We have just arrived back from the Holiday Village... Originally we booked Self-Catering but when we arrived we upgraded to All-Inclusive... Really worth it if you have children. I like others on this site was a little bit worried before we went on holiday, as some of the reviews were a bit on the negative side. All I can say about the holiday was it was FANTASTIC don't be put off by bad reviews..Our room was cleaned and towels changed every day, the food was great a really good choice of salads,hot food, spanish cuisine, children's favs etc..The hotel staff and First Choice reps were friendly and helpful. I can't really say too much about the outdoor entertainment as we didn't really see that much of it. But overall the children were catered for and there was a different act everynight in the Piano Bar. I don't really know what people found to moan about.. Ok the Village isn't exactly in the middle of a town but it is easily accessible by bus(outside the complex) and taxis which we used, and can be ordered at the reception. I can't wait to go bac!!!k (Hopefully next year)

I was yet another that was a little worried by what some other reviews said about the hotel. However, as always I have decided that some people are never satisfied! I apologise now for the long review, but I just feel that these things need to be said.


Room:
Arrived mid-day and quickly got to our large apartment (you can't really call it a hotel room) that consisted of a sitting area with sofa beds for the kids, a bedroom that contained 2 (yes 2) double beds. Add to that a huge bathroom with twin sinks, a bath with shower, a separate shower cubicle and, for those that way inclined, a bidet. There is also a small, but adequate, kitchen for those that want to cater for themselves. On the subject of the kitchen, be aware that the First Choice brochure said the fridge would be stocked daily with soft drinks - this actually means that it will be restocked to contain 2 bottles of water, a bottle of Coke and a small cartoon of fruit juice! So if you don't drink it one day, put it in a cupboard so the fridge will be restocked anyway!


Food:
I found the food to be good, but not excellent. There was plenty of choice every day with the dinner having a theme (Indian, Spanish, Mexican, etc) most nights, though there was non-themed dishes available too for those that live off pizzas, burgers and chips. The 2 restaurants were excellent, especially the Italian. The snack bar had a wide variety of snacks available - not just the normal pizza and toasties found at most AI snack bars but salads and fruit too.


Pools:
Well, what can I say except wow! As was said by another poster, you would normally have to pay a fortune if you wanted to visit a facility like the Beach Club every day of your holiday - and all for 3 Euros per rubber ring (that's if you want any). One day we decided that we would go into every pool in the Beach Club, one after the other. We counted 9! that included a shallow pool for the kids, 2 medium depth pools (one with pirate ship), a large family pool and the wave pool. There was also 2 jacuzzi bed pools, a jacuzzi seat pool (as well as jacuzzi seats in the pool with the pirate ship) and the 'disco pool' as we called it - an artificial cave with music, lights and lasers! the wave pool had 2 water slides that you could only go on with the rented rubber rings and a couple of smaller slides for the little ones.

The main hotel also had a large family pool with a small baby pool next to it. Indoors there was the Spa. This had it's own pool, 2 jacuzzi baths, a steam room and a sauna - all free if you were AI!

The down sides to the pools - the guests! Not following the simple rules. Almost every day we were there at least one pool was closed due to parents allowing their babies into the pool without swim nappies! At least there were plenty of other pools to use and showed how seriously the staff take hygiene. the other problem was children running wild in the Spa. before 3pm it is adults only and after that children must be accompanied by an adult. unfortunately it appears many of today's children can't read and few were accompanied by adults as the wrecked the peace that a spa is supposed to provide! The otherwise excellent Spa staff failed to enforce the rules.


Kids clubs:
The usual FC batch of different clubs for the different age groups, with Wavelength being further split into 2 age groups. As usual we didn't see too much of the kids, they were too busy having fun and making friends.


Entertainment:
The evening entertainment is what you would expect from this type of FC AI holiday - 8pm mini-disco, 9 pm bingo, (sometimes at 9:30pm game-show,) 10pm main entertainment. The entertainment was OK, I have seen better but likewise seen a lot worse. The highlight was totally unexpected on the talent night for people 16 and over (I hate karaoke so was not looking forward to it). Apart from 2 really good adult singers the entertainment staff felt that we should see a couple of acts that were too young to officially take part. The best show I have seen in years was Lucy - a 14 year old girl with a voice so perfect that I guarantee you will see more of her in the future - she was superb!!!

Hotel in general:
The hotel was large but not overbearing. There were bars doted around everywhere with the quality of bar staff ranging from excellent to not overly helpful - you soon get to know who to go to! The whole hotel was kept clean all the time with an army of cleaners to be seen around the complex. The full-sized yacht inside the main block was something you don't see in many hotels, although the palm trees inside the other block could do with being replaced! Location isn't great, but there is a reasonably priced bus service which stops right outside the hotel for both directions.

