Arrival
We arrived at the Playazul 4* Hotel at about 8pm on an Easyjet slightly delayed flight. After about 40mins private transfer from the airport to our hotel - have your passports ready - our rooms were ready and as we were on all inclusive we were given a chip and pin type card which was also your key card for your room. You used this key for everything. I have to say that in the past we have been given wristbands for all/inc. This meant you had to provide a signature for everything you had which was a bit of a pain. We also found it difficult it one parent wanted to take the children to bed and the other wanted to stay up using the bar. We swiftly went to reception the following morning and were given a duplicate key card. The receptionists do speak a little English but the hotel is 99% Spanish so everything is geared towards them!

Extras
The hotel offers a beach/pool towel service which is very convenient. You can change your towels as many times as you want to. There isn't a hospitality tray in your room so take a kettle and English tea-bags if you fancy a cuppa at anytime during the day. Their tea is just not the same.

The Rooms
We felt the rooms were in need of some refurbishment. The good side was the air con unit was very good and there was also a remote controlled fan above the bed. The bathrooms were small and in need of updating. We had a leak from the room above which was promptly dealt with. Linen and towels changed regularly.

The Pool Area
The pool was lovely and clean and had toboggan style slides into it and a separate jacuzzi area (for adults only) but we felt it was far too small for the amount of people using it. There was also an indoor pool and jacuzzi area which was also full to capacity. All areas were kept very clean but beware the early bed reservers!!

Activities/Entertainment
Daytime - There was a large chess set, mini golf area (although everytime my children wanted to use it there were either no clubs or balls available!), shuffle board area, bowls area, pistol/rifle shooting area and also a darts board. Plenty to do but if you're English then be advised that you are at the bottom of the list as the Spanish dominate these activities. There are regular aerobics/dance sessions which we found quite fun! There is also a mini-club for the little ones - the group of 4 entertainers (2 men, 2 girls) were in charge of all the entertainment in this hotel. They were very dedicated and very good.
Evening entertainment starts late - I suppose to accommodate the Spanish siestas! There's a Mini-disco at 10pm!! And then some form of entertain from 10:30pm (which included a Flamenco show). Everything closes at midnight.

The Food
The restaurant was charming but the food area simply wasn't big enough when the hotel is at full capacity. We found we had to queue for ages to get certain foods by which time anything else on your plate was cold! Saying that - there was a good selection. Expect chips with everything though, only usually one other potato dish. Large selection of fish and meats but you have to wait to have them cooked. We found that the earlier we went to dinner, the more pleasant it was - ie. It opened at 7pm so we were there waiting. Most of the Spanish like their dinner around 8:30-9:00. The same with breakfast - get there between 8am and 8:45 for the most relaxing meal before the Spanish stampede everything! The waiters/waitresses hardly speak any English. Ooh and Cava at breakfast - if you can stomach it!

The resort
Roquetas de Mar is, we feel, still undiscovered and untouched by the British. It really is lovely. The weather is good all year round. There are a few English bars dotted around so there's no need to feel home sick - the M25 Bar is a favourite of ours (lovely food and Sky TV!), also the Miners Bar is v. welcoming. The Beach is very clean and for E3 per day you can have a lovely beach bed and straw umbrella right on the sea.
Flies - you may have read many reports about the flies in Almeria. Well around the pool there were some but not as many as when I was at the CaboGata Garden Hotel in July. If you want to escape them then go to the beach - it's far too windy down there for them. Beware - we all got really burnt on the beach!!

I would certainly go back to Almeria but not to this hotel…although it was enjoyable… it's good to try something different.