Garden Playanatural - Adults Only

Booked this hotel as it was my birthday the day we arrived. Had a disappointing transfer with Tui left FARO 09:50 and arrived at the hotel 14:15. This was not the fault of the hotel but I was not expecting to spend most of my birthday on a bus. The hotel was very clean and spacious and the reception was very friendly on check-in. I was disappointed that despite being all-inclusive we only had a handful of fruit tea in the room which was never replenished although I did ask for coffee as I don't drink tea. Also no milk in the room. I was advised these were only given first day as a present. We had the same glasses throughout our stay and we washed them ourselves daily. The hotel was noisy at night sounded like trollies were being moved around or similar not sure if it was due to tiled floors that made it noisy. The food was lovely in the restaurant although the last week we were told the hotel was closing for the end of the season this coming Sunday you could tell as the food variety was not the same as the first week. 2 lovely large swimming pools with plenty of sun loungers, although they were freezing cold. You could swim in the indoor pool in the spa between 12-4 if you purchased a swimming cap at 3 euros each. Towels were available at 10 euros each deposit and 1 euro to change them. The spa was lovely had a facial which was very relaxing and the staff were friendly. Entertainment in the evenings started quite late The African singers were amazing and the acrobat show was good. The animation team did quizzes and Karaoke which was good fun although I thought their show was very childlike. The animation team did activities during the day like aqua dance in the pool if you were brave enough to go in, archery, bingo, table tennis and walking. The Pool bar if you were all-inclusive food was burger, hot dog or toasty. You could have 30% discount on anything or use the restaurant which we did. Drinks were included and a good choice was available. Bar staff were friendly but you were limited to two drinks at a time which was fine except when you were sat in a group. Glasses always dripped all over you not sure why. It would have been nice to have a lounge bar or somewhere else to have a drink if you didn't want to listen to the entertainment there wasn't an alternative. There was also only 1 buffet restaurant no a la carte or different restaurant. Also could have benefited for a shop for customers on bed and breakfast or half board. The hotel was bright and airy and the gardens were beautiful and very peaceful to sit in. The location was very quiet and opposite a woodland overlooking a marina. The town was a good 3km walk away and not much open to see. You could get a taxi for 15 euros if it is too far to walk. Nice walk from the hotel about 15 mins to the beach via a woodland walk and under a subway and across the road. There is a supermarket down the hill but the hill is a little steep for people with walking difficulty as some of the pavements are

We visited the hotel at the beginning of October. I’d been anxious about negative reviews but our experience was generally good. All members of staff were helpful and polite and we had no real issues. We were allocated a room at the side of the hotel with a pleasant view of the trees and the sea in the distance. We were not charged for a sea view. The hotel is very well kept and our room was clean and comfortable with a huge bed and lots of space. Food was generally good - a good selection for breakfast, lunch and dinner (we were on an AI rate). We didn’t try the pool bar for lunch as there were limited choices. Wine selection for AI was very poor. We diluted with sparkling water! Only one wine allowed of red, rose and white. No Cava in restaurant although allowed in bar or by the pool. Odd! Our pre dinner g and ts in the bar were fine. Entertainment was very hit and miss. The Soul evening was excellent but some of the offerings by the entertainment team fell short of enjoyable. Swimming pools were huge and great to swim once you got over the slight chill. Not many people used the pools for swimming! Loads of sun beds but they are not very comfortable and many need replacing. We used a cushion which helped a bit. The hotel is in a lovely setting but is very remote. We had a car so this wasn’t a problem for us - we visited the local town - El Rompido - which has a great nature walk from the car park by the lighthouse. Also recommend a trip to Ayamonte. A good value holiday and we were blessed with amazing weather.

We arrived at the hotel at around midnight on the Sunday, check in was very quick and easy and the hotel had food prepared for our arrival. One issue we had though was that we weren’t informed my TUI that the hotel was completely closing for the season at 12pm on Sunday even though our flight was at 8pm, reception didn’t seem to be aware of this, however the issue was resolved with TUI and we have to spend the day at a different hotel. The room itself was very nice, big double bed with extra pillows and duvets in the cupboard, the cleaners were outstanding, cleaned the room every single day no complaints about the room other then no milk for the coffee and tea. Me and my partner went half board, there were two places to have lunch at the hotel the pool bar and the buffet, the pool bar food is delicious and at a decent price, personally only went to the lunch buffet once as it cost 40€ but I guess it’s a 3 course all you can eat. However you are given the option to swap dinner for lunch if you want to get dinner someplace else. We don’t drink so didn’t try the beverages but we made use of the free water fountains around the hotel to fill our bottle. The breakfast and dinner at the hotel were very nice, mostly the same every day but still enjoyable. The pool area is lovely, was very quiet and plenty of empty sun beds, the pool is cold but it’s what you expect with an outdoor pool. The night time entertainment is fantastic we really enjoyed it, however a 10pm start is quite late but with dinner not starting till 8pm it was fine. Overall throughly enjoyed our stay, very relaxing and very friendly staff with clean facilities.

