Arkin Palm Beach Hotel

The location is excellent and I still like the hotel for its size, but our latest stay was a letdown. I've visited a few times with my daughter before, and this time we were put in a tiny, dark room with barely a window and no balcony. At a beachfront hotel, we didn't know where to dry our swimsuits. The TV was pointless, and the room felt like a storage cupboard turned into a guest room. Maybe that's fine for people who are there for the casino, but that wasn't us. We asked to change rooms on the first day and never heard back. That was disappointing and lowered my opinion of the hotel. Service was hit or miss, and a smile can make a big difference. Maybe they didn't see a mother and daughter as important guests, but that's a mistake. I personally wish there wasn't a casino, as the place would feel more unique without it, though I understand it likely brings in revenue. The food was generally good, but I would have liked more traditional dishes specific to the country, instead of having them just one night. The hotel has a lot going for it, but could use some improvements.

From check-in through the restaurant, the staff were really helpful and the service was excellent. The location is good too. If you stay, check out the Zagato restaurant. There's live music and dancers, and the prices are reasonable.

Think twice about using the beach on a weekend if you're not staying at the hotel. They let in more people than they have capacity for and say they'll find you a sunbed. Yet the beach area has many empty sunbeds with towels left on them all day. When you ask, you're told they belong to hotel guests, but I think that's a lie. Lifeguards put towels and cheap stuff like toys on them to make it look as if someone is using them. They leave it there all day and push you to pay for sunbeds at another pool. They should have a policy to collect towels after a few hours.

The beach is lovely and the location is nice, but the hotel is very expensive and the service was poor. Beach beds cost £20.00 for the day. Don't eat there, and skip a beach bed unless you're willing to pay those extortionate prices.