don't hesitate to book in, it really is lovely (and for all the whingers who have moaned about the steps, well I was expecting an awful lot worse after reading the reviews).. there are probably 20 steps to get up to the pool and bar area, so all in all, it was great, book it whilst you still can.