Evenia Zoraida Garden

We visited Evenia Zoradia Garden from 8th-15th September and were very pleased with our stay. It was our first time taking our 10.5 month old daughter abroad and can say we had no issues. The pools were lovely, we really liked the kids pool as it had some shallower areas for our daughter to sit and splash. There was plenty of space for loungers, whether you wanted to be by the pools or a bit further away on a grass area. We were particularly impressed with the drinks included and the branded ice creams which you could get from a number of locations around the pools and hotel. The food in the main buffet restaurant was nice - Maybe not the best we’ve ever had at an all inclusive but certainly not disappointing. There was plenty of choice and loved the fresh pancakes for breakfast and crepes for lunch and dinner. RE: COMING TO THE HOTEL WITH A CHILD: There wasn’t a cot in the room upon arrival but there was one put in our room shortly after a trip down to reception to request one. There wasn’t a kettle in the bedroom for making formula, so either bring a travel kettle or bring a hot flask, which they were more than happy to fill up for us at the bar. Overall, a really enjoyable stay. We loved the promenade along the beach which goes for miles in both directions, which was perfect for daily strolls to get our daughter to nap in her pram.

We visited here in Aug as a family of 6 and truthfully were a little concerned after reading the reviews. Firstly yes there are lots of Spanish, however, please remember you are in Spain?! We did not find the Spanish guests rude or pushy, in fact I’ve seen worst behaved British. The pools are lovely although the water park is very busy! Lifeguards are very good and plenty of sun beds. The food was repetitive but there was always something to eat. Plenty of salads, soup, hot and cold. Drinks and ice creams are branded and good quality with crisps, milkshakes, slushes and crisps part of the AI. Rooms are spotless and cleaned with clean towels every day - this cannot be faulted. The location is a little sparse, a few shops opposite and a supermarket but not much if you like a wander and a drink in a local bar. All in all a lovely hotel!

We were worried after reading recent reviews, but luckily we found them to be over exaggerated in the end. We spent 1 week at the hotel and had a great time. Positives = great kids pool and slides for younger children, good size main pool with lots of aqua Zumba and water polo games. Lots of bars so easy to get drinks and water machines dotted around. Free branded ice cream in all the snack areas. The bedrooms were slightly on the small size but big comfy beds and the room was very clean, with housekeeping coming everyday if you wanted. Good evening entertainment, always a mini disco for kids and right on the beach if you want to go for an evening stroll. Negatives = if you want to get a sunbed near the pool you have to get up at stupid o clock as they allow people to reserve sunbeds between 7am and 8pm. That being said, you could always find beds during the day if you needed them, just not with lots of shade/right by pool. Food was overall good but the snack bars during the day were quite basic and not always the best selection. Meals in the regular restaurant were always varied and tasty though. Overall a great hotel if you have younger kids and I found the staff to be friendly and had no problems with rude Spanish families etc. you can’t go to Spain and be upset that Spanish people are there ….. we would go back again :)

I booked this holiday on the strength of the reviews last year and was fairly horrified to see the negative reviews from this season. I was worried to the extent that I called Jet2 and asked what to do if the holiday turned out as badly as these recent reviews implied. I write this review only 3 days into our holiday but I felt compelled to write this to reassure any other worried holiday makers who are preparing to come to this resort: Food: The food is fine. It’s what you’d expect at a 3/4 star resort buffet. Absolutely fine. You’d expect more at a “4 star” quality restaurant, but this is a buffet. People complaining that the breakfast buffet is the same every day are being crazy. There is EVERY option available for brekkie, from fried eggs to freshly made crepes. I don’t know what other food types these guests were looking for. There’s always something to eat. The chicken burgers at El Olio are really nice. Don’t get the nuggets. They’re horrible. Lunch/snack buffet at every restaurant available even on a blue wristband. I had fresh crevettes and salad today. For supper there’s heaps to choose from. It’s certainly not all fried. There’s a fresh grill on every day. Dinner starts at 7:30, which is later than I’d usually serve evening meal for my kids, but we just give them snacks to tide them over. I saw a queue for breakfast this morning at around 9:30. We go down for brekkie at 7:30 and there are no queues at that time. Summary: the food is fine, bordering on good. Class system: You can pay more for an orange wristband. It’ll mean you can eat in the themed restaurants. You’re treated no differently. The staff have been completely lovely to my family and me. We’re trying our best with Spanish and I imagine that helps. Noise: I asked for a quiet aspect room before we arrived. Sea and pool view rooms can be noisy until after midnight apparently, but I’ve been told be fellow guests that you can only hear the noise if you open the balcony doors. Mess: It’s not messy or dirty. They were hoovering the astroturf this morning. Room size: The rooms are TINY. Our suitcases are out on the balcony. We declined a travel cot and brought with us a tent travel cot for our baby. We throw it on the bed when not in use to give us more space. We’ve also brought a big black out blind that we’ve legged to the wardrobe rail to create a partition. It’s workable. Sunbed reservation: It’s normal practice and allowed through signed direction that sun beds can be reserved here. People go out at 7 to reserve pool-side beds. However, there are PLENTY of beds if you don’t reserve. There’s no morning rush to do this, it’s not a stressful race. Some guests just leisurely pop out to pet towels to beds between 7 and 9. Pools: The pools are good. Not filthy on the floor as described by some reviews. The perfect temperature to cool off but not freeze. It’s a shame they don’t open until 10 though. We probably won’t return but so far, this holiday has

Massively falsely advertised on behalf of Jet2 Holidays! This is not a “family favourite” for British people, especially for families! I am currently waiting still for jet2 to get back to me after 2 months of complaining. When expressing how uncomfortable we felt on this holiday the hotel managers only solution was that we could pay more money to go home early. Jet2s response was to pay more money for a “Spanish coloured wrist band” so that we didn’t get treated any differently. This did not come with any extra perks for us as we were told the restaurants were fully booked every single day we were there, but the Spanish they were welcomed into different restaurants on the complex and were allowed a fresh bottle of water every night when going to bed. The food we had mould in the mouse that was in the fridge. The food was the same every day nothing was even touching warm. The lack of food choices far from a 4 star hotel. The pools were okay. The pool bar staff mostly lovely. None of the daily or evening activities were all inclusive. The staff only spoke Spanish which made our children feel very excluded as they could not join in the fun. Rooms were cleaned everyday and were spotless. We found the room an okay size for a family of 3. Unfortunately we were not the only family to feel this way as families in our hotel expressed they felt the same and then on our going home day families that had stayed around Almeria in different hotels ect were made to feel the same. I have been on Spanish holidays before and we have had amazing times. However how we were made to feel while we were on this holiday as it was stated as a “family favourite” and a 4* hotel it was far from and finally the lack of support from Jet2 holidays utterly disappointed as this was not a cheap holiday! Jet2 had taken this hotel completely off their website while we were away I think that’s interesting.

We are here at the moment and considered leaving early to get a flight back to the uk. This is our third visit here, having been here this time last year which was great fun. The hotel really does need a complete refit from the very dirty pool to the sun beds that a very high percentage needs to be replaced . A lot of the staff a very ignorant towards British people(seems that a lot of reviewers are saying this!) The food has deteriorated noticeably since the last time we were here served Luke warm at best and freezing cold at worst. If any of my fellow brits or even other nationalities are reading this…. Please do not come here do your research and book another holiday