Hovima Atlantis

First time staying at Hovima Atlantis, just me and my 7 year old. Hotel itself is lovely, staff are very friendly and helpful, room is clean and spacious. The toaster didn’t work in the room but reception sorted that with new working one within an hour. The reason for 1 star review is purely the sunbed situation. As a solo mum I have never felt as intimidated in all my life. The sunbeds are stacked up all around the pool and locked with a padlock, they are opened at 10am, a lot crowd round the sunbeds (mainly men) and not British. I went to try get a sunbed from further down where I wanted to lay and a man slammed his hands on the stack shouting at me telling me no. He wasn’t English and therefore barely understood what I was saying apart from shouting no at me. After all that most of the sunbeds are reserved with towels and not used until 3pm onwards which I feel totally defeats the object of locking the sunbeds up to avoid people reserving. The poolside feels very clicky, whether they are owners of some of the apartments or not I felt very intimidated. My son was playing with other kids in the pool having fun and make noises and splashes as kids do, and at one point a lady staying there told the kids to shut up, (baring in mind they are choosing to holiday in the school holidays) and saw others at various points in the day complaining of the noises just by their hand gestures and pointing at the pool as they didn’t speak English so I couldn’t understand what they were actually saying. The pools are lovely with the middle one heated as well as a baby pool. It’s such a shame something like this lets the hotel down, I would certainly come back but would have to be with my husband (he couldn’t come this time due to no annual leave) as I’d feel much safer with him, but as a solo traveller with my son it really did but a dampener on our 5 night stay. Today is my last day and I already feel nervous waiting for what the sunbed situation will entail this morning!

The Hotel is very clean and staff are exellent, their downfall is Hovima let people from other Hovima hotels use the Pool area, it wouldnt be a problem at certain times of the year but Christmas the Pool is packed, and I mean far too crowded, there is no security who comes into the hotel at all not just to use the pool, whether you are staying in Hovima hotel and 'booked with Hovima' or renting private, no one is checked, People come to the pool from the beach if its busy and heaven knows where they are staying, in the evening people walk up to the hotel to get taxis, which means if you are staying a the hotel, you could have upto an hour wait, because it is always groups of holidaymakers plus children and prams. Hovima you need at least a room number and name before someone uses he facilities, surely this is simply safety procedure with a hotel Most Hotels have security on the door.

On arrival my room had been changed from a pool view to a car park/sea view which was okay as I got the sun in the mornings. It would have been nice to have an awning but it appeared that my room was one of about five on the complex that didn't so it was too hot to sit out there. The apartments are very basic and are in need of updating. My bed was comfortable however the air conditioning was just blowing out room temperature air which made it difficult to sleep int he nights and I was having to sleep with my balcony door open to get some air and try and drop the temperature. I reported it every day and every day I was told that the engineer had been and fixed it when he hadn't. The system was so old it was defunct and you could see loads of water stains where it was no doubt leaking in the past. There were hairs on the floor when I arrived and it took them two days to disappear so any cleaning wasn't thorough. There ants on the wall by the bed and in the kitchen cupboards. The spatula and other cooking utensils still had food on them from previous residents. They wanted €18 for the safe and a €10 deposit. When I asked to check out an hour later I was told it would cost an extra €20. When I reminded them that I hadn't slept for the entirety of my stay due to the lack of air con and no apology for that lack of air con or any attempt to make it up to me I was given the extra hour for free! How generous! I'd avoid as it's a 2 star really.

Lovely clean apartment bit dated but spacious lovely pool area

Good location 70s style room Good location nice view but apartment needs to be refurbished ,(70s style ) floor tiles Totally warn out walls & ceiling have been painted bathroom needs total refurbishment very dated