WHERE DO I START…..

This is a basic 3 star at best…. And that’s me pushing it.
It was sold on TUI app as 5* when I got the confirmation it’s showing as 4star. Met another fellow UK family who had the same issue!

Arrived for 10 day milestone birthday and as we arrived at hotel …. Shambles. We were given all directions on the coach, hot and stuffy, after a long period of travel we were not allowed off for another 30 mins while we were told how check in works….. but we couldn’t hear or understand as the English was so broken you couldn’t even put together anything from what your being instructed.

Finally get off and check in took over an hour…. They were disorganised and just not a good first impression. Couldn’t find our booking and when they did took time to get a room key card sorted. Finally checked in and told go through lobby and your buildings are numbered ….. and then the hunt for your building starts. Just complete s**t show from minute we stepped in.

The hygiene is below par. The rooms are out dated and falling apart. Bedsheets and towels not changed regularly even if put on floor. Tested that and had to show the house keeping that sheets were not changed even though we specifically asked … our bed sheet had some black ink sort of mark at the foot on one day and second day …. Asked for it to be changed and the marking was now at the head of the bed it was just changed around not fresh sheets …. Our sink was blocked took 4 calls and a passing member of staff to get reception to send an engineer they didn’t understand the sentence blocked sink basin! ….. if that wasnt bad enough our smoke alarm went off while I was in shower….. we don’t smoke so no idea what happened …. Oh and that took several calls and over an hour wait with this blaring alarm before someone arrived to sort it.

Staff will only look in your direction if you tip or speak Spanish, which I get to a certain degree but not every time you order a drink in a AI set up!

The food is basic and has caused upset tummy and diarrhoea for my partner throughout. Food is just out …. People using hands and flies in and out. Staff cooking or behind food stands are dripping in sweat and leaning over food and refilling trays. Unless it’s being cooked fresh in front of you don’t eat it …. Unless you have a stomach for it. The booked restaurants ….. absolute joke! If I was to say any I went to were decent it’s the Italian. They cook the food fresh and happy to wait as it’s not mass produced sitting out.
Breakfast is mayhem, tables are dirty and cutlery is not cleaned properly, staff disorganised, and yelling to get people
Seated just not equipped for the amount of people staying. Hosts in black dresses should be marking your room number but are running around cleaning tables as so short staffed. The food is out throughout and kids running wild touching everything. I was at the bread counter waiting to toast and a kid with his mum there touched all the breads and nothing was said and staff right there!

Was then taken on a ULC marketing trip, which I was not interested in and wasted a full morning and again it’s a money making scheme. You come on holiday to enjoy the view and culture and somewhat food…. Yet I was told it’s a birthday breakfast treat and there I sat all morning trying to be sold the ultimate experiment for 25k ….. not impressed!

Some good bits
Beach is lovely ….. gentlemen at the bbq on the beach is so lovely cooks all the food fresh

Julita in the lobby area was amazing did my birthday cake and cocktail soon as asked and looked out for us with nothing in return.

Wan Carlos in the trips and excursions was lovely took us to Coco bongo …. Suggested the catamaran and how to rent a car….. told us what parts of the island are nice to visit. Told us about EL King eatery where we had the best fish …. Just to die for and cooked fresh

Overall ….. you like mass produced food, mediocre stay go for it. I am an avid traveller and been to proper 5* like secrets in Jamaica and Rui in Cape Verde, Mexico, Egypt etc ….. so I know what makes a 5*. This like I said is a basic 3* at best!

Good luck if you’re booked. This is my personal opinion and experience while a 10 day stay…. Yours could be better!