Playamójacar Hotel

We came as a family of five during the May half-term. From the balcony we had lovely sea views, and the beach, shops and restaurants were all walkable. The staff were very friendly, and most spoke English. Our room was clean, though a bit small, and we managed fine. There wasn't a huge choice at the restaurant, but we all found something we liked. The pool is a decent size and the kids loved the slides. The water felt a little cold at first, but we got used to it. Once the hotel got busier and the pool filled up, we preferred heading to the beach. I'd definitely recommend the hotel and Mojacar.

I've stayed in lots of parts of Mojacar, and this is one of my favourite spots. I haven't stayed at this hotel, just in the apartments above, but this quieter stretch of Mojacar playa is lovely. The sunrises are stunning, with the mountain rising above. There's a subsidised, inexpensive