...and have the tan to prove it!"
My hubby, six year old son and me have just returned from a week in Benidorm staying at the Levante Lux Apartments. Son had such a great time he's passed out on the sofa as we speak (or should that be as I type??)
Anyway to the important stuff...........
We ... Read review
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Advantages: Exceptionally clean; good pool for younger children; handy location for GOING to the beach Disadvantages: Uphill COMING BACK from the beach; balconies could be a safety issue for little ones
...in Benidorm staying at the Levante Lux Apartments. Son had such a great time he's passed out on the sofa as we speak (or should that be as I type??)
Anyway to the important stuff...........
We arrived at the apartments at 9.30pm on a Tuesday night and were met by a friendly receptionist who checked us in and lightened our wallet by 60€ (about £40) for a breakage deposit. Luckily we knew this was coming as it was advertised ... ...vicinity so you won't be stuck for somewhere to go if you stray out of the apartment gates.
I'm going to stop there. Suffice to say I would definitely recommend Levante Lux as a place to stay for your holiday in Benidorm.
Tuesday 8th August 2006 Dear Diary: "Well just stepped off the plane............and have the tan to prove it!"
My hubby, six year old son and me have just returned from a week in Benidorm staying at the Levante Lux Apartments. Son had such a great time he's passed out on the sofa as we speak (or should that be as I type??)
Anyway to the important stuff...........
We arrived at the apartments at 9.30pm on a Tuesday night and were met by a friendly receptionist who checked us in and lightened our wallet by 60€ (about £40) for a breakage deposit. Luckily we knew this was coming as it was advertised in the holiday brochure and we were also advised by our Rep when we got on the coach from the airport. At the end of the stay the housekeeper pops into the room to check everything and all being intact you get the deposit returned (we used it to go duty free shopping at the airport!)
Armed with our keycards (we had two which is handy) we made our way to our apartment. At this point I should tell you about the lifts - there are two - but they are possibly the smallest lifts I have ever come across. They do take 4 people but you're literally holding hands with the person next to you (makes for some interesting journeys!). With 2 and a half people and 3 suitcases and hand luggage it was a tremendous squeeze. However, we didn't want to have to make two trips because as it turned out we were on the 14th/top floor.
Another thing to bear in mind with the lifts is checkout day (currently Tuesdays and Sundays with First Choice). Getting a lift whilst people were leaving caused some problems.
Now to the room.......
The room was tri-purpose being both a sitting area/dining room/kitchen, the 'sitting' room area was spacious, it contained unit which has three drawers and two cupboards; TV (some local Spanish channels, CNN and Eurosport) and telephone were on top of this; there was also a coffee table and sofa - once the bolster cushions were removed from the back this turned into a bed which was slightly wider than a single. Underneath the sofa was another pullout bed (sheets and pillows are provided to make the bed up). Further into the room (near the patio doors) is a dining table for four and to the side of this is the kitchen area.
The kitchen is well stocked with appliances and utensils. It has a fridge (with a small freezer compartment); electric hob and cooker, extractor fan, toaster and kettle (this was small, but then the cups were too!) Utensils wise there was cutlery for four, two sharpish knives, serving spoons, small chopping board, plates, dishes, cups glasses, plenty of (very clean) pans and also something I believe to be a type of skewer but it looked like an instrument of torture!!!
There was a small room off the kitchen area where there was a sink and mop and bucket.
Bathroom had a sink with a shelf above to put bits and bobs on, a toilet, bath and shower - all very clean.
Bedroom had two single beds, each with a bedside table and lamp (also a light switch which controlled the main light). Built in wardrobes with sliding doors, one side had a hanging rail and shelves, the other had a hanging rail and drawers. This side also had the safe. You have to pay for using the safe for a week (currently 33€) and it's operated by using the door card.
When we stayed the weather was very hot and although the rooms have air conditioning units you have to pay to have them switched on (currently 6€ a day). I would definitely recommend it during hot weather, we had a very sticky first night!
I have to say we found the room to be exceptionally clean, particularly the floor, you could feel how clean it was under bare feet, weird thing to say I know! Even the balcony floor was clean.
Talking about the balcony......this was a little bit of a worry for me on a couple of accounts. Firstly I'm scared of heights......but thats a worry for me not for you! Seriously, the balcony area is nice, it has a table and four chairs and they also supply you with a clothes airer as they prefer that you don't hang towels over the side of the balcony. However, the balcony side is a low wall topped with horizontal railings (which move slightly when leaned on and have quite wide gaps between them) as I mentioned before we have a 6 year old who wasn't quite tall enough to see over the top of the balcony so stood on tiptoe, leaning on the rails to see over - not good! I spoke to other parents at the apartment and we all had the same balcony worries. I wouldn't suggest leaving younger children on the balcony alone.
Enough of the room, I'll take you down to the bar and pool.
Bar area is pleasant enough, it serves from early till midnight (happy hour from 8.30pm till midnight - lager 1.50€ a pint (usually 2.50€ during the daytime)). They do a selection of food including pizza, chips, sandwiches, bocadillos (baguette type rolls). Food and drink is a little more expensive than some of the cheap as chips places nearby but its handy if you're sitting around the pool. There are also two pool tables (one inside, one out) and some 'grab machines' and three computers with internet access (1€ for 15 mins). They also have karaoke three nights a week, which is the only entertainment offered by the apartments.
Outside there is a pool area with a small pool for the little uns and then a deeper pool the other side (separated by wall and railing so they can't accidently float into the deeper end!) The pool rules state no lilo's or balls but everyone had them and loved it. My son spent hours and hours in the pool each day. There are plenty of sunbed and tables and chairs and the area gets sun for most of the day.
Back to cleanliness (sorry) staff clean away sunbeds each night, tidy the pool of toys and then wash down the floors and clean the pool each morning.
If you're still with me, we're nearly there!
Just a word on location its a 10 minute gentle stroll down to the beach (all downhill) - obviously that means its uphill on the way back but its not of everest proportions and as long as you don't have any significant mobility problems it should be fine. There are shed loads of bars, restaurants etc etc in the immediate vicinity so you won't be stuck for somewhere to go if you stray out of the apartment gates.
I'm going to stop there. Suffice to say I would definitely recommend Levante Lux as a place to stay for your holiday in Benidorm.
