The air con in the HV is good. It only works when you put your plastic room key in the electric slot. As each person gets a key its a good idea to leave 1 in all the time, that way the air con stays on. Have to say it does work pretty quickly though once switched on. karen

Just returned from the HV and thought I'd make my first post with our thoughts on the hotel. I've been lurking here since March last year when we've booked, taking on board what everyone's been saying, now I can post my views on the place.

The Hotel Buildings
The HV gives a very good impression on entry, with two spacious blocks joined by a wide reception area. you enter on floor 0, but because the hotel is on the side of a hill, all the facilities (restaraunt, pool etc) are on floor -1. The whole place seemed very clean to us, there are plenty of toilets around (which also seemed clean enough), and a total of 4 bars (Irish bar on floor -2, the main piano bar, the poolside bar and a further bar near the outside entertainment area. This last served on SC guests during the day, but had two queues for AI at night, 1 for SC).

The Pool
The pool is huge and deepens to the centre (though never over about 5 foot), which gives larges areas very safe for the youngest kids to play in. Again very clean. Towels can be hired for a 15 euro deposit, and changed as often as you like. The procedure is a bit lengthy though, you need to get a token from reception first, then exchange this with the girl by the pool. Also, she's not there all day, so if you're a late riser or return mid-afternoon from a trip, tough. Lots of kids got small cuts and bruises in the pool (either from loose tiles or just falling over in the shallow water), so advise swimming shoes or plenty of plasters!

The Room
Very nice, with kitchen (microwave, halogen hob, fridge, oven and sink; but only a small variety of utensils), bathroom (unnecessarily large, with bath, two showers (one over batch, one cubicle), bidet and twin sinks), bedroom with 2 large beds and wardrobe, main room with wardrobe, dining table, sofa bed (with push-away 4th bed underneath)so if your kids are older get another room or don't bother! and huge balcony with table and chairs. There is a telly with satellite TV, but you need to pay 10 euro deposit for the remote, and the only english channels are news (my kids still watched German cartoons though!). There is also a safe, but you need a key (10 euros deposit again plus 2 euros a day hire charge) before it will work. Cleanliness average, towels changed every day but actual cleaning left a bit to be desired.

The Food
Well, average to poor would cover it. The main restaraunt, La Perla, is buffet style, which menat that none of the food was ever piping hot when you got it back to your table. Most of it was OK, and there was a decent variety, but if it were a restaraunt back home I wouldn't go back twice. The themed restaraunts are Mexican and Italian, the Mexican was OK as far as it went, but the Italian was dreadful (6 of us ate there twice and of the 12 main courses only 1 was acceptable). Our local kids pub does better pasta and pizza than this. The pool bars are OK, but only open until 6pm. If you fancy a snack after this, you're stuck with curling sandwiches from the piano bar.

The Entertainment
There seemed to be a lot going on for kids, but my son wasn't interested in the kids club so I can't comment except that it seemed quite popular with parents at least. We heard some bad comments about the creche childminders, but ours are past this age so again can't comment. The older kids club, wavelength, was at it's best when organising activities out and about the hotel, but was less good at indoor stuff. Night times they mostly watched a movie and ate snacks (this cost an extra 3 euros) - that's when the reps weren't mucking about. For adults, there was more or less nothing. The odd water polo in the day, then at nights a truly awful duo in the piano bar who must have slept with the manager to get the gig (both the bloke and the lady). For the kids there was mini disco at 8:00, followed with awful inevitablity by the B word - yup bingo, then a reps show at 10:00. Pretty poor really, and we found ourselves getting extremely fed up with having nothing to do after tea but wait until the kids were tired enough for bed.

The Beach Club
OK as far as it went, but a bit of a trek over the bridge (between 5-7 minutes on a hot day seems like a lot further). AI accepted at 2 of the bars, but for drinks only. Pools not too deep, with a pirate ship with 2 small slides and some elephant statues spraying water - nothing that will trouble Disney here!

The Location
Probably the worst thing about the hotel. True, you can walk to the outskirts of either Fuengirola or Benalmadena in about 20mins, but there's nothing there really. The town centres are much further, and you really need to use either taxi, train or bus to get there. Taxi is about 10-12 euros, buses about 1 euro each and train about the same (be warned, the train station is reached by climbing steps that would make Edmund Hilary think twice). Of the two, we preferred Fuengirola, but Benalmadena has the advantage of Tivoli World, where you can easily spend 3-4 hours on the various rides and shows.

Overall, I suppose I was hoping for more from the HV, and came away disappointed. I spoke to someone who was there last year, and she felt things had gone downhill, particularly the food and service at the bars. The HV has a great deal of promise, but fails to deliver for me. I would rate this more as a 3* than a 4* any day, and won't be going back.

I know much of this seems fairaly negative, but having read so much good stuff here over the last 15 months, I wanted to put how I found the HV. Hope I haven't offended anyone, or put you off going, after all a holiday's what you make it!

Okay, I'm fed up and seriously thinking about changing although there's not alot of choice left for August plus I've to persuade our friends and my hubby to change and we've just changed from the Costa Dorada last week. Ohhhh, I just don't know what to do............................

I would say go and enjoy it but there again I would because I enjoyed it so much last year.

Carol

I agree with you 100 % carol we go this Sunday and I must admit am a little bit dissapointed with some of the comments being written but there have also been so many good things said as well so will still go with an open mind full of positive thoughts. As long as the place is clean and the food and drink are in good supply ,as for the rest it will be up to us to make the rest of the holiday so cheer up anybody still waiting to go it cant all be doom and gloom.