Overall pleasant stay, hotel is clean and spacious however photos of rooms online are misleading. The room we were given was not what was advertised and overlooked the car park so had to pay to upgrade our room. The original room given, we’d find better rooms in a Travelodge in London. Lots of sun beds available although you have to pay €25 to lay on the double beds around the pool. 2 pools, one upstairs which was shallow and one downstairs which was deep. Temperature of the pool was cold including the “hot tub”. Life guard was useless and never around. Pool bar was okay for a few drinks but very watered down. Cocktails come from a machine. Have to pay for snacks and ice cream even if you are all inclusive. Pool doesn’t open until 11. Food started off okay but then started to get the same stuff everyday, it’s meant to be themed each night but wasn’t. Food wasn’t always hot and not well sign posted so have no idea what meat you were eating. Same goes for the puddings, no allergy notices etc so if you’re allergic to nuts I would be careful. The staff did work hard in the restaurant but English is very poor so was hard to even ask for a drink of water. The “manager” of the restaurant was alway rude and shouting at his staff while he stood there pointing. You do have to remember to bring your card you get on check in so they can tick off your meals which is annoying if you forget it. Gym….no existent. Only a couple of dumbbells that go up to 10kg, a rusty elliptical that wasn’t plugged in and 2 spin bikes where the resistance doesn’t work either. Again not what was advertised on the website when booking. Very disappointing. The location of the hotel is very remote, only one supermarket about a 10 minute walk down a long hill which didn’t really have a lot anyway. Absolutely nothing else in the area unless you walk for around 40minutes or get a taxi. There is a shop located in the hotel however very limited to what you can get. Entertainment….doesnt start until 10pm at night, the South African singers were very good they set the bar quite high for our stay but after that it wasn’t very good at all. One night there was a singer who just sang in Spanish so no clue what was going on, the DJ was also the same, not good at all. Grease on the final night was terrible, weren’t even miming along in English so we didn’t watch the whole thing and just left. Overall, not very inclusive and entertaining. The indoor bar shuts at 12 and they kick you out on the dot so nowhere to get drinks after this if you needed. Again language barrier as they don’t understand very good English so quite often got the wrong drinks, also not all drinks are included in your “all inclusive”.

The hotel is very lovely and spacious with a modern design and architecture. The food and drink options are very good and they have plenty option for vegetarians also. The weather was amazing and the pools were greatly utilised. The downsides are the staff have a very limited knowledge of English so we struggled to ask for help with our room or to order a taxi for us. The location is awful, placed in the middle of nowhere and the closest thing to do would require a 40 min walk or a €50 taxi. There is a beach a 5 min walk away but in terms of actual activities or shops there is nothing nearby. The hotel is situated at the top of a long hill with absolutely nothing around it. Our room was also covered with ants crawling around the floor and we tried to complain to reception but as I say their English was limited. He said that this hasn’t been a problem before and denied us a room change and instead just sent house keeping to clean the floor.

The hotel was clean and pleasant. If you want a lively place, this is not for you. There is nothing much nearby - the next town is a nice 40 minute walk away and there are a few shops and restaurants. The staff are nice but the evening entertainment wasn’t brilliant but then, not everyone has the same taste. Brilliant group on first night - had a good dance but then it deteriorated after that. We were all inclusive and it was a bit confusing at first as there are a lot of drinks that you have to pay for but wine, cava, spirits etc are all included on the all inclusive. The food was the same as any other all inclusive hotel. Suggest you take an empty water bottle as there is no bottled water available - this is good though as it reduces the amount of plastic - there are plenty of water cooler machines around the hotel. We booked through Love Holidays who were not transparent about no transfers being included - funnily enough we met another couple who had experienced the same. The hotel was helpful and arranged a transfer from Seville airport but this cost £150. Whilst there, we found out about a local, very reliable taxi firm, who was much cheaper - try Flamingo Virtuoso - highly recommend. We had a nice relaxing time.

Nice hotel, clean and good service given but in middle of nowhere. All inclusive but you have to pay for snacks and ice creams at the pool bar and alcohol very small measures more like drinking just pop. Food is same every day and night and if fussy eater this hotel not for you. If you smoke remember to take plenty as nowhere to purchase them in the surrounding area. Have problems with mosquito bites take repellent as there was loads of them I'm covered. States you get kettle in room nope but if you ask at reception they did get me one within 10 minutes which I was impressed with. Entertainment a bit to be desired and doesn't start till 10pm. Plenty of sunloungers around the 2 pools. Aircon in my room was very poor even on top setting not that it was needed much as turned chilly at night. Tui rep on site a few times which I was shocked to see. Shop in hotel but very limited in what it sells. If you need to phone reception from your room it's 9 nowhere tells you that. They give you a band if all inclusive that actually opens your room very good idea don't need the card given.