Nelia Gardens

We really enjoyed our stay last week, even though it was outside peak season. The whole staff were exceptionally friendly and helpful. Julier, a young lady, was especially kind and sweet, and we appreciated it very much. Thank you.

The beds were extremely comfortable, one of the reasons I'd seriously consider booking again, and the service was excellent. The rooms are good but nothing special, so it may not suit you if that's what you're looking for. The pool is very small, with a little children's play area, a separate shallow pool and a couple of water activities. That shallow pool is small too, and children might get bored after a couple of days. Breakfast was perfectly adequate and no issue for me. There's no real evening bar in the hotel itself, though there's a bar on site; I couldn't tell whether it was part of the all-inclusive deal. There's a nearby beach, a convenience store on site and another down the road. Rooms have air con and a TV, and studios have self-catering facilities. I enjoyed the stay and ate in town in the evenings. For me, it's a good choice for a short stay if you don't mind the small pool and a 10-minute walk into the town centre. I'd give it a solid three stars.

Neila gardens is in a great spot, near the beaches and within five minutes of the harbour marina, where boats of different sizes can be hired at a range of budgets. The hotel rooms vary; ours was a two-bedroom terrace room overlooking the pool, which was nice, with a walk-in shower. My wife has hip problems, though, and the disabled toilet seat could have been better thought out. Service from the staff was good, and everyone was cheerful. Most of the staff are Indian or from Nepal, with perfect manners. It's family friendly, with lots of children, family rooms, lifts and stairs. Breakfast is served on site, with a wide selection and no limit on how much you can take. All-inclusive options are available. There's also a bar on site at the Crown Plaza, where the staff are polite and the food includes huge burgers with all the trimmings. The downside is that for dinner and evening meals, you have to walk about half a mile to the sister hotel, the neila beach, which is a luxury hotel, maybe five stars.

That balcony was a real plus, and the bathroom and room were both clean and pleasant. The hotel is handy for the beach and marina, with everything I needed nearby and a supermarket right next door. Breakfast had loads of fresh options, and even our baby loved it. Service was friendly and ran smoothly. Best of all, the pillows were the best I've ever had in a hotel. I usually get neck trouble, but had none here.