Apartamentos Alcocebre Suites 3000

The pool was the one bright spot for us: it’s lovely and shaded by big trees. The rest felt like a terrible deal. We paid nearly €3,000 for seven nights, and there was no Wi-Fi. We only stayed because we had no way to get our money back and nowhere else to go. At that price, the extra charges for basics were hard to accept: towels cost €10 per person, and air conditioning was another €10 a day. To cool each room, we’d have needed to rent two units. We’d paid extra for an ocean view, but the AC exhaust hose had to go out the window, and the blinds had to stay shut to keep it in place. In the bedrooms, the windows had to remain wide open all night while hot air blew outside. The bathroom smelled like a sewer. The information before arrival was very misleading, even though the charges may be disclosed in fine print as “fully transparent.” This area gets expensive in high season, but for what we paid, basic necessities should have been included. It felt like tourist exploitation, and I can’t understand how the place stays in business and fully booked. You’d have nearly the same experience camping on the beach for free. We won’t return, and anyone who works here should be ashamed to represent a business that takes advantage of tourists.

The residence is close to the sea, with spacious rooms in good condition and friendly staff. The pool and paddle court are nice. There aren’t any sunbeds, though, and the gym machines can’t be used. The rooftop jacuzzi is out of order too. There’s no built-in AC, only a portable unit for the bedroom, and its hose means you have to leave the window open. Everything else was fine.

It’s near the beach and has lovely views, but the place felt pretty deserted. The rooms were very basic, with no bedside lamps or other home comforts. There weren’t any blankets or duvets until we asked, and towels cost extra. I won’t stay here again.

We booked through Expedia for up to three nights while new beds were being delivered to our son’s house, where we’ve holidayed in the area for years. Arriving late turned into a stressful mess, especially since I don’t speak Spanish. The apartment smelled musty, the beds felt damp, and it was very basic, with no towels or kettle and poor crockery. We left after one night instead of staying for all three. When we complained, they offered a “better” apartment, but I was too stressed to stay there again. A very disappointing start to our holiday. I’d never stay there again.