We were apprehensive about our holiday due to the letter we received advising that the beach club was not ready. We have two children (6 and 19mnth) and were worried about keeping them entertained. We had also been put off by some of the previous reports on this site - but we need not have worried.

The hotel is lovely. Everything is very clean and they work constantly to keep it that way. You fall over cleaners first thing in a morning until late at night.

We had a one bedroomed room on an all inclusive basis. The room was large and comfortable with plenty of places to put things. The bathroom was great with a shower over the bath and a large seperate shower cubicle. You could run a bath in minutes and no matter what time of day the water was always hot! The kitchen was small and only had the basic of equipment you might have struggled if you were trying to make a meal for a family. I would not stay at this hotel on a self catering basis as the shop is very poorly stocked and expensive. A large tin of heinz spaghetti was

I stayed here in May, and was one of the first visitors in it's opening week.
I rated the hotel it was brilliant, the rooms were georgeous, the pool area was very impressive, food good.
Location - i would recommend getting a car for a few days, but i am definately going back and would recommend it to anybody.

We arrived at our destination having prepared ourselves for the worst (with regard to the reviews on this site and the fact that the beach club was closed). How pleasantly surprised we were! The staff at reception were very helpful and friendly (although I was able to speak to them in Spanish as their English was not that good!).

The hotel itself was magnificent - an earlier report said it resembled an airport - never quite seen an airport like this before although it is a contemporary design. When we went to our room we were indeed grinning like Cheshire cats. The standard of accomodation was superior and I have never in all my years of visiting hotels abroard seen a balcony the size of this (which is standard).

The brochure desription of accommodation is accurate and it was sheer luxury - the size of the bathroom and clever design (including a walk in shower and one over the bath) was great for a family!

The rooms were cleaned daily and the maids helpful and friendly. We were all inclusive which was great but I would not like to come here self catering as the prices in the shop were inflated beyond imagination and the choice was very poor!

The food was excellent although it was a bit of pot luck as to what you were actually eating as it was not properly labelled.

The first week of our stay was relatively quiet and the pool very still busy. The second week was much more busy and you had to be up very early to secure your sunbeds (especially if you want to be near to the toddler's pool to keep a watchful eye).

Our room was situated overlooking the pool area and apart from first thing in the morning (between 8pm and 9pm) there was no apparent noise disruption from the beach club site. We did not experience any dust from the site either.

The entertainment provided for the children was excellent for all ages (8 and 4). During the second week more adult entertainment during the day was being provided by the reps.

The service at the pool bar was quite slow as there were only two serving during the first week although this did improve during the second week as they increased this to four.

The first choice staff were excellent, very helpful and friendly and went out of their way to provide information and deal with problems (we lost our camcorder!).

My parents came with us on this holiday and they are both pensioners. They thoroughly enjoyed their stay and intend to return next year.

The only negative comment I could make was the location. To walk to the nearest towns would take approximately 1 hour and therefore you had to get the courtesy bus to Fuengirola or the local bus (which stops down the road from the hotel) to Benalmedna. There is a beach about a 15 minute walk down the road although there is no pavement for approximately 10 minutes of this walk and this could prove very hazardous!

All in all however, we all thoroughly enjoyed our stay at the Holiday Village and would definately return when the beach club is finished as it looks as though it will be fantastic!

The hotel was clean and well maintained. On arrival at 11.30 our room wasn't ready and had to wait til 1400 for our room which wasn't fun with 2 kids who had been up since 0330. This was soon forgotten and it was better at the other end to have a check out time of 1200.
Food was of a good standard and plenty of variety, food labelling had just started which helped with selecting meals.
Restauarant was definatley of 4 star standard.
The location of the hotel itself wasn't brilliant if you were self catering, but if you are all inclusive it is fine as you don't need to travel out of the hotel. Complementary buses are provided to the local town.

The first choice kids reps were excellent expecially Emma, my kids absolutlely loved the mini disco including the repeatition that is what kids like. Thekids clubs were frequent and varied, the creche facilities were also good.

Life Guards were on duty by the pool and in the two weeks we were there, they went in three times to rescue kids. They look like they are chatting all day, however they are very alert.

The evening entertainment was quite informal and we enjoyed it as you could see how much effort the first choice reps put in.
The resident band were average and the girl had such an attitude, I would be suprised if they are still there when we return in September.

We had an excellent holiday and we didn't want to leave, we will return again we have booked for September this year and June next year.

If you are booking on the first choice web site, take a look at eclipse direct web site first often two hundred pound cheaper.

We stayed here 2 nights on a travel agents preview. The pool area is lovely, everything is brand new, yes there is a little bit of tidying up to do OUTSIDE by the builders/landscapers, but the rooms, interior public areas, and particularly the pool, are all lovely. Apts have Sat. TV, toaster, kettle, microwave, shower cubicle + bath/shower head and plenty of wardrobe space. Balconies are also of a good size, furnished with table and 4 chairs. Security is assuring, CCTV everywhere. Marble floors very shiney, and easy to slip on. The staff were very good, even though 250 travel agents landed in on them simultaneously, expecting to be checked in, showered, fed, watered and entertained. Hats off to the staff as they coped very well ! Food was excellent too, great selection on a well presented buffet. Minor teething troubles showed at breakfast, eg. toaster was on one side of the restaurant, butter hidden amongst the other!.
The beach club (across the road) is not complete, supposed to open 21 May, (very optimistic)i reckon maybe late June/July,
The main complex is very impressive and self contained in its own right even without the addition of the beach club. Beach club is being built across the road and below the main complex adjacent to the beach. Dont worry about building work noise etc as it is sufficiently distant to the main pool area and does not intrude to the complex.
I took some fotos and have put them on http://www.rosettatravel.com/firstchoicehv.htm

Fantastic.That just about sums up our 2 weeks here at the Holiday Village.The hotel is very clean,and although there are some ongoing repairs,these didn't affect anyone at all.
Standards in the restaurants must have improved greatly from earlier reports,as the food was very good. Clearly labelled,hot and well presented. The Mexican an the Italian were also very good, and made a pleasant change from the regular visits to the La Perla restaurant.
The location isn't great, but busses run regularly to Fuengarola and Benalmadena, and apparently there are plans to have a stop for the train at the Hotel for next year, so trips to Malaga, Fuengarola, Benalmadena, Marbella etc will be much easier. Our room was right beside the railway, and didn't bother us at all. It's only a slow train, 3 carriages long, and quite quiet. Also the road between the hotel and the beach club is far from being a busy motorway.
I can't add much to previous reports about the beach club, the kids love it, and there is a new pool being introduced next year.
The hotel staff were friendly and helpfull, and the bar staff were very efficient.
The First Choice reps were top class. From the resort reps to the kids reps, the entertainments team, they all worked tirelessly to make the holiday as good as possible.
Just one point of warning. If you're over about 5'9", mind your head on the straw sun shades, as the straw is quite stiff and can leave a nasty scratch on your head.
This is one hotel I would love to visit again. Many thanks to First Choice. Your doing a great job.