We booked the apartment through Thomsons over the internet.

I can honestly say that I'll never trust photos again nor Thomsons' ratings. In my opinion the Festamar apartments should be given a 2 star rating and should definately not be described as a 'family' complex. The apartments were very basic and need of a thorough clean and maintenance.

The first apartment we were in (we asked to be moved) was disgusting with green limescale on the taps. It overlooked a street with another set of of run-down apartments on the far side of the street. A depressing view and extremely noisy with motor bikes and a games room a couple of doors down.

The second apartment overlooked the pool but was above Dinos. Loud music until 12 midnight and then continuing noise until 1/1.30am. Cleaners visited twice in 2 weeks and did a very quick sweep and mop of the floor - not what I would call a proper clean. The second bedroom had a window which when opened was a hazard as it didn't fit the wall which it should opened back onto and instead it would swing half open, it's metal frame awaiting a small victim's head or eye!

The pool area could do with a complete uplift to make it even a little attractive. A few small palm trees are all it is graced with. The rules at the pool were ignored by a number of families and hotel staff didn't seem to enforce them, glass and bottles of beer were consumed by the poolside.

Shouting, swearing and basically no consideration for other people seemed to be the order of the day. We avoided the apartment and the pool as we found it depressing, noisy, and an unfriendly environment for children.

First time at Festamar it was wonderful the family who I went with ('Annabel' Tracy, Gaynor, Antonia and Conner) had been before and all year was telling me how amazing their holiday was before.

We arrived late at night first impressions basic on outside but lovely inside it was very clean.

We ate out in Dinos most nights and it was lovely didn't have a meal I disliked.

During the day it was a lovely walk to the beach and shops and it was pretty tidy!

The staff were amazing so kind and funny, it was a good laugh.

Every night there was entertainment with Roy!! Bingo, kareoke, quiz nights, games, music, party games for the children bbq night its great rally enjoyed it.

I would most certainly come back see you next year!

The Festamar Apartments are clean (communal areas cleaned daily and rooms once a week)and there's plenty of room for luggage and clothes! Dino's restaurant by the pool is very cheap, although we chose not to eat there much as we can get egg, chips and sausage at home!!

There are plenty of restaurants in L'Estartit serving English style food if that's what you want and also those serving Tapas and meals for the more gastronomically adventurous!

We didn't stay around for much of the evening entertainment but it looked fairly average - much the same as that offered by English holiday parks in Cornwall etc! Loads of people seemed to be enjoying it.

The reps were friendly and helpful and so were the reception and bar staff. The staff are really happy to help you with your Spanish but equally willing to speak English.

The only real drawbacks were these: our apartment faced onto the street which gave us a great view of the beach and all the buzz of the streetlife but also kept us awake most of the night! Still, it's all part of the holiday really, isn't it? Our kids (13 and 9) just slept through the dustcarts emptying the bins at 3am and the rowdy revellers (of all nationalities) making their way home.

Being far more easily disturbed, we didn't! Also, the pool is a bit too cold for comfort, unfortunately. Ok if you're literally going in for a few lengths but not if you are going to be bobbing around watching the kids do handstands etc. Brr!

There's a really cheap supermarket over the road from the apartments and everything in L'Estartit is reasonably priced, we thought.

I booked this via the internet for a cheap last minute family deal and i can 100% say i wasnt disapointed.

I went with my boyfriend, his gran and his 2 year old neice and we had a lovely time. The weather (although a little overcast) was brilliant, the resort had some lovely little restaurants (that didnt serve chips!!) and we sorted our own entertainment in the evenings away from the apartments.

Many reviews on this site slate the entertainment, the hotel, the early morning noise - which most holiday destinations are going to have and to be quite honest if they are after a five star experience then they should book it.

This holiday as the ad says does exactly what it says on the tin. Its 2-3 star, meaning its basic clean, basic fixtures and fittings and situated in the resort. It also had the added bonus of being right on the beach which was lovely - a bit packed at certain areas but what beaches arent at high season in the summer.

The entertainment and food in the on site restaurant were pretty much the same - bog standard and nothing out of the ordinary.

If like us you only use the apartments as somewhere to store your stuff and sleep (and we had a 2 year old who slept soundly through any noise there was) then there is nothing wrong with the Festamar or Estartit.

If however, you are looking for more (ie a hotel/apartment that you want to spend all your time in) then its probably not for you and you should maybe widen your holiday budget.

Hotel very basic, (you get what you pay for). Rooms could really do with some air conditioning. Could also do with a really good clean and a touch of updating/maintenance.

Although hotel wasn't too bad, don't think I would ever go again even if it meant the difference between no holiday and a holiday. It is just too noisy, people coming in really late and slamming doors, dragging chairs etc. over the floor, sounding like a heard of elephants, this would go on to the early hours (this is the main thing that spoilt it for me).

