Costa del Silencio Private Terrace Pool

The buffet was excellent at every meal, and the restaurant staff were so busy but still couldn't do enough for us. The pool and bar were great too, with plenty of easy-to-find sunbeds at any time. Drinks were never an issue despite the all-inclusive setup, and the staff throughout the resort were amazing. Our room was cleaned and the beds made every day, with linen changed regularly. The sprawling resort, made up of two-storey buildings, could use some TLC. Still, the atmosphere the staff created made for a great holiday, even though it's an old hotel. And I nearly forgot the parrots in the gardens, great fun!

Reception staff were excellent, multilingual, friendly and helpful. The clientele was a real mix, with lots of French, German and Spanish guests, then British, a few Italian and some eastern European visitors. I couldn't always tell which languages people were speaking. The hotel was clean, the staff were friendly, and the food was much better than I'd expected, with plenty of choice. The all-inclusive drinks were good for what you'd expect, San Miguel lager and local spirits. Serving sizes depended on who was behind the bar, but you could go back as often as you wanted. I was worried after reading the reviews, but there was no need. It's a pleasant hotel and very good for a three-star. All-inclusive drinks finished at 10.30pm, after an enthusiastic hour of entertainment, mostly from the animacion team. Two other nights had Flamenco and a singer. To carry on drinking, you could pay at the bar or head to one of the café bars less than 100m away. There's a supermarket and more shops and cafés about a 10-minute walk away, and Gelletas beach with more shops and cafés is around a 20-minute walk.

Claudia at reception was the best part of the stay. She's lovely, friendly and works hard to help, though she seems to get stuck with the late shifts. I can't say the same for the other younger blonde woman, who was miserable. Restaurant staff were nice too, apart from the female manager, who never said please or thank you and seemed miserable. The hotel sits in a quiet residential area, about a 10-minute walk from Las Galletas. The pool area is nice and has lots of new beds. Food was average, but there was always something to eat. Drinks came in paper cups, which did nothing for the taste, especially the weak beer. Would I stay again? Probably not.

Everything was very clean. Rooms were cleaned daily, towels changed and beds made, and there were plenty of snacks. The hotel's look seems frozen in time, though. The entertainment team was prepared and involved during the day and in the evenings. For a three-star all-inclusive hotel at a very affordable price, it's a good choice if you're after a normal, relaxed holiday. The food was excellent, with a wide range of meat, fish, seafood and more. Łukasz, the very friendly chef of Polish descent, is a hit in the kitchen and dining room. The staff were wonderful, and the bar was very good.