Tony

I know what you are both saying, but Tony that's the point the place doesnt sound that clean and there may be loads of food but what's the point if it's quality is poor. I to, like and do have a great time and every intention of doing so, but we are paying £3400 for 2 adults and one 5 year old and one 3 year old for this holiday as we got no deal on it as we only changed to it a couple of weeks ago so there were no child free places. I know you must think that i am sounding negative but we had a nightmare last year and my then 1 year old was in a Tenerife hospital for 2 1/2 days and my other son and my hubby had a bug lasting 48 hours and that was at a 4 * plus.

Carol, I know you said that you had a great time last year but it seems as though it has gone down hill since then............. Ohhh,help!!!!!!! So SORRY for being a moan and a pain................help

Hola!!!

Nothing can dampen my holiday spirit today And for me personally there are some real positives in the above report..the room,the pools, etc Its good honest info!

I knew all about the loaction and cheese content of the entertainment when i booked. On previous holidays we have never really got into the "turn" at night we've usually been too busy having a laugh and i love a game of Bingo on holiday!!! but again its each to their own

The beach club will blow my kids away compared to our local pool., which has 2 rectangles... one deep and shallow. My daughter is like me and loves to mix so she cannot wait to make new friends at the mini club and disco

We plan on an evening at Tivoli world and 2-3 dinners at the marina to break the HV Habit. We have no intention of busing anywhere "Taxi for robson please" i am on me hollybobs afterall....

PS Sorry me again.... I have no problems with the location, that doesn't bother us at all

Kaz

I understand what you are saying. This year a lot of things have improved BC now AI and a lit more activites than last year. Last year there were major bad reviews posted for the same period we were there. I was thinking were these people in the same place. It just goes to show that people have very differant views.

I thaught food was fantastic last year and nigelstanley went last year and this year and he says food has improved from lat year. I didnt think that was possible.

One of the problems I think this hotel has is that it is a seasonal hotel ie only open from April till October as a result each new year they (more than lickely) have a brand new set of staff starting from scratch.

Carol

Thanks Carol.

Morning Ladies,

Kaz33 I totaly understand your concerns and fully agree with what you are saying but if you look back at all the reviews and comments from this year the good certainly outway the bad by miles you are always going to get people who have different views and opinions which is great but as Carol said you do wonder if they have been to the same place. I can honestly say that even if I was new to this forum and I was looking for advice on whether to book th H/V I would still book because on the whole the reviews and comments have been great.

Carol, you have been there done it and got the tee shirt so are in a better position than most to comment so I thank you for your honest views/comments and tips.

Quirkygirl, I like your attitude now you are much happier than last week and yes like you we plan on doing Tivoli world plus others and also dinning out some evenings so who knows maybe our paths will cross at some stage.

Happy Holidays

T MAN

Thanks for that, but do you promise that you will tell me the truth on your retun no matter the outcome!! Pretty please!!!!! When do you get back???

Sorry T MAN, it's sounds like I'm wishing your holiday away, but honestly I just wish we all have a great time!!! Must admit, I'm a wee bit excited now ...................

kAZ33,

I promise to tell the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth as they say.... If we have a crap time I will tell you exactly that but I hope to give you a glowing report. and we arrive back in the UK 10/07/05 at around 10pm so will post report on Monday morning.

Tony

Thanks, you're a star TMAN!!!

I did call first choice today but to change now as it's within 8 weeks would cost much more than an admin charge, there would have to be cancellation charges so the costa del sol here we come!!!!!!! Fingers crossed that we all have a fab time!!!

Looking forward to your truthful report!!! Please don't be frightened to tell me the bad stuff, if any.......promise!!!
Karen

Stick with what you have booked Karen don't stress yourself out anymore Holidays and the time leading up to them should be nice and relaxing keep thinking happy thoughts

Tony

I am sure you lot that are going soon will have a good time, the rooms are good size, if its not as clean as you would like-report it to reception. To me the food was ok, plenty of choice every night, if you dont like it, us the snack bar by the pool. Buy the swim shoes to stop cut feet, and take some hand jel incase the toilets dont possess soap. My kids had the best holiday ever, loved the bingo and cheesey entertainment, as they were happy, so was i. The towell lady is by the pool at about 10.30 till 1ish i think, then she comes back at 4pm. At the top end of the BC there are some holes in the floor that water spurts out of, my daughter loved running through these. I dont think any of you need to worry, you may get a few small problems but they should hopefully be sorted quickly. karen h

I really hope my review hasn't put a downer on anyone's holiday, it's only my view of the HV and plenty of others have really enjoyed it there. I guess because the reports ha been so good I wanted to point out some things which I felt weren't up to snuff for a 4* (bar service being slow was another one - we waited up to 30mins for a drink at the piano bar one night). On the other hand I can say that we never encountered any surly staff that one or two two others have mentioned - whether in the restaraunt, pool bar or reception they were all universally friendly and as efficicnt as their systems allowed them to be.

I was very disappointed with the food (we're not picky eaters, but all 6 in our party felt the same), but if you're planning to eat out a few times then this may not be an issue. There certainly seemed to be loads of places to eat in both Benalmadena and Fuengirola (lots of Indian restaraunts for some reason!). Also I'm sure you'll enjoy Tivoli World, especially if you have smaller kids (say under 10) as almost everything there is geared to that age group, with just a couple of bigger rides.

Tivoli world is a brill place, it opened at 4pm when we went, the log flume is a must, didnt do any of the shows as we were to busy. Its 4.50 euro to get in then 10 euro for a wrist band to go on everything, think you could buy seperate tickets if you just wanted a few rides. Johnny Bravo, i understand what you mean, we had a few issues when we were there but they got sorted out, and it didnt spoil the holiday, although i have to say we wouldn't go back unless it was a bargain! The kids adored it though, and had there best holiday yet! karen