If you want to spend your holiday:

Queueing
Eating barely warm food
Listening to teenage thugs shouting till at least 2.30 am
Dealing Reps who have heard it all before...and are not bothered
Drinking watered down, poor quality drinks (alcohol freezes here!)
Using lifts that break daily
Using a canteen to eat in!

Then go to Holiday Village World, a pleasant open prison!

Oh and "A La Carte" now means a waiter will bring you the same cold food from the canteen....

The rooms are very nice though!

Ok here we go...

The hotel itself and the rooms were absolutely fantastic, definitely the best quality I have stayed in. Our room was cleaned every day and the towels replaced. We had 4 people in our room so 2 were sleeping in the living room, however their beds were fine and didn't take up too much room, plus the maid put them away each morning where the kids had been too lazy to do it themselves!

We found the food fine, admittedly it wasn't 4* restaurant quality, but I don't expect the same from a 4* hotel restaurant as a normal restaurant, but then maybe I'm expecting too little. But we managed to find something to please every night, the range is superb. Breakfast was great a full range from continental to cooked, but I would recommend getting down by 10 at the latest as they seem to stop topping up after a while.

We went to both the Mexican and Italian restaurant and found both to be very good, but we preferred the Mexican, beware there is a lot of nacho cheese on everything though, but very delicious!

The entertainment reps do a great job of the daytime activities, although it's not advertised that well so keep your eye open, the guys in our party were particularly fond of water polo! The evening entertainment wasn't the best we've had but as the holiday went on we enjoyed it more as you know the reps taking part and therefore have built up a rapport with them. The main show put on each week (Wizard of Oz & Grease) were brilliant! Although I fear they will be somewhat lacking after the departure of Vinnie (the crazy Dutch rep - he was fantastic!). But all in all it was fine and something to tickle everyones fancy!

We didn't have a problem with what was or wasn't AI, as practically everything is, you have to pay for bags of crisps and stuff but we expect that we will have to. The range at the daytime snack bar was great, as I'm used to burger or chips and nothing else. You can get salads, wraps, burgers, hot dogs, nuggets, pizza, chips, sandwiches, toasted sandwiches, plus every day they do a special, very good!

Yes it is hard to get sunbeds but I'm sure you can work out your own solutions to that, plus the beach club doesn't open until 10 so there is never a problem there.

We didn't have a problem with noisy teenagers, they were around having fun, but it is there holiday too.

You are quite a way out of the towns but you can get the bus, or a taxi to the market in Fuengirola is only 12 euros.

Anyway, not sure quite what else to include, so hopefully this has been helpful.

I would definitely return... tomorrow!!!

The hotel is more like a complex and is very modern and spacious. There are always staff cleaning but it is a bit like painting the Forth Road Bridge and will never be 100%. Our room was cleaned every day and the maid was lovely.

The staff cleaned the pool every morning about 1 30 am but couldn't always clean the poolside in the morning because of the number of sunbeds which had been reserved with towels. Beware - the "sunbed shuffle" starts at about 6 am and there were very few beds left by 8 30 am. We used to stand on our balcony and watch people racing each other to "stake their claim" - highly amusing. The best bet is the Beach Club which doesn't open until 10 am. The pools are better there anyway and there is never a shortage of beds (apart from Sat & Sun when there are more Spanish families visiting the Beach Club).

People have complained about the food but overall there is something for everyone. The queues are worst between 7.45 - 8.45 pm so if you avoid these times you should have no problem. Given the varied ages and tastes of the people they have to cater for most people can find something to eat. While we were there you could have anything from sushi to paella, burgers to pizza and a visit to the Mexican and Italian restaurants thrown in. Breakfasts are great and a lovely man will make you an omlette on the spot if you can't be bothered with the cheese, cereals, cold meats, sausages, yoghurts, etc, etc!

The location could be better if you like a stroll in the evening, but there is bus stop (1 euro fare) and a taxi rank just outside if you want to get about. If you turn to your right when you leave the hotel there is a lovely sandy beach about 10 minutes walk away.

