we stayed in coleta dorada in august 08 and reading the reviews i fee the appartments are not geting a fair deal. we had a great 2 week holliday there .we met some great people from visitors like joe and barry to the first choice staff like fran ,kierne and jenny they were irst class our two boys still talk about them . thanks for a great time.

Location was ok. Taxis are cheaper than the little train when going into the town.

Kids loved the pool and the water park. Would like to say a big thank you to Suzy the wavelength rep who did a great job of entertaining my twin boys, and also helping me with our late check out.

Also enjoyed the entertainment put on by the First Choice team GREAT JOB GUYS.

Just returned from a two week stay in Caleta Dorada. What a disappointment. Although we booked on the basis of self catering there is no allowance made within the complex for those who aren't all inclusive.

Cash could not be used - tickets needed to be purchased from reception at 1 euro 80. 1 ticket equates to one drink -8 tickets equates to lunch or dinner etc.

This system just does not work! We were made to feel like outcasts if we approached the bar for a drink without wearing an all inclusive band!

Plastic cups ran riot throughout the complex and the level of mess was embarrassing - extra cleaners were brought in at one point - surely its a simple matter for holiday makers to place their litter in the bins provided. Most of our hols were spent on the beach as we found the complex to be oppressive.

Accommodation was basic - more like 2 star, but adequate. Ripped sheets and raggy towels were the norm - however they were clean.

2 break ins when we were there. Meant that windows needed to be closed every night and with no air conditioning got a bit unbearable at times.

Hotel staff were friendly in the main, however my son was given a drink by one of his all inclusive pals and a waiter advised as we were self catering, this was not allowed. Meanwhile dozens of half drank cups were seen surrounding every surface. Again - self catering - second class!

Entertainment - as expected from First Choice entertainment team. Fair play - these guys work hard at creating a holiday mood but at times came across as very hi de hi. Trying to watch in show bar however was difficult when there was constant queues for drinks.

Astro turf pitch godsend for kids - did get the impression though that if any game was arranged by someone other than First Choice reps that it was frowned upon.

For those of you that are self catering - excellent bars and restaurants within walking distance. Special mention to Mama Mias Italian restaurant, Chinese Gardens and Blues Bar in town.

Definitely be vising Fuerteventura again - but not this complex! We can see how some people would return - for those with very young families probably offers everything you need for your hols. However as we are seasoned holiday makers, it has no comparison to previous hols we have had.

First off all I would like to say I and the family all enjoyed the holiday.

Arrival
-------
We arrived on time and the reps were very efficient and the check in went smoothly.

Apartments
----------

Our apartment was clean (maids seemed to come most days) we had no problems with cockroaches but did find the odd ant. I took ant powder and put that everywhere because I had read others had had problems.
We were in the C section right next to the main pool and entertainment bar.

+ points

Secure in this area
Very close to the bar to get drinks and food

- points

Lot of stray cats making a racket all night
A little noise until 12 from the bar area

Food
----
Breakfast 8 till 10
Lunch 1 till 3
Dinner 6 till 10 (I think)
snack were served at all other times.

I enjoyed the food for the first week but then got bored of it in the 2nd and ate out quite a bit. The lunch was basically a cut down version of the dinner. I would say the food was what I would expect of 3 star accommodation.
There was usually a meat and fish selection along with some kind of stew and a selection of salad and pasta dishes.

Staff
-----

The complex is under staffed in my opinion but the ones who are there work VERY hard.

The reps seem very helpful but we didn't really need to have anything to do with them.

Kids club
---------

My kids (5 and 7) loved the kids club and went most
days - the kids entertainers seemed very good.

Security
--------

I heard of 3 break ins in the 2 weeks I was there. There may have been more. The ones I heard about were in the B section.

This was an amazing holiday..

The food was great value for money, having 3 restaurants. The main international restaurant, mediterranean and oriental which you did have to book a day before you wanted to eat there but the food was great. During the day if you were up at the c side pool they had a selection of BBQ food, or the international restaurant had buffet style meal so enough choice for everyone.

The location of the hotel was good it was only 10 minutes walk into the main town where there were a number of shops, bars and restaurants. Also only 10 - 15 minutes walk to the beach which is also great. (But some info the sun beds are cheaper to hire if you walk right up towards a shopping centre called Atlantico being only 6 euros for 2 sunbeds and a umbrella). It is a bit of a walk walking back up to the hotel as there is a couple of hills but this helps you keep fit while your on holiday or you can get a taxi which only costs 3 euro.

Hotel staff were great, starting off in reception always happy to help and such good English you didn't need to keep asking where things were because you could understand them. The bar staff worked hard some more than others which you could see if it was there night off but overall kept the place clean and tidy.

