Flight 2 and a half hours with First Choice was short and on time so really good as I hate flying!!
Transfer From Malaga airport it takes about half an hour to transfer to the hotel, it is on the outskirts of Benalmadena.
Check-in If you fill out the registration form on your transfer it is quick and easy. The staff were curtious and pleasant at all times.
Hotel set half way between Benalmadena and Fuengirola and not good for a stroll into either, its too far from both ,catch a bus!
The Living Room Well this was my first let-down, as before we went away we had heard there was building work going on at the back of the hotel and also at the beach club where most of the pools are located. Hearing this I called into to my First Choice shop to find out, they phoned head-quarters and asked and was told that there had been building work at the beach club but was now complete and that they knew nothing about building –site that I now had the most wonderful view of from our room, along also with a railway line and donkey in field that let you know when the
train was coming. Phoned down to ask for another room with seaview but none available and would have cost an extra 15 euros a day!! Sorry! The room itself was large, clean and spacious with living area and dining table with 5 chairs, air-con, TV (remote to be hired), double pull out bed, huge double wardrobe and mirror in passage, coffee table and desk.
The Bedroom This was big with 2 4ft beds together, telephone, dressing table with mirror, 2 bedside tables with lamps and 1 main light, again massive wardrobe with shelves and safety deposit box inside(payable)
The Kitchen I think the kitchen was adequate, for those all-inclusive but a bit sparse on saucepans and kitchen tools (also remember to take tea-towel and dish-cloth with you, none supplied). There is kettle, toaster, microwave, hob and ample cupboard space. As for the well-stocked fridge it consisted of 1 small carton of orange juice, 2 small bottles of water and 1 small bottle of coke. If all-inclusive I would take tea and coffee if like us you like a cuppa in the morning and ask for a glass of milk in the bar to take to your room.
The Bathroom This was the best bathroom we have had in any hotels we have been in. It had 2 showers (1 over the bath, 1 shower cubicle) 2 sinks with complementary smellies replenished when needed, hairdryer, shaver point and clean towels every day and also a bidet!
The Balcony This was massive with table and 5 chairs, but totally spoilt by the awful view of the railway line and the building site, which the reps said quite honestly had been going on for ages and hadn’t any idea when it would be finished!
Restaurant in hotel The food is not the best we have had and expected it to be a lot better for a 4* hotel, it was luke warm and repetitive, and if you want water with your meal ask for bottle or they’ll bring you warm water! We often had to looking for crockery and cutlery; I think it was under staffed, saying that we always found something to eat, it was that or catch a bus to find somewhere to eat. You have to go to the beach-club for your lunch unless you use the snack bar at the main pool (burgers, chips etc.) the beach club restaurant closes at 3 o’clock. Food on a par with main restaurant.
The Beach Club Here you will find all the pools for the kids including the new wave pool(that the reps had told me was complete, wasn’t finished until the end of our first week!!), Bar, tennis courts, high wire, restaurant. I must say our 13 year enjoyed it here, it had slides,pirate ship,plenty of room for sunbathing and water features all over the place, there’s even a small spa pool for adults only ,beds in Jacuzzi, lovely and relaxing looking out over the Med but if you look in the opposite direction you see the main road between Benalmadena and Fuengirola! The beach club is accessed via a winding bridge over this main road.
Main Pool at Hotel This was where we spent most of our time, although I must warn you between one or another of the pools they had to be closed about 6 or 7 times due children and sometimes much older children using them as toilets a bit off putting, the entertainers were busy all the time with quizzes and games. Also to be found here was mini-golf, driving-range. Various kids clubs available from babies to teens catered for but, there were still some unruly teenagers about, with parents not in sight! Also available is An Arcade, billiards, internet room , Health club and fitness room were very good and you could escape from the children ,have a sauna, Jacuzzi and swim in here,(wonderful)
The Entertainment In the evening we felt it was very poor for entertainment ,we have been to 3* first Choice hotels where they had professional acts but here it consists of half hour kids disco, half bingo, and then something that the hotel entertainers have put on, they work hard but felt it was a let down. The Irish bar starts about 12 o’clock as we were going to bed so can’t vouch for entertainment in here. They have 2 more restaurants on site, a Mexican and an Italian that if all-inclusive you can eat here once a week each, our son is faddy eater so didn’t check these out. The whole complex is surrounded by railings for security and as also as security staff on duty 24/7. But they didn’t manage to catch the people who vandalised the back of the stage one evening.
On the whole Wouldn’t go back to this hotel it is too far from the resort centre and you have to catch a bus (even these stop at 10.30 in the evening)to get anywhere. If you have small children then it would be good for all the activities on offer but found it to big and too noisy. I would not say it was money well spent but we live and learn!
Pictures of Holiday Village Benalmadena, Costa Del Sol
Beach club
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Advantages: if you have children it is great free childrens clubs and the reps are great with the kids Disadvantages: dont go if you dont have children it will do your head in
Advantages: if you have children it is great free childrens clubs and the reps are great with the kids Disadvantages: dont go if you dont have children it will do your head in
Aug 10th, 2007
exceptional by (8%):
very helpful by (92%):
