Hello all, we would appreciate any advise prior to contacting our travel agent. We have booked to go to this complex Aug 2008. This was not our first choice of holiday, we had spent months deciding only to find our original was not in the brochure or on the computer. We checked recent reviews before booking but now checking further back we find that people have been burgled whilst asleep in their room, safes removed suitcases stolen etc. There has been a few good reviews lately which put our minds at rest but yesterday another report on another site said they were burgled whilst asleep. What we need to know is if we choose a different holiday will we be charged per person for every alteration to the holiday, ie the hotel, resort etc. This is making my sister and i very uneasy as we cannot mention what we have read in front of the children as this would make matters worse than they already are. Thankyou in advance for any replies.

another report on another site said they were burgled whilst asleep

I have also seen this recent review and apparently it was teenagers sleeping in the apartment who had quite possibly not locked the door properly. We were at this complex last month, there were no security problems whatsoever while we were there, but you do have to double check you've locked the door properly. And as for this particular report saying something about local teenagers hanging around, well we didn't see any, just lots of happy UK teens (including mine) having a great holiday hanging out together. We had a fantastic time and would not hesitate to go again - it was in fact on my shortlist for August 2008, but worked out much more expensive compared to what I'd paid for this Easter, so we've now chosen somewhere else - but if the price was right I'd be back there tomorrow.
However, if you do decide to change your holiday, then according to the small print in the First Choice brochure, you will pay amendment fees of £20 per amendment per person (date, hotel, flight, duration etc) so it may work out cheapest to stick with the same dates, same flight to Fuerte but a different hotel. You travel agent may be able to advise you better on this.

Hi,

I agree completely with Jo, we too were there at Easter and never heard of any break-ins. Nor did we see any local teens or anyone else hanging around. Maybe this is a one-off incident? I know I've heard of break-ins in the Canaries previously but I wouldn't be at all surprised if the culprits were British (call me cynical??) that's just my opinion though, obviously.

As my previous review said it's not a 5* resort but we had a lovely time and never had any problems. Anything that was wrong - ie we needed extra pillows and one day the tv wouldn't work - were sorted out immediately we contacted reception. As long as you keep doors and windows shut at night (there is a great big bolt through the bedroom windows) then there shouldn't be any problems. Our apartment was situated right by the steps so lots of people passed to go to and from the C side pool and the entertainment bar, including late at night but I never noticed anyone hanging around and never had any trouble.

I too worried an awful lot before we went because of last summer's reviews and several times I almost changed it but I'm so glad we stuck with it.

Good luck
Lisa

Thanks lisamac22 good to see another positive posting. When you read bad reports you can't help but worry but as the good reports outway the bad it puts your mind at ease more and more.

hi to all of you going to dorada i went out last year 2nd of sept and we all had a fantastic time 3 adults and 2 kids we never heard of any break in's or anything of that sort and i was still peak time as it was very busy but great fun kids didn't go to kids club as they were having to much fun around the pool and stuff i have even told my friend to go and she has booked for august this year im confident to recommend it to anyone and i know they will have a great time just wish i was going to but got Florida to look forward to instead would return to this complex thats for certain

anybody just got back from these bungalows in the last few days, just wondering if things have improved at all. especially security. thankyou for any replies. allie

Hi all, Got back late last night.

We didn't hear of any breakin's and there was a secrity quard on patrol most nights (if not every night) they locked the gates of an evening too, which made us feel safe. The holiday itself wasn't the best but wasn't down to the hotel, we had a couple of days of bad weather, the pool was icey cold and our 2 yr old insisted on getting in which made him poorly, and the misses caught a sickness bug, but given she is 5 months preg we were a bit worried. Was nothing to do with the food as we all ate the same and she was proberly extra careful with fish and salads etc, just one of those things, will do a proper review when i get 5

Stu

Forgot to say.... Dont go to the shop on site. Take the time to walk up the slope opposite reception and visit the netto on the corner, everything is much cheaper!! Simple things like milk for the kids or pringles less than half the price!!

Hello all
We have never been here before, but are looking to book for next years May half term and would be grateful for a few tips, etc...

1. We note that the hotel is close to the airport - do you get much plane noise?
2. Has anyone used the Wavelength kids club? We have just returned from the Holiday Village in Turkey and the kids loved the Wavelength club, so we'd really like to find another location with a good kids club.
3. Has anyone been to the waterpark? Whats it like, is it worth a visit?
4. What other trips are available and is it best to book with the FC reps or is it better to book with locals?

Many thanks for all your help

Hi We went at Easter and had a fantastic time. To answer some of your questions:

1. The hotel is very close to the airport (which means a quick transfer on arrival and departure). There are 2-3 flights going over every morning at about 7.30am, and then they come in "batches" throughout the day. Personally, it didn't bother us at all, we live under the flight path for planes landing at Manchester Airport so we are used to the noise, but honestly, most people said they didn't notice the noise after the first day or so - we even slept through the 7.30am landings after the first couple of days. And the kids enjoy watching the planes too!

2. My 14 year old daughter half-heartedly hung around the Wavelength Club when she felt like it, but she's a grumpy little little minx who thinks stuff like that is "not cool" - after the first week when she had made some friends she was around there all the time. The Wavelength Rep was great, he knew how to communicate on all levels to the wide age range of kids in the club (9 - 15 year olds). Daughter made loads of friends and still keeps in touch with some of them. When we came to book our holiday for next summer she insisted we must go somewhere with a Wavelength Club again

3. We didn't go to the waterpark in Corralejo, but some other people went and said it was good but expensive once you're in there.