Overall:
Would I go there again - a whole-hearted YES (and I don't like to visit the same place twice)! This has to be one of the best family-oriented holiday hotels I have been to. What really makes this hotel has to be the Beach Club, Spa and overall atmosphere.

This Hotel is probably more suited to All Inclusive rather than self catering .Very large spacious complex with plenty to do.Rooms were fantastic , very clean.Location wasn't the best but with so much to do didn't really bother us as a family.If you did want to visit Benalmadena or Fuengirola there was a bus stop outside ( very cheap ).Reps were very welcoming and helpful .Bar staff could have done with a few happy pills but reception staff were excellent.Entertainment was fun.Very child orientated but what more do you want on a family holiday.Tom , Darren, Monique and all the gang worked very hard and our children thought the night entertaiment was great.Day time activities and clubs were first class.Bugs bunny and Wavelength club staff were excellent.They entertained our children and were really kind and approachable, some even came to wave us off as we left as they recognised our children.A really thoughtful gesture.There was a variety of activities available and had something for everyone.In 2 action team were also great and I must heap praise on Tom Oldaker who delivered the lunchtime quiz and poolside games / sports etc , working long hours providing opportuinities for us adults as well.A very kind and polite young man , a credit to first choice.

This was our fourth year to visit holiday village in costa del sol it was amazing. Rooms were cleaned every day if you needed anything it was a phone call away they catered to our every need it was a real relaxing holiday. The kids had a great time joining in with all the activities around the pool and the beach club well it was even fun for the adults.


The food was lovely it had a great variety and the kids loved it. The themed nights were good for the variety and the restarants were amazing.

The staff were very friendly and loved the children i have no complaints atall definitly worth every penney and ill definitly be returnig this summer for more.

We have stayed at this resort once before but towards the end of the season when the entertainment was inside and the lunch was served in the main restaurant.

It is about 25 mins transfer from the airport and when you arrive at the hotel they are very quick to book you in and give you your room details.

Our room was already for us we were just waiting for the extra bed but some people had to wait an hour or so for their rooms to be ready. The rooms are very big, with 2 showers so if you have a large family it is easy to get ready in the evening. Ours was very clean, and the maid service was really good our middle son wet the bed one night and they sorted it all out the next day.

The food is ok not very hot but plenty to choose from, our children are very fussy so dont eat alot anyway just kept to the chicken nuggets and chips really. There was never a big queue for the drinks during the day or night. The only bug bare is to go to the beach club for lunch when you have 2 little ones it takes a while going over the bridge and back. They got fed up with this after a few days so we started to eat at the snack bar. The food is fine just not a great choice unless you want to pay extra as somethings are not included in the AI menu.

The pools are kept clean and are not too cold this time of year. There are signs everywhere to say little ones must wear swimming nappies. On our second to last day some little one done poo in the big main pool and it was shut down for the whole day while it was cleaned and chemicals where put in the pool. A lot of people where very annoyed.

The entertainment does get a bit boring in the end but the children love it so that is the main reason for going to a Holiday Village. We have stayed at the Lanzarote and Majorca Village and think this one is the best. The kids clubs are great and my children 13,4 and 3 all enjoyed themselves. It is a shame that some of the other holidays villages do not take 5 people to a room because getting 2 rooms is very costly and we would like to go somewhere else now. Seeing they are geared to families they do not allow for the slightly large family.

On the whole it was a good holiday would recommed the holiday. We did not go out of the complex but it would of been nice to go for a walk along the beach but it is not located near anywhere. We were told the taxis were not to bad but the bus was starting to get very packed and when you have 3 children and a buggy just could not be bothered really. Our choice.

We stayed at the Holiday Vilage for the second time at standards have certainly slipped since last year.

The cleaning standards in the room were shocking, the floor looked ok but if you walked around bare foot you would end up with black feet. We had to ask for hand towells on 5 occasions as they were never left by the cleaners and they never left enough toilet rolls for a family.

The entertainment was similar to last year except for the fact that they couldn't sing apart from Dartren who was great.

The food was good on the whole although they did put seafood/fish in a lot of dishes which did put the kids off (even tuna pizzas). Although they did love the weekly chocolate fountain.

The new wave pool is still in the construction stage and will probably be another few months before it's ready.

Overall it is a fantastic place to stay but we were spoilt after last year, I think they have got complacent in some areas.

Firstly, I am surprised at the previous poster's comments regarding cleanliness. Unfortunately my son, who has just turned 2, was very poorly whilst on holiday, with bad sickness, and a high temp. We went through so many towels in our romm, with our son being sick, and it was never a problem for our cleaner to give us fresh towels. We had 5 bath towels a day, and 2 hand towels.

