We actually travelled June this year, 2007, but the box would not let us put that in!

The hotel apartments were lovely, air conditioned, plenty of room, we did not have a kettle, but this was soon provided when asked.

Staff very helpful, I am sure anything we wanted, they would have provided willingly. Yes, the pillows were very thin, we only stayed a week so put up with it, I am sure they would have provided new ones had we asked, or I would have bought our own if we had been there for any longer, but we would never let anything like that spoil our holiday!

The maids were lovely, apartments clean, they came in daily. Our children were really looked after at the hotel and everywhere else.

Yes, the pool bar was a little over priced, but staff very nice, food ok, we soon realised we could get better and cheaper food elsewhere, but on the whole, it was very handy as we spent a lot of time at the pool. The pool was a little cold at first, you soon got used to it and it was nice once you had braved it and got in! I dare say this is the same at every outside pool. It was very clean and if you were lucky, you could get beds and a parasol, but you had to be up early as everyone put their towels on them and reserved them, but this is not the hotel's fault.

The hotel was about ten minutues walk to new town which was okay, taxis cheap enough to get you to old town and olhos d'agua, a buzzing village with lots of bars and entertainment, big supermarkets and market. There was only one night when we had a long wait for a taxi, but the receptionist was happy to ring for us for 75 cents, cost of call.

There was not a lot going on around the hotel as it is in between places, they are building new hotels around there and perhaps next year, there will be more to do around there.

It would have been nice to be able to grab a meal or drink or too along the way as it was 32 degrees and the kids were getting fed up walking. However, the restaurent was fabulous, top-class service, top class food. We thought it looked too expensive and only ate there towards the end of the holiday. We wished we had eaten there more often, a wonderful menu, we had starters and desserts, sangria and beer, coke for the kids and it only came to 61 euros, I had salmon and my husband had steak diane, top quality and service, recommended highly.

The entertainment at the hotel bar was very poor, awful in fact, we tried it twice and had to leave, it was embarrassing, really corny singers.

We stayed on the first floor and never had trouble sleeping though. The gym looked great and the indoor pool was lovely. I had my hair cut in the salon and even though language was a bit of a problem, it was cheap and well done, I was very pleased with it, it was a lovely, modern salon and they did it there and then.

My kids are keen soccer fans and went to the soccer school run by first choice at the colina hotel around the corner, this was great fun and the soccer coaches were excellent.

A courtesy bus is provided into Albuferia 4x a day, we only grabbed it once. The staff were very helpful and we booked a trip to Zoomarine from the hotel. This was only 69 euros including the coach, highly recommended, especially the dolphin show. Many trips could be arranged through the hotel and the staff were more than happy to help arrange them.

The beach was lovely, only ten minutes walk away, across a busy road, be careful!

Overall, we thoroghly enjoyed our holiday, only wished we had booked 2 weeks, we would stay here again, a real bargain holiday, but may try somewhere a little nearer the old town or Olhos d'Agua next year depending on prices.

To start on the good points, the rooms were very spacious and well equiped. The pool is fine but a bit remote offering paded lounges but no sun protection the parrasol stands were there but no parrasols.the pool bar played music that in my oppinion should not have been played around children due to language content.The supermarket employed staff better suited to fawlty towers,its better to go across the road to the Algafor. cheaper, open till 10 pm,The pool & bar there is far better too and its only a 3 star.The main bar is no better i waited over twenty minutes for a drink due to no clean glasses and there were only a dozen people in the place. The only way to get any resonable service is tip heavily.the entertainment is a joke!! unless your deaf and been living in a cave for a long time.what the rep described as star caberet involved a man with a toilet seat around his neck toilet roll draped from his trousers pretending to be a spaceman.i would visit this hotel again but only use it as a base.

This was the second time that we have visited this hotel but can guarentee that it will not be the last time. The hotel is far enough out of Albuferia for a quiet time but it is close enough for some fantastic night life. The hotel was spotless, as you walk in you are stunned by the marble and waterfall. The receptionists speak perfect english and are really friendly and helpful. The entertainment staff are a young couple but what a laugh they are, the kids fell in love with them and they are so patient with them. The disco that they put on for the kids is fantastic so much so we had to buy the cd of it and after the last night disco my little one cried her eyes out because she was going to miss the place.

The Balaia Plaza is a large hotel in Santa Eulaia just outside Albuferia about 20 mins walk to the "new town" area. It is some distance from the nightlife and was very quiet at night.
We stayed there at easter 04 on a 4* allocate on arrival booking so we were pleased with the accomodation when we arrived as it was clean and had plenty of room for the four of us.
The room had 5 beds and there was enough space for 5 adults, the kitchen was well equipt with fridge freezer, microwave oven, 4 ring hob, kettle and toaster.
Most of the hotel staff were (for want of a better word) crap, the nicest staff member was the cleaner.
We requested extra pillows at reception and were told that it was impossible as there was only enough for one each. The toaster had an electrical fault which we discovered the first morning, we asked about it every day we were there but never saw it again. The bar was expensive and by the time you were served half the evening had gone. The pool area was nice even though there was some building work going on in a property next door but loud music from the pool bar was very intrusive.
Taxi fares to the strip (new town) were 5 euro or 6 euro to the old town where we spent most of our time.