The majority of staff are great but given the pressure they work under and the attitude of some holidaymakers it is not surprising some of them can be a bit snappy. In saying that there are a few who should consider a change of career.

To avoid queues in the evening use the Piano Bar. The staff are friendly and you never have to queue any longer than you would at a bar at home. Maybe the drinks are not as strong as we would have at home but it was nice to be able to drink over a number of hours each night and not worry about falling over or waking up with a hangover.

The only way they can stop the queues during the day is to open another pool bar. One or 2 members of staff cannot possibly deal with the number of holidaymakers around the pool during the day. The AI bar at the Beach Club only has one member of staff but there are never too many queues here.

Although we didn't "use" the outside entertainment in the evening most people enjoyed it. Despite previous reports, Devil'ish and Devine are not too bad however they could do with changing their routine as it was the same each night; but it did give us a laugh. Sometimes the poor things were singing inside the Piano Bar with only the bar staff for an audience. Admittedly they looked good and danced well.

My children thoroughly enjoyed their holiday and this meant my husband and I enjoyed our holiday. We would probably return at some point to the Holiday Village as the concept is great but I would urge the hotel group to employ more staff. If we go again it would be earlier in the season as the last couple of days of our holiday were a bit spoilt as the whole place seemed to get even busier and really loud and the staff seemed more overworked.

If you want a chill-out holiday doing nothing for a week apart from lounging about eating and drinking this is the place to go.

Food was good but got boring after a while. It must be hard if you go for 2 weeks. Omelette's at breakfast were good.

Enjoyed the beach club most which now includes all inclusive drinks. My daughter enjoyed scuba diving and stagecoach.

Ripoff Alert:

Beware that if you leave late in the day that your inclusive stops at midday (even if you have paid for a late check-out). So if you are leaving at 9pm you will have to pay for lunch and dinner (it costs 34 euros per person to extend your all-inclusive for 12 hours)!
We left at 5.30pm so we only had to buy one meal.

Top Tip:

We managed to keep a swipe card and still got free drinks all afternoon in the beach club (if they recognise you they sometimes don't bother swiping your card).

Problem:

We had a 20 Euro note stolen from our room. We complained to the rep and they discovered that it could have only been the maid. Despite this they did absolutely nothing about this apart from fobbing us off. We will be sending a strong letter to First choice about this.

Despite this we would probably go back, but not for a while.

Bright, brash and very British. In our group was myself, my husband and my 2 daughters. I do not want to sound negative, but really if you want to have a pleasant holiday this is not the place. There is nothing pleasant or charming here.

The behaviour of some of the other guests only belongs in the "yob culture" category. We witnessed things that I would rather my daughter had not seen. Drunken adults and teenagers, aggression and bad language too. The Spanish staff, who were very stretched to cover their duties, had, in my opinion, given up trying to be nice to the guests. Their attitude was cool to say the least.

The entertainment was 3rd rate and monotonous. While we were there, there was a noisy demonstration by local residents who obviously were fed up with the intrusion this complex has made into their lives. They handed out flyers to explain why they were upset with the hotel. I managed to pick one up.

The arrogance of the hotel management seems to have caused a lot of bad feeling, and the outdoor stage creates noise pollution in the area. The management need to get these problems sorted quickly if they are to survive another season next year.

Of course I could not recommend this hotel or revisit myself.

All I can say is that it was like Butlins on the Costa del Sol.

Tannoy announcements from the Entertainment team at mealtimes which just reminded me of 'Hello Campers'! Definitely not worth the 4 star rating.

Had to queue to enter the restaurant morning, noon & evening, and had to wait for a waiter to take your drinks order,sometimes 15-20 mins. You were lucky to get just one cup of coffee at breakfast or one drink with any meal. Not good value for money at all.

All British guests; loads of teenagers singing & shouting until 4am. Where were their parents?

Pool activities seemed OK for kids but should have been split into age groups as they were all hijacked by teenagers, who obviously did not want to include 9 year olds in their fun.

