Having read some of the reviews on this hotel on the www before going we were a bit apprehensive about the quality of the food. As it turns out the food was pretty much OK, we had plenty of choice, so it looks as though some improvement has been taking place. While the cleanliness of the hotel, quality of the service and friendliness of the staff was excellent (5 stars!) it is a shame that there were so few of them. The hotel appears to be severely understaffed (coming into the busy season). Often there was only 1 receptionist on in the mornings, pool towels were often late arriving (we had the same towels for 3 days!). There appeared to be a shortage of crockery as the tables in the restaurant were always set for 2 or 3 people so we often had to make up the places ourselves (we were not the only ones either judging by the number of people wandering around looking for cups, forks etc!), both at breakfast and dinner. Considering the hotel was full of families with 4 or more people we found this rather bizarre. No room service either for food and you had to place an order for 6 items before they would bring drinks up to the room.

Above all however the noise (level of music) around the pool was far too loud. Aqua aerobics needed the music we were told, fine but there were only 2 people taking part for 30mins and they were 5m away from the speakers not 500m! The music was often on from 10.30am-12.45pm and from 4pm-6.30pm. Everyone around the pool was subjected to the noise, the idea of having activities is that you have the option to take part, unfortunately at Elba Sara you had no choice but to 'take part'! Saying that the level was turned down after about 5 days, (due to the number of complaints they were getting no doubt). Four times a day we were subjected to the 'bellisimmo fantastico song'...If I hear it once more I'll go nuts!! It is certainly more of a 'very young' family orientated hotel than 'older family', couples/R&R.

Location wise, lots of building work going on both outside and by the pool (though this looks near to completion). The hotel is on the flight path (15 mins from airport) so planes flying fairly low overhead, but not too many. 4 star rating? mmm not quite there yet. Would we return? The friendliness of the staff would certainly entice me back, but only if there are more of them and they turn the music down! (there is no 'maybe' button at the side of this review)

The hotel overall was very an impressive site, clean and modern, but let down by the following:

The only time you got hot food was when it was actually cooked there in front of you. You had to queue to get meat and fish grilled especially for you. You were asked what you wanted and how many pieces. This wasn't a very good idea due to the amount of people in the hotel. They should have just put a whole lot on the grill, or even better cook them and put them on HOT plates.

As per other reports I have on this site, the tables were mainly only set for 2, but 4 if you were lucky. Every morning and evening we had to grab another set of crockery from another table. The waiters noticed us doing this everytime so you would have thought they would have changed this, but no.

At the El Tucan restaurant there was only ever one person serving at a time, and they could not speak much English. The same at reception-either only one on, or the person I managed to speak to didn't deal with what I wanted. Very under staffed

One lady had to come down to reception early one evening to say she had no towels or toilet paper, reception told her they would be about an hour, until she demanded to see the manager.

Entertainment team very good, always things going on. I never got tired of the Belissimo/Fantastico song, and once heard, I would be singing it all day.

Building work was going on but I didn't notice after a very short time. Having said all this, I would again.

Location ideal, 10 minute walk to Caletta using promenade. Excellent Commercial centre next to hotel with lots of lovely shops incl a Spar selling everything required (incl cheaper fags and booze than airport/plane. Alot of construction going on but fasinating to watch them create new beach coves.
The hotel on the whole very clean only the pool side toilet let it down as not checked during the day.Fantastic swim pools - the kids loved the mushroom in small pool, loads of sunbeds - no reserving was allowed. Very secure, great beach v. safe for little ones.Reception staff really helpful recomended Dunes at Correljo (well worth a visit)and so is the zoo. Entertainment staff excellent really motivational esp the mini club brilliant for 5-10y.o.kids loved their evening disco and archery.Music loud by bar but were plenty of quieter areas. Evening great variety of entertainment though weighted towards the Italian clientale but Mary Poppins was brilliant in Italian and we sang the English version with the Italian one - fantastic night.
The food had alot of slating but we found the variety excellent with a huge range of hot food, salads, pasta, deserts.The Spanish dishes were excellent and the chefs were all friendly and helpful. Yes the place settings were a little limited but the waitors always brought exta settings when you were seated. House red extremely drinkable.
Enjoy, relax go with the flow - you're on holiday!

We stayed at the Elba Sarah some time ago on two separate occasions. The second occasion was because we were too lazy to look around and the first because we didn't know any better. It is very clean and some of the staff were very helpful, but not all.

Food was abysmal. I mean really cheap and nasty. Lovely restaurant but with the food being absolutely diabolical it was a bit like Hamlet without the Prince. We went for the buffet on two occasions and only had the dessert. The pool bar does some food in the day but you get eaten alive by flies when you try to eat anything. There are a variety of restaurants next door in the shopping centre but none of them are much cop. The Chinese is almost permanently empty which speaks volumes. The beach area is ok but can be very smelly. In fact there is a sewerage vent tower between the Elba Sarah and the shopping Centre for the hotel sewer and the smell can be quite sickening. Apparently all the sewerage from Caleta De Fuste is pumped straight out into the sea about half a mile and the tide brings it back in straight away on the next tide.

Although the rooms in Elba Sarah have air con, The air con in our room did not work and because all the corridors are lit by windows and can be very long- they are very hot indeed. So if you are going to carry a bag from your car to your room try to find a way in that does not involve your walking perhaps 200 metres in 100 degree dead heat. Every time you go to and from your room you will need a shower.

The gym is NOT well equipped and whoever said it was is not used to much. Allied to that is the fact that some of the equipment is positively dangerous, Looks good but will kill you... if you know what I mean. There is no ventilation in the gym and it is almost always 100 degrees plus. If you do decide to work out you better bring a vapona or you will get eaten alive by flies.

If you rent a car you may find it difficult to park in front of the hotel. There is parking available at the side and round the back adjacent to the shopping centre but you run the risk of being broken into... another sad story I dont want to go into here.

If you are intent on staying there, we recommend you pay in cash and dont forget to haggle. They will ask you for 40 euros per night per room but you will get it for 28 midweek and 35 at weekends, locals get it for less. If you pay by credit card you will find that you are billed the full whack PER PERSON and not per room and they dont want to know about come - back ...believe me we tried.

I couldn't find any fault with the room - excellent size and facilities. Food was extremely nice but it could have been a bit more varied throughout the week. The restaurant staff were extremely pleasant and friendly. The hotel was just off the main town so you have to walk 20-30mins or so to the main resort but as we like walking we were ok with that. Excellent size pool with adequate amount of sunbeds. The hotel gardens were kept magnificently - the best hotel gardens I have seen for up to five star hotels. The grounds of the hotel were very secure. Night entertainment was quite weak but day entertainment was adequate. I would certainly reccommend it to friends and family.

A lovely hotel. Everything about the place is really nice.
The grounds & public areas are impressive.
The rooms are large,all seem to have sea views.
TV in room = SKY & BBC news
Bar staff v fiendly . Guinness cheaper here than in most bars !
The resteraunt served the best food we ate on Fuerteventura, but there is room for improvement. The veg was never hot. However they were trying - you could have 4 different pastas with 6 sauces cooked as you waited. One chef cooked the main meat dishes another the fish to your instructions. Similarly at breakfast one cooked the bacon the other the eggs to your liking. They even had English style sausage.

We staying at the Elba Sara when it was very new, yes there were a few teething problems with the Restaurant staffing (maybe they should have 2 sittings) but it was no big deal. The rooms especially were excellent and the bathrooms very smart. Pool area very spacious and attractive and we enjoyed our walks into Caleta along the promenade.

Overall we absolutely loved it and would go back tomorrow!!