We didn't have kids but the kids reps were always active never stopped. It was also great to see the swim kids instructor Linda, always had someone in the pool. The kids always looked happy to be in the water.

The daytime entertainment was good we never joined in with activities but announcements were made at least every hour around the pool which was good to hear people could get involved if they wanted. There were a couple of events where you would see entertainers in the water joining in with water polo or other water games. Then there was the evening entertainment don't those guys do well always smiling never did i see them not smiling whilst on stage a credit to the company. We enjoyed the Diana Ross tribute and precision but most of all we enjoyed the reps shows, especially school of rock and the Broadway show. Kieran, Jenni, Hannah and Fran were the ones that i can remember but the whole team worked so well together.. Good luck for the rest of your season your all stars.........

So if you are going to this hotel don't worry you will have a fantastic time. The kids will love it and you will have the time of your life!!!!!!!!!!!!

We booked this holiday to go self catering, however when we arrived the system in place made it more or less impossible to get bar drinks (you had to buy tickets from reception and then go and get your drink!!!).

The entertainment team were fantastic and for the kids kept them going all day and night. I would question that during the 7 days on site that two of the reps left to go home?
The 3 pools were OK, but again the kids enjoyed them. Why was the cleaning not done in the evening? Pool snacks poor, and you are lucky if the soft drinks are not flat.

The main issue is the food. The main resturant (more like a canteen) was shocking. Food awful, my son had zero choice. Canteen had a major issue with flies. My family ended up going into town to eat as the flies and food got unbearable. The resturant with air conditioning is booked up by 9am every morning, so get up early.

Resort right on flight path, so no chance of a lie in.
On the surface the resort looks good, however if you scratch this surface you end up disappointed.

we have just returned from club caletea dorada,our first room was old and smelly and in B section, we were moved straight away to C section which was a little better, however no air con and due to loads of thefts you could not keep doors or windows open.

The main restaurant was awful, food was overcooked or undercooked, thats if you could eat it before the flies landed on it. Most of the time you spent the meal time hitting the flies away. The table cloths were sticky and never changed, cleaning the tables was removing crockery and wiping crumbs on to the floor.

The apartments were divided into 3 areas a, b and c each had a pool but were very well spaced from each other. The main area was c where the entertainment was OK and the best of the pools was situated.

The pool area was filthy and never cleaned the main bar was poorly staffed and again grotty. my 2 weeks were spent drinking out of paper cola cups-even in the evening.

All there was to do was sun bathing and the tan was great, however this was whilst you sunbathed on the landing path to the airport. Planes flew over head from 0730 til 2230 every 10 Min's and you had to stop conversation whilst these went over.

The main reps were not interested in you only in making their money from your trips. Geri and Jo were rude and never helped us when we wished to move. The entertainment staff tried their hardest ,but you had to secure a table by 1900 or there were no seats left.

The kids clubs were good and my 4 yr old and 10 yr old were catered for well.
You have to get your sun bed by 0730 but dont worry the first plane of the morning is your alarm clock.

My recommendation is stay away- we have been to all inclusive before and this is just awful my holiday was hell and this was capped off on our last night when my husband chased a burglars off our balcony - we could not wait to return and have written a letter to first choice to complain.

I know you are not supposed to comment on previous reviews but I feel I really must counter some of the comments below!

The food in the restaurant was OK, if a little too many fish choices. There was a reasonable choice from children

Stayed in club Caleta Dorada 22 July - 5 August.

The complex was brilliant our ages ranged from 10 to 65 and we all had a really enjoyable and relaxing holiday. Food was good plenty of choice something for everyone not a la carte but then we did not pay for that and probably wouldn

We just came back on the 2/8/06 we had a great time after reading some of the revews.

As it was there first year of AI food could of been better, don't get put off by this because it did get better THE ROAST MEATS was excellent,beer( there own type TROPICAL) was different,accomidation on c block you could'nt ask for more, we was just almost next door to c side pool and bar,we dont no about the other blocks we didnt go in them.

C SIDE POOL,well it is clean,big,slides are fun for all,WATER POLO at 3pm was so very funny and it was provided by the first choice entertainment team, which leads me to them, well what can i say, the worked so very hard from 10am till midnight with kids stuff,quiz's,bingo, shows,and with grown ups games like musical men (WHAT I WON) with lots of women jumping on you.

The whole complex was good for all ages,kids activites was plenty and good,the quews at the bar could of been better but omar the bar manager kept it going with snacks,and the best of all was Keiran(SPROUT) and his entertainers who are First Choice own really made it for us and a few others, thanks guys at First Choice Caleta Dorada I hope you read this.