We've booked to return here on 18 Feb - but upon reading reports (on another website) the pools are not currently heated - you are liable to get hypothermia if you get in. I've phoned the travel agent and told him to get confirmation one way or the other - we will not stay at a hotel that does not have a heated pool (did that last year in Tenerife - it was a nightmare with 2 kids who are absolute water babies and couldn't go in the pool for the whole time we were there). Has anybody been here recently? I'm seriously considering cancelling and going to the Barcelo instead. Advice greatly appreciated.

I have merged your enquiry with this existing 2 page topic about the hotel. We also have lots of reviews, including one from December where this issue of the unheated pool has been mentioned - please click here for our reviews page.

David

Can anyone who's stayed here before tell me if there's music round the pool in the daytime? I'm going on my own and would prefer not to wear earphones but must have something to tap my feet to as I lounge

When my parents were there, there was an italian enetertainment team who had activities and music by the pool most of the day.

Thanks, Debbie!

Definitely remember music round the pool when we were there, in fact they were quite amenable to playing guests CD's for a bit of variety.

Hi

I am off to the Elba Sara on 7th June, i have heard mixed reviews are this hotel so i am a little nervous.

Does anybody who has visited this hotel before happen to have any photos of it.

Thanks

Hi, I don't think you have anything to worry about. We were due to stay at thishotel in April along with my sister and friends, but unfortunately we couldn't go in the end so had to cancel. The other two families went along and my sister especially was a little nervous after reading so many people complaining about poor food, poor service etc.

From what I have been told you have no worries, my sister just didn't know what these people were moaning about. She wasn't sure what standard of food they eat back in UK, but I am sure it is not normally about 10 differnet choices of main, numerous salads and delicious deserts! Food for thought I think! She did say that obviously the food that is in the big dishes under the heat lamps can go a little bit cooler than the food which is being cooked fresh off the grill for each person. Service wasn't a problem either. When in Spain do as the Spanish do, chill out you will easily get a drink!

The walk right down to the harbour took a pleaurable 15 minutes and they welcomed that. Again it mentions scrubland a lot, but it is meant to be fine and then turns into a lovely promenade. Maybe some people just go on holiday to sit on their sunbed 24/7 I'm not sure.

The beach in fornt of the hotel is meant ot be lovely, nice and safe for young children. apparently people stayingin the Barcelo were coming up to use it as there wasn't as many stones in the water ad it was a nicer little cove.

They did go also go out on the whale watching trip on catamaran and did see whales and dolphins, they would recomend that too.

if you log onto tripadvisor.com you will see some peoples reviews of Elba Sara along with ther photos. Hope that helps you. Regards Dawn

just a quick question..

can anyone tell me if bottled water is part of the all inclusive package at this hotel

thanks

is bottled water part of the all inclusive here?

I got back from the Elba last night and it was a cracking hotel the place is
very ,very good. Only the evening meal time was a bit of a free for all due to there simply not being enough staff in the meal area.
That tiny little thing is nothing to worry about the hotel is fantastic and the rooms well they are just top notch.
We had 638 which was over looking the water fall and the beach and would have it again if we go back.
The shopping centre next door is great as you dont have to bother with the very few stores in Caleta which does not seem to have much apart from bars. Also the locals all seem to eat and drink here and if they do then thats where I head.
I went half board and that was enough for me as you can only eat so much. The drinks where a bit steep in the hotel but cross the rd and there
is a bar and a supper market selling 1ltr bottles of beer for 1 euro.
for kids the neon bowling alley was fantastic and the arcade next to it was great as my kids played air hockey most night while we sat in the bar oppositewatching them. They are in total saftey as the security gaurds for the shopping center really look after the kids. Its great to know you can let them play in a safe enviroment and they have somone looking over them as well as you.
I would not hessitate to go back to this hotel it was a dream to stay there
and the staff could not do enough to help.
God its horrible being back here and typing this I should have booked for three weeks.
Go and enjoy it and just expect a little bit of havoc at dinner time which if your like me you can just shrug off . The hotel chain has refused to give the Elba anymore waiting on staff as they say they can manage.
Well am not so sure of that but what staff they have are worth there weight in gold.

hi chester

glad to hear you enjoyed the elba sara we will be there ourselves 2 weeks today!

I have read a few mixed reviews on this place but your comments are very reassuring!!