Bedding was changed twice in two weeks, but you have to make your own beds.

My 9 year old son loved it, he made so many friends (he had no trouble sleeping through the noise). Some families had no consideration for others, swearing and using bad language, not the kind of thing you would like your children to listen to. There was notices all over stating no glass in the pool area but some families had glasses and bottles of beer and no staff member ever queried it, this was not very good as lots of children about who were bare foot and if glass was broken, do I need to say anymore.

Entertainment was exactly the same every night, Karaoke, we went out most nights, plenty to do in resort and lots of bars and restaurants to go to. Barracuda Bar, right next door to Festamar was brilliant, food great and very cheap, we ate there quite a lot, also Brannigans opposite Dinos Bar, very cheap and tasty.

I could definitely go back to Estartit but not Festamar.

Daytime activities were planned every day at hotel but these never materialised as they were cancelled for one reason or another, you were never informed of this you just realised when you were sat at meeting place and no one turned up so you went to enquire.

Thompson Reps were ok. Went on the Barcelona trip, what can I say BRILLIANT, magic fountains, out of this world. Stadium, didn't do anything for me but husband and son loved it. The whole day was a dream. Went to waterpark, loved that also. I would definitely recommend these two trips.

Festamar, didn't do it for me.

Third time at the Festamar, great holiday as always, you get exactly what you pay for. Brilliant, friendly staff, especially DJ ROY who makes it a holiday to remember :-)

The Festamar Apartments is an excellent base, basic but perfectly adequate.

An excellent holiday choice if your family is older and boisterous! not for anyone wanting a quiet retreat.

I stayed in the Festmar apartments.

We arrived in the early hours of the morning first impression of the hotel was it looked really nice and it was it was clean. All round the hotel the rooms are basic but you get what you pay for and as I was on holiday I wasnt planning to stay in my room all day, so it didnt matter what the room was like.

The rep's were very friendly so was the staff Dino's bar has some cheap and very good meals the gammon was really nice. At night the entertainment was a bit weak so we didnt stay in the bar at night. We went elsewhere it was noisy at night. The walls must be very thin because you can hear everything but other than that I would go back next year.

It was brilliant, the pool was smaller than I thought it would be but it was clean and safe apart from people not reading warning signs about taking glasses around the pool - that should be stopped.

Hotel was basic but clean, sheets changed twice in 2 weeks.

Food at Dinos simple but cheap and nice. Beach 2 minutes from apartments. Staff very pleasant apart from one.

Entertainment more or less same as holiday camp entertainment at home,ok for small children but not for mine (15 and 16 years).

Pool is cold and everyone has lilos and boats in there so cant swim even if you wanted to. Also there are'nt any brollies so if its really hot theres no shade. The only good thing was they didnt unlock the door to the pool till 9am so didnt have to get up at crack of dawn to get sunbed.

Theres no entertainment during day every holiday weve been on had water polo archery darts shooting football etc. If it rains get the cards out.

I would not visit this hotel again not because I didn't like hotel but because the resort was so boring.

We went with my sister and her family in September 2005, we arrived early hours of the morning, no beds were made but I was ready for this as reports on this site had pre warned me!

The pool was OK for the kids apart from the older kids hogging the kids section.

The Kids Club was great all 3 of our kids and 1 of my sisters kids went everyday to the club and enjoyed themselves that much that we paid for them to go to the evening sessions - however it was a good job that they enjoyed it as there was nothing else for them to do!! we went on the little train nearly everyday as the kids got bored with walking everywhere,the reps were all great esp sam, laurie.

We ate in Dinos once and didn't think much at all, we spent most of our time at branigans and bryliz, we had a budget to stick too but with not much to do at the hotel or for that matter the resort itself we found ourselves paying for trips out which took ages to get too and the kids got easily bored.

We went to the aquadiver which was absolute rubish we spent all day looking at our watches and willed the bus to come to take us back, and marineland which was a bit better but not much.

We spent over

The apartments were very basic however clean! We ate at dinos a few times and really enjoyed the food served!

Brannigans and Bryliz were a big favourite, Bryliz being a home from home even show the soaps! The location of the hotel was ok near to the beach and not too far a walk from the main shopping street!

The hotel staff were excellent, really made you feel welcome, the rep Katey was always around and was very approachable! Our 2 children loved going to kidzone and hardley ever missed a club their favourite reps were Sam & Angela, the kids loved the mini disco!

Again always around the hotel complex and made a great effort with all guests, a real credit to Thomsons! Roy the DJ was alright good singer!

Would definatly go back to the Festamar.