Magic Tropical Splash

We went to Magic Tropical Splash with our two boys, aged 9 and 6, and absolutely loved it. There was loads for them to do, with the big pool, slides, play areas with football, mini clubs and a games room. The food range was great, including options for fussy eaters, and each evening had a different theme, like Mexican, Caribbean or American. The rooms are spacious and the beds are comfy. They’re a little dated, but we didn’t mind since we didn’t spend much time in the room, and the small kitchen area was handy. Evening entertainment was good, though it ran a bit late. We were on floor 3 in tower 2, so we could watch from the balcony. Our flight home was at midnight and the hotel was fully booked, so we couldn’t keep our room longer. It would be good if late-flying guests could do that. My boys were very bored that last night.

We were there for a week over October half-term, and it was good value. The beach is a short 5/10 minute walk away, with lots of play parks and a few restaurants for kids. The sea was warm in late October. There’s also a little soft play area, which was useful when the kids got too cold in the pool. We really enjoyed the water slides at the back of the hotel, and the ice cream was nice. The food was okay for the price, though not amazing quality. My wife got sick on the first night. Drinks were good, especially the lager, and the cocktails were decent. The pools were really cold, and the entertainment was loud, making an early night difficult with little kids. It all starts at 10pm. The lifts were a nightmare: we were on floor 4 and just took the stairs, while friends on floor 14 struggled with their baby and pushchair.

My kids weren’t impressed, which says a lot. It was our first time taking them abroad, and the hotel was really disappointing. Parts of it are tired, and the tower lifts are diabolical, with ages to wait. The food was cold, poorly cooked and pretty much the same every day. The pools were freezing. The kids could only use inflatables in the deepest pool, which felt dangerous if they couldn’t swim, and balls weren’t allowed in the shallower areas. The sunbeds were filthy and the entertainment was shocking. I wouldn’t come back even if it were free.

The one good thing was our cleaner. She was lovely and put my youngest daughter’s teddies to bed. The rest of the stay was awful. We’d requested a lower-floor room when booking because my youngest is autistic and climbs, but they put us on the 15th floor. I explained this at reception and felt ignored. The hotel and rooms are outdated, and the photos on holiday sites are old. We had to lift the sliding doors to open them, and moved all the balcony chairs away from the edge. The lifts took ages, with one always out of service in every block. The food was the same every night and always cold. Our bathroom smelled so disgusting it made us feel sick, and other people had the same problem. Pool and slide lifeguards were rude and weren’t watching people. On the day we arrived, one called my oldest daughter fat. The manager and leisure manager denied it, even though four other children and their parents said they heard it. The lifeguards were always on their phones. Staff, including reception, were rude. When we left, the man at the desk almost didn’t return my safe deposit because the woman who gave me the key hadn’t provided a receipt. The entertainment was the same dance routines without themes, starting at 9pm and again at 10pm, and going on until midnight.