4. Other trips include the Oasis Park down in the south (animal park with birds of prey, sea lions, crocodiles, camel rides etc), there are various Catamaran/boat trips and a trip over to Lanzarote, and there is also a guided tour of the island up in the mountain villages. There is an agent just down the hill - Tourventura CLICK HERE their prices are slightly cheaper than the First Choice trips but we had some vouchers in our First Choice ticket booklet which would have made it the same price anyway.

I can really recommend the Caleta Dorada - if you have any more questions please feel free to ask

Hi Cyberspacekadette

Thanks so much for all your help!

It really does sound like its worth a visit - I must admit that some of the reviews have bothered me, but there are plenty of good reviews too!

We have a 9 year old boy and 12 year old girl who loved the Wavelength club at the Turkey HV. I suspect that by next May she will be more like your daughter and make out shes not bothered about going; I think they still really enjoy these things, they just hate to let us see it!!

I don't think the flight path thing will matter to us. I think we'll quite like watching them going over!

What are the rooms like? We are looking at booking a 2 bed apartment... What is the layout? Are there 2 sep. bedrooms and a sitting/kitchen area?

Are pool towels supplied?

If I think of any more questions, which I'm sure I will, I'll write.

Thanks again

We are looking at booking a 2 bed apartment... What is the layout?

We booked a 2-bed apartment (Kids Den) but when we arrived they'd overbooked them and because I have two teens they put us in two seperate apartments with an adjoining door so we had two bedrooms, two living rooms/kitchens, two bathrooms... it was great for us but I think this was just an exception because the complex wasn't busy. But I can't tell you anything about the actual 2-bed apartments, although all the Kids Dens are near the main pool and entertainment area.

Are pool towels supplied?

No, the hotel does not supply pool towels. There is a laundry area where you can wash your own towels if you need to minimise on your packing, or there are shops just down the hill which sell cheap beach towels if you prefer to buy them when you get there.

Any more questions? Happy to help

Hiya,

We were there at Easter the same as Jo, and we really enjoyed it, as I've posted previously. If you go on the hotel reviews our full reviews are on there too.

We have 3 girls aged 12, 6 & 3 and we had a 2 bed kids den, this was about 1/2 way between the reception/dining room and the main pool/bar/ entertainment area. I think on first choice website you can look at the layout of these but I'm not 100%, anyway they had a main bedroom with double bed, 2 big wardrobes & bedside cabinets, the kids bedroom had big solid bunks, the bottom one pulled out from underneath. it had spare bedding pillows etc underneath in a drawer, a built in wardrobes so that there was a single one at either side of the beds, and cupboards above, then a big dressing table, cupboard thing that had the tv/dvd on top. normal bathroom with shower, kitchen with all the usual stuff, fridge, microwave, toaster, sandwich maker, breakfast bar (always handy for ironing!!) then the lounge with a big chair and sofa bed, big sideboard with tv on top again. Hope this helps - it's difficult to picture if you haven't been!!

Wavelength club - Hannah, the 12yr old did go quite a few times and enjoyed it. Wes the rep was really good, I think he's been there a while. They did lots of stuff like trips to McDonalds, bowling (at extra cost) but then had movie nights. I think at first she thought it wasn't going to be cool & would be 'colouring in' and stuff like she's done at kids clubs when she was younger and I had to talk her into it, but she was pleasantly surprised and had a fab time. Mind saying that, she also made other friends so they hung round away from the club.

Like Jo said, the airport noise - we just got used to it, it wasn't that bad - there are quite a few throughout the day, we just joked about it though.

We didn't go to the waterpark, we'd heard it was quite expensive and our little ones were quite happy to play in the little pool on the complex so that was fine with us! We went to Oasis park which was good, and even the 3 yr old went on the camel trek! My husband and our 12 yr old went on the catamaran trip which they really enjoyed. We did book with the reps.

All in all we had a fantastic time, we probably would go back again, if the 3 yr old hears a song she heard a lot on holiday she cries and says 'I want to go back to "Forterventura"!!!

Hope you have a lovely time - I'd happily be back there now instead of this rain!!!

Lisa

Reviews HERE

Pippy

does anyone know if the internet in the caleta dorada apartments is wireless or not? thanks xx

No wireless internet - just two computers in reception (one of which wasn't working when we were there at Easter) and always a huge queue to use them, with kids wanting to go on MSN and check out their new friends' MySpace accounts etc...
I think there is an internet cafe or two down in the town, possibly near the Broncemar Beach, but no wireless anywhere, I know this because my son always tries to pick it up on his PSP

damn i wanted to take my laptop, and try pick it up -__-

another big question! do you have to pay for the gym there in the hotel?, heard theres a gym

Can't tell you anything about the gym - it seemed permanently closed when we were there at Easter, although the complex was at least half-empty and a few of the bars were closed too. Maybe in peak season it will be open - I shouldn't think you'd have to pay to use it as an all-inclusive guest. You'll have to ask at reception. You could always contact them via the management company's website CLICK HERE there is a contact link on the site.

thanks!