Hotel rooms spacious & clean; pool great but very few umbrellas. Have to pay 25 Euros for an extra parasol, but be warned, they are not available at the beach club.

Health Club & Spa was fantastic & usually very quiet.
The hotel could be very nice but Management need to decide if it's to be AI or not & should be downgraded to 2/3 star.

Have to pay for safety deposit box & TV remote control in your room- usually extras in a little 2 star pension -NOT what you would expect of a 4 star hotel.

I know it seems very negative but I was most disappointed with the holiday.

Hi all, visited the HV last August was absolutely brill loved basically every factor of it. I am 18 and have a brother who is same age range for us it was perfect free booze and no more than a bus journey away from Benalmadena's 24 hour square and Fuengirola lively nightlife.

For our parents who also thought it was great.

Loved the food compared to many of the AI resorts we've stopped in before, it was head and shoulders above.

I also have a younger brother nine, who coudn't get enough of the kids entertainment programme and loved every minute of the holiday.

In the day you can lounge around by the pool then around 5 o'clock we played football basically every day which was great fun, night time we would stay at the hotel watching the entertainment every night till about 11'ish then venturing out.

Rooms are great, clean, spacious and air conditioning is great!

We made a few friends there as well which made the holiday even more fun and a great laugh.

Over all I would say the HV is one of the best hotels I and my family has visited, this is why we are flying out to the HV again on the 17th September next month all AI for 14 days can't wait I'm sure all who go will enjoy!!!!!!!!!

(Would say they could do more with the Irish bars tho seemed empty whenever we were there they could do so much more with it)

Overall we had a good holiday, the hotel is nice, but not very clean. The maids only seemed to make the beds (not always the sofa beds) and replace towels. The balcony was never cleaned and your feet were always black once you ventured onto it. In my 2 week stay I never saw the pool being cleaned and there were always plastic cups floating in it.
The hotel is not near any shops or restaurants either.
The enterainment was excellent for the children both day and night. The bingo was excellent for the adults and the full house prize`was usually around

What can I say loads of neg feedback on the hotel from other people did you make any effort?

Firstly hotel reception on arrival very quick very polite always willing to help.

Room very clean and spacious and ready straight away. Only downside to room don't think our maid cleaned balcony or outside table once.

We managed to get to dining room late first evening although not great choice left still had hot meal. All in all restaurants excellent never had a night when there was nothing nice to eat.

We always try and speak a little Spanish when we can this I feel lightens the mood if only the staff are laughing at our mispronunciations.

All the bars are good but queueing can sometimes be a problem again very willing to help.

Pools very good and at most deepest point only 5ft or so.
Beach club all pools very good lots for kids to do but beware some of the top pools are freezing. Also the meals are not AI.

NB Going home day we booked the room until 6pm as late flight this includes all AI meals and drinks if not lose them at noon so worth doing if later flight.

To finish well worth money excellent holiday had by all.

First time All Inclusive so was a bit worried about quality of food, service etc... No need though, the food in all the restaurants was very good, the service was great, the queues were minimal. I timed the queues on our first night, so bearing in mind this is peak season at a "free" bar at 20:30. I joined the queue with 5 people ahead of me and was served within 3 minutes. The next day the snack bar by the pool, 5 people ahead of me, time 13:30, it took 4 minutes.

As far as a lot of the reviews saying the staff needing to go on a smiling / customer service course.... was they polite and smiling at the staff?? probably not, out of the whole staff, I can think of 1 person who didn't really smile. The rest were always friendly and helpful.

The only downside about the hotel is where it is, no "decent" beach within walking distance. We walked down to the gritty sandy beach in about 10 minutes.
To walk from the beach club to our room and back to the beach club took 14 minutes, and about 8 to the hotel, thats there and back. The bar at the top of the beach club is A.I. for drinks.

The hotel are really hot on people not reserving sunbeds with towels, we got caught out, we went down to breakfast at about 8, put towels on 3 beds, went back out to them at about 8:30 and they were gone.

Word of warning... if you get approached by anybody with scratch cards, just walk away!!!!!