There were always cleaners about in the hotel keeping it clean, and the pools were very clean. The pool was also shut for a afternoon due to a baby having a poo in there, which is frustrating, but at least they properly treat the pool.

The food was ok, it became slightly monotenus by the second week, but i think that would be the same in any AI hotel. I have read reports of people unhappy that the bacon was oily or coffee luke warm. To me those are rather poor complaints! If the bacon is too oily, don't eat it! There is plenty of choice at breakfast and evening meal. My eldest daughter is very fussy, and lived on pizza, chicken nuggets and burgers.

The entertainment was ok. The kids loved it, there is the usual dancing, bingo and then caberet. They could have done with more outside acts rather than the entertainment team. Darren's singing was ok, but only on certain songs! They do work very hard though. The bingo is worth a go, the house one night was 709 euros!

All in all, it was a good holiday, it was hard work for us with our son being ill (we went to the hotel doctor 4 times, prescriptions are delivered to the hotel too) I would go there again, but want to try other places first.

We have just returned from 2 weeks at the holiday village. when we arrived our rooms were ready (this was lunchtime). The rooms have a large bathroom, 2 large beds in the bedroom, the sofa which also changes into a bed was comfortable. a kitchen is clean, adequately stocked.

The complex is very large, clean and plenty to offer all the family, the beach club was being extended while we were there, but this was not a problem, when it is finish (which should be july) will be great. The only problem is the bridge which is a long walk especially for the elderly, very young and buggies, as you have to walk around the outside of the complex, round a walkway, over the bridge, down the otherside walkway, then round to the beach club.

If your kids are in the club its not worth going to the beach club, because of the walk back !!!

The food is reasonable good, aparently they have a 10 day food menu system, and you can see in advance the food available in the evening for the next two days, so you know they are not reusing lots of food.

The entertainment team, we amazing with our children. They made the children feel special. on our last night they came down to the irish bar to say goodbye, and lauren came and waved us all off in the morning, much to the delight of the kids. they work very hard with the shows, kids disco and games.

tHE bar staff are not very good, more interested in chatting to each other, and collecting tips in the plastic cups than serving very quickly. they will make cocktails if you ask, which are not bad!!

kIDS club reps work so hard, and will spend time chatting which is nice, and makes everyone feel welcome.

Our kids enjoyed the clubs and sometimes didnt even go in the pool till the end of the day because they were so busy, playing archery, bowls, table tennis and when they went to the pool they were raft building, canoeing, playing gladiators.

Overall a good holiday, plenty to eat and drink, nice complex and good rooms, a little bit out of the way for an evening walk,

If you are going to Aqualand in Torremolinos dont walk from the bus stop, get a taxi or go on the excursion with the hotel,its a long walk and when its hot its even worse.

Tivioli world is good fun, but if you have children just under 1.40 metres they will not get on the good rides, they kids get so upset.

If you are going have a good time, and do the bingo, its for mega bucks.

This was our third time here and again we had a wonderful time.Kids had a wonderful time and felt very safe as the complex in secure.

Had the same room as we did the year before again very clean and had new towels every day and bedding every third day. All the staff very happy and willing to help.

The hotel is a little out the way but there are always taxis stationed outside hotel and for a few euros will take ou into either town. Food was good with a different themed night every dining and the buffet lunch over the walk way is worth the stroll.

Entertainment was great as usual and Darren made our day with his entertainemtn on both a kids and an adult level with his jokes. Would highly recommend this hotel to families, once again booked for 2008.

See you soon.

I stayed at the holiday villiage in may there were 4 adults and 2 children aged 9 and 3.

The hotel is fantastic the staff are very friendly and the entertainment staff work very hard although I couldn't fault the excellent kids clubs and daytime activities I wasnt impressed with the evening entertainment. I thought it was quite boring and the entertainment staff were not the worlds best singers!

There is building work ongoing but it didn't disturb us or spoil our holiday. The weather was fantastic very hot! Our rooms were cleaned every day and the cleaners were very friendly and helpful as were the rest of the staff.

The meals were good with a varied choice to suit everybody the only thing I would say is beware of the shellfish my son ate prawns and my dad ate mussells and they were both sick the next day, also there were occasions when the restaurant floor was covered in food and nobody cleaned it up, I have the feeling that it was understaffed.

I also found it offensive that on a few occasions people were allowed into the restaurant with shorts on in the evening even though it clearly states both in the brochure and outside the restaurant that this isn't permitted.

The restaurant at the beach club which is used for lunch is excellent as are the pools especially for young children as they arent very deep althogh the water is cold.

The rooms are impressive with 2 double beds and a large bathroom and balcony, the only thing it lacked was a kettle. There is also a shop which is reasonably priced and internet access available at a reasonable charge.

This hotel definately has the wow factor and I would recommend it to anyone. I have been spoiled and next years holiday will definitely be at a holiday village.