Hotel Sol Barbados

The pool area was a real highlight, with plenty of space and good upkeep, making it a great place to relax during the day. The location was handy too, near the beach and within easy reach of shops, restaurants and nightlife. At Sol Barbados in Magaluf, we had a really enjoyable stay overall. Our room was clean and comfortable, though fairly basic, and the staff were friendly and happy to help with questions or requests. Food was decent with a good range, but got a little repetitive after a few days. There was always something to choose, and the dining area was well organized. A few small improvements could make it better, but I’d consider coming back. It’s a solid, fun and affordable choice in Magaluf.

The kids had a great time, with lots of activities and staff who were amazing with them. There’s WiFi too. It’s a five-minute walk to the beach, with plenty of local shops nearby. The food changes every time, and the desserts are amazing. There’s always something to eat, and all-inclusive drinks are available all day, though I’m not sure when they stop. What a great hotel. I’d definitely tell people to choose it.

The noise made it almost impossible to rest. Every slam from the corridor door seemed to shake the room, and we could hear conversations through the thin walls. The door itself felt paper-thin. The room also looked grimy and worn, more like a run-down roadside motel. The thermostat barely worked, the air-conditioning looked as though it hadn't been cleaned in years, and the shower leaked around a limescale-clogged head. There was visible mold on the cabinet above the fridge, a broken balcony handle, and even the baby cot was damaged. The food was another letdown. All-inclusive meals were bland and repetitive, the restaurant coffee was dreadful, and the cocktails and other drinks were poor even by budget-resort standards. On the third day, our whole family came down with vomiting and high fevers, which we suspected was food poisoning from the restaurant. Reception said they knew of no cases, but we later met at least two other families who had also become ill after eating there. Management didn't visibly alert guests or take steps to contain what seemed to be an outbreak. This was by far our worst family holiday. We spent the week counting down to going home, and wouldn't recommend Sol Barbados to anyone. We wouldn't return even for free.

Getting to the beach was easy, and the hotel itself was lovely and really clean. The lifts, though, were a nightmare. We waited ages, and the lifeguards were very rude. My partner complained after they wouldn't open the other gate to the ramp when we had our pram. The buffet was decent, but seemed to repeat the same dishes. When it opened at 6:30, it was unbelievably busy, with people fighting over desserts and children putting fingers in the ice cream and licking the scoops. We ate out most evenings because the food felt so repetitive. The pools were freezing, and we had to take our shivering toddler out several times.