Elite Apartments at Pueblo Evita

The restaurant and pub were good, and the staff were friendly. Our room was clean, though some rooms could do with updating. They were still fine as they were. There are a lot of stairs around the complex. The pool staff, including the lifeguard and supervisor, were very strict about the rules, especially about children playing in the water. Some of the pool mosaic tiles are coming loose and need maintenance.

We were disappointed because the apartment was beautiful and well located, but the problems really affected our holiday. There were cockroaches throughout our stay. When I told reception, they said the clubhouse had them too, and weren't very apologetic or helpful. I also spoke to the cleaner, who sprayed the apartment for us, but the cockroaches remained. There was a strong sewage smell, especially in the evenings. Some nights it was bad enough to wake us. The WiFi never worked either.

The main poolside bar was the highlight for us. Service was great, the breakfasts were good, and Yassin and Bruno made pizza in front of you in the wood fired oven. It was the best pizza I've had in a long time. Yas even offered to cook any meal with advance notice. Happy Hour was another nice touch, with lovely cocktails and great service from the girls. With many Spanish residents, the complex felt relaxed rather than hectic. There's plenty nearby, including Paloma Park, Arroyo De La Miel, and Bonanza/Ibensa Squares. The coast is a 10-15 minute uphill walk. Parts of the complex are dated, with lots of stairs and fiddly gate locks. The rooftop pool and terrace across the road are a lovely extra, but the pool and bar were already closed for winter in mid September, which felt far too early. Choose your apartment carefully: I heard some have been modernised while others are quite basic.

There are two good pools, a reasonable restaurant, and now WiFi in the apartments. Sam's Bar in the lower complex is currently being refurbished. It's a great base, about 10 minutes from Arroyo railway station, with plenty to do nearby. Arroyo has good local places to eat, though you'll need to leave the tourist areas to find them. Spanish Square is where tourists tend to go for a relaxed drink and snack. This was, or is, a timeshare complex, so there can be extra costs like service charges and electricity use during your stay.