We stayed here for 11 nights in June 2012. We have a 16 month old baby, and the place was perfect for us as the majority of the guests at the hotel were also with children. The hotel and its grounds are beautiful with a luxurious feel and quality, as would be expected for a 5 star resort. We stayed in a standard apartment (not the Prestige) and on the whole the room was lovely. However we did feel that the decor of the room could do with updating, especially in the bathroom. It was just getting a bit tired and was in need of modernisation to current standards. However this view is subjective and is only our opinion (we have very high standards!) and other guests might disagree.
We can't really fault the hotel - the food is really good (although the buffet could do with more variety over the days you will stay), the service is exceptional (especially in the Italian Il Faro restaurant, the staff here really deserve to be praised). The facilities are really really great, lovely swimming pools, great Gym, Tennis, Squash Courts, Spa, kids entertainment. Really this place has everything you need and could want for.
We would highly recommend going all inclusive, as for us at least if gave us the break we needed from the regular daily (cooking, cleaning) chores that we wanted to so get away from.
One downside that was really quite unacceptable for us is that there is no site-wide Internet Access!! Which for a 5 star resort is totally unacceptable. I know you come on holiday to get away from the daily e-mail grind, but not everyone is that lucky and we wanted to use it to look up places on the Island and plan trips etc. Let me reiterate that there is internet access in the Reception (which you have to pay for separately), but if you want to sit on your balcony, or in the room or by the pool and use the internet, forget it. I work in IT myself and this is so easy to implement across the site that I personally was really miffed that this wasn't a feature. (I'd even install it myself across the site for the Hotel if they asked me!).
On the whole the Hotel is thoroughly recommended and I wouldn't hesitate to stay here again, or sing it's praises to other people. The Island is fantastic, the beaches wonderful and the local people friendly and extremely nice.
I would recommend you get a hire car and go see the Island properly, don't just sit in the Hotel for your holiday, not unless this is all you want to do of course! There are some amazing beaches to suit every taste and some fantastically beautiful towns and villages and sights. Make sure you go to Del Toro, best view on the Island.
Really, highly recommended to all, you will not be disappointed - the grumbles I mention above did not spoil the holiday at all.
I hope you have a great time there - we did!
Robert and Fernanda.
