Hi Stevie

Just got back from Benalmadena, a few miles westwards of you. Had a bit of a problem there with ATM's. Prefer not to buy Euros or travellers' cheques in the UK but to use my Visa Delta card to draw down Euros at ATM's in Spain It's cheaper also. First 3 banks I tried all refused to pay up from their Telebanco ATM's. Only when I tried banks offering Servired ATM's was I successful.
There was no problem with funds and I've never had a problem like this before. But for 30 minutes or so while I was wandering around Benal looking for a bank to pay up I was in a mild panic as I'd only come with around 50 Euros.
Have you, Stevie, or anyone else had a similar problem? Is it to do with Telebanco ATM's, for banks with Servired ATM's paid up no problem.
Any thoughts, anyone? I go to Roquetas in September and plan to use my card there but don't want another near panic attack.

Ayjay

Hi Stevie,
Just returned from Roquetas de Mar yesterday and yes the FLIES were a pain in the ?rse. I bought a fly swatter. I think I also came home with a twich,my right hand won't stay still.Something to do with the flies. I was in Zoradia Park where were you.

Cheers

Charlie.

When we went to Roquetas de Mar, we found the damn flies a pest too! A beautiful place though.

Most of the flies are from the poly tunnel farms, it does get better as the summer progresses,

Another point the post about Benalmadena,

hi can anyone help,we are going to roquetas in august and we would like to know if there are as many flies and mossies as we have
looked up on the internet thank you caz-h

Hi,
We are just back from Almeria 9 days ago.We were at Roquetas de Mar and their were thousands of flies,not one's that bite or sting they were just a pain in the you know where.As for mosies didn't see many of them at all.The flies are fruit flies as Almeria is the supplier for fruit for the whole of Spain and parts of Europe.

Charlie.

thanks for the reply, we are looking forward to it , we are staying at the zoraida park any info on the hotel will be gratefull do the flies bother you there more so when your by the pool . any info will be great thanks caz-h

Nipped down to Roquetas today and had a good lunch in a beachsidebar/restaurant and no flies at all!
There was also a pleasant breeze comming off the sea which may have been keeping the flies away.

Denis

Good news in Mojacar too,not that we have had many flies lately but there are none around now.
The really good news is that the mossies seem to have gone,John.

Top tip, when you are eating out, sit near a fan, the flies never settle

A ceiling fan running at night also appears to keep them away

We're looking to book two weeks next August in either Arena Center Aparthotel or Neptuno Aparthotel. However, after reading reviews, theres a mention of flies being a problem between June and August. Has anyone else experienced the same?

Hi

We stayed in Roquetas for two weeks in August this year and there was no fly problem at all.
However one day we were talking to someone who lives there and he said there had been swarms of flies in June. He said this was not a normal occurance so I don't think it should put you off booking.
We had a great time and would definately return to this resort.

Thanks Ruth! The comments on some reviews about the flies is the only thing thats putting us off booking. Where abouts did you stay. We're looking at the Neptuno Appts or the Arena Centre Aparthotel.

We have stayed at both the Neptuno (June 05) and Arena Centre this August.

With regard to the flies there are alot about in June and Also July however, apparentl,y the bins are sprayed to dicourage flies in August.

There were no flies while we were there in August.

With regards to accomodation Both Hotels are newish and spotlessly clean. The Neptuno is quite modern and minimalistic where the Arena Centre is more spanish in feeling. The food if, this is an option for you is definately better at the Neptuno but if you are after self catering I would without a doubt recommend the Arena Centre as the rooms are more comfortable.

These hotels are right next to each other in the resort and have limited number of British people - the majority especially in high season are Spanish.

Hope this info helps you out.

We stayed at the Hotel Playaluna and a great time there. It was kept very clean and although we were half board we were in a family room which was really a one bedroomed apartment. It is possible to book self catering .

we have just returned from the neptuno,nice hotel.flies were a problem

Flies have always been a problem, I first went to Roquetas de mar something like 14 years ago staying in the Hotel Trinidad, then returning 8 years later to stay in the Hotel Sabinal at different times of the year and the blinkin annoying little blighters were everywhere on both occasions.

Some of them can give you a bite and while ever Tomatoes/fruit are being grown on the mass scale as they are in Almeria, then the flies will stay.

Laws by the EU, prohibiting farmers from spraying their crops with certain pesticides just means the flies can fly around quite happily now.
They are annoying at times, but a fly spray soon shifts them from your space.....better than mossies,wasps, cockroaches, snakes or scorpians.
I wouldn't let the flies stop me from visiting again....now having a swarm of wasps buzzing around me is a different thing.

SanJi x