AMA Islantilla Resort

The receptionist was lovely and pointed us toward a great restaurant. The internet stopped working on Sunday, then was fixed the following day. We arrived while the main hotel was closed, so I imagine things are much livelier in high season.

There was plenty of room around the two heated pools, and the bars beside them were good value. Our daughter had a great time swimming, and the aqua gym at 6:30 in the evening had us all laughing. We stayed half board, even though that’s not our usual choice, and both breakfast and dinner were fine with a decent range. You can switch to lunch if that suits you better. We had a deluxe room on the third floor, with a modern interior, lots of space, and a large balcony. The place made us feel at ease as soon as we arrived. A free road train runs to and from the beach every hour during the day. Thanks to David in the bar, and we hope to return.

The outdoor pools and landscaped areas are spacious and very nice, including a semi-Olympic pool. The resort also has a good indoor pool, though it’s the only one and you have to pay to use it. The spa costs €5 an hour. It was pleasant, but I’ve been to better places where spa access came with the room. There’s one sauna, which gets crowded, and the Turkish bath never seemed to reach the right temperature. The jacuzzi fills up too. The staff were consistently helpful, and the restaurant and bar prices were surprisingly reasonable. There are daytime activities like bingo and games, plus live music at the bar on many nights. It’s very family oriented, so expect kids about, and there’s a club with activities for them. We tried both a deluxe room and a standard apartment. The deluxe bedroom was one of the biggest we’ve stayed in, with a contemporary feel, a generous balcony, and a range of pillows to choose from. The bed was comfortable, the room was clean and well kept despite a few signs of neglect, and the soundproofing kept outside noise out. There’s also a large soaking tub. The apartment was a letdown for the price. It’s in a separate building nearby and felt a bit dystopian. Compared with the room, it seemed dated and worn, and its TV was just as useless. The TV in the deluxe room wasn’t much better: around 40 channels, about 95% in Spanish, and Google Cast didn’t work. We chose half board, but the food was average at best. There was a decent choice, though the options beyond the main dishes hardly changed from day to day. It was a good stay for the price, but they should improve the TVs, food variety, and spa.

The staff were friendly and quick to help, and we found the Luxury Apartments clean and comfortable. We also had a good time at the Halloween party. The indoor pool in the spa could be warmer, though. I’d recommend staying here.