Royal Horizon Ponta Sino

The staff took the country's motto, "No Stress," a bit too literally. They often took their time, ignored the queue and didn't seem interested in being friendly or going the extra mile. Still, the hotel has a lot of potential and offers entertainment day and night, with great facilities right by the beach. Our room was clean and nice, and there was a good selection at the buffet, though the food quality varied. The grilled chicken was often dry and chewy. The restaurants were lovely, but it was frustrating that most drinks weren't available there unless you wanted beer or expensive wine. There are several pools, including a great sand pool, but all are salt water. It'd be nice if one weren't.

The pools were a great alternative to the ocean, which was rough enough that it was always under a red flag. They had salt water straight from the sea and sand on the bottom. Even with parties in the evenings, all we could hear in our room was the ocean. I was a little worried about the food and staff before arriving, but everything was brilliant. Breakfast, lunch and dinner all had a huge choice, and it was fresh and tasty. The staff were quick and really nice, and our room was cleaned every day with great care.

The service was my main concern, and I'd rate it 4/10. Staff seem to try, but without good leadership to show them what five-star service should be, they're left running around confused. There were queues, tables weren't cleared promptly, and no one seemed to know what to do. If management doesn't improve this, competitors will get ahead, which would be a shame for such a nice hotel. We'd gladly come back if the service improves, but otherwise probably not. Good luck. No stress! The rooms are beautiful, spacious and new. I recommend a swim-up room, which reception may be able to upgrade you to. The walk-in closet is great, but there was no clothesline or tissues. Cleaning was poor and came in stages: first tidying, then towels half an hour later, then toilet paper another hour after that. The sea and beach are lovely, though the waves were so big we only dipped our feet. Pools aren't heated, and the animation program is average. By 10 a.m. it was hard to find a poolside spot, as towels started appearing on sunbeds after 7 a.m. We had a swim-up room, so didn't have to worry about that. There's only one small separate pool for children and little else for them to do. Only two bottles of water were left in the room each day. During the day, bottled water wasn't available anywhere, just post-mix while bars or restaurants were open. Wi-Fi didn't reach the beach or beach bar; elsewhere, in the lobby, pool area and rooms, it was okay but often dropped, so we had to reconnect. Keep the password you got at check-in handy. Drinks were local brands, with international ones costing extra. A drink was €6. The all-inclusive wine was good and smooth, but prosecco wasn't included. You could buy a rosé for €12, which we found undrinkably sweet, or other bottles for €35-40. Food was limited but good, with few vegetables and cheeses. Breakfast was very poor: just white bread and butter, no spreads. Allergens weren't marked, a big problem for anyone with dietary restrictions. Outside opening hours there was nothing to eat, not even fruit. On the beach they served only burgers and pizza.

Everything was 10/10, from the hotel and its location to the staff. The food was great, and the à la carte restaurants were nice too. The beaches were beautiful, with beds always available. My only downside was the lack of a spa, which would have been great. Carina at the reception bar was fantastic, always cheerful and making a wonderful cocktail.