You really have no worries with this hotel its great and if you can live with the tea time rush which at the end of the day is no big deal you will have a fantastic time.
The rooms had fresh towels every day and there was no need for me to even take a razor as this was supplied each day with a fresh bowl of
shampoo , shower gel , shoe shines, soap , combs, tissues, shower caps (does any one use these).
You do not even have to take a towel with you as for a 10 euro deposit you can get a large beach towel which you can change daily.
The hotel shop was as cheap as any gift shop we came across and the women was very nice and gift wrapped anything that was going home as a gift.
One tip though is that the fridge in the room will cut out if you take the swipe card out of the slot.
Now as you get two cards you can leave one in the slot and use the other to get in to your room. the maids do sometimes lift them out to save energy . but this was only done the one time and I found i could live with a warm beer.
The gym was fantastic the shows put on in the hotel are first rate and the chinese circus act is well worth watching.
The bald guy that is the in house entertainment is a real nice bloke and really keeps going all day with all sorts of activities.
Shooting , volleyball. football, water polo, and bow and arrows.
Also just in front of the hotel is a stream that fils up with sea water at night and traps some huge fish that kept my kids happy for hours.
They used top take a few bread rolls from the breakfast table and feed the fish here and some ham for the crabs.
Great free fun.
Its also on the best beach in town much better than the caleta beach which is a two min walk past the Atlantic center.
We found the best and most quite bit was the other side of a walk way out to sea for the Island bar . This is well worth a walk out to and a drink as it is not expensive and gives great views back to the beach.
Dont bother with Chip monk mountain I did and apart from a nice walk and great views all the chipmonks seem to have moved house and gone to live in the rocks by the Harbour.
But if you get a car You must go and see the wreck of the Atlatic Star the passenger liner that ran a ground it is a fantastic site although a little of the beaten track. But even in a Clio we got there no problems.
the mountains roads put some of our to shame and Jandia is fantastic.
Enjoy your stay we did and will return again just take a jumper for the night time as it did seem to cool off around 9pm if still breezy.
hope you have a great time we did and did not have to bother with Caleta town at all really as there is not much there that you dont have on your door step.

Chester
thanks for such detailed replies!

thanks again chester for the very useful info

fatcodycat

Thanks for that hun, I'm looking forward to it even more now!

*says she sitting in the building site that is my house having the kitchen redone in the middle of half term*

Not a problem any info i can give to help a good time i think is a help.
I have been three time now twice to corallejo which I love although it has lost some of its charm of 16 yrs ago and this time to caleta.
On my last visit out there last yr I found a bar which was in the back st of corrallejo. This bar happened to be run by the local Las palmas football club fan club. I really dont think they get many tourists in there as we seemed a novelty to them at first but as the afternoon wore on they came over and tried there best to chat.
In the end they cooked a huge paella and pulled all the tables together for me and my family with wine all free of charge.
So i sent some pics out and a pennet from my local football team Chester city FC.
so this yr we had the car and drove up to Corralejo to have a look around and went for a drink at lunch time. yep we found the bar and walked inside to be greated like long lost brothers.
There in pride of of place was the football pennet and on the till trhe pictures of my girls from the yr before.
the people here are fantastic and seem total different to other parts of Spain they really have time for you.
I want to go back in October but while away found out I have lost my job,
Still I will not let that stop me.
You will love it honestly its so laid back coming home is a real wrench on your system.

opps forgot to mention anyone going with Thomson to this hotel will find you will never see the rep.
When we arrived at the airport she got on the coach did her speach then got off at the barcello. She poped her head back on and said the driver
knows where your going you have a welcome pack have a nice holiday.
If you want me I am here.
Which I found bang out of order really as she should have been around to make sure that people were in there hotel and sorted out.
Now when we got dropped off at the Elba we were told that we had no resevation and thompsons had not sent one through.
No rep , tired kids and wife and no cash with me.
it took quite a bit of an argument with the staff on the desk and a call to the hotel manager.
He in the end sorted it.
we left our welcome pack on the bus due to one thing and another so did not have the details to contact thompson direct in the resort.
Still in two weeks and many visits to the hotel the rep was supposed to be based in we did not find her once to lodge our complaint.
So we thought we would have a go on the way back to the airport but we were picked up by an empty coach with only another couple from the Elba getting on.
No one at the airport to tell us which check in either as we got off the coach. And still no repley from Thomson via there website.
I loved the hotel and the island but I dont think I will use Thomsons again.
The other reps from all the other compaines are there daily it seems so may be this Thomson rep is just out there for a holiday herself becaues even people from the Barracello said they only seen her once.

Hi again chester

That sounds like terrible service to me!! i hope thomsons give you some sort of feedback.

This is exactly why i DIY my holidays now i resent paying the extra to "high street" travel agents for a non existent rep service who really just seem to be there to flog trips and go AWOL at the first signs of any problem

Anyway at least the hotel were able to sort you out and find you a room but its not a great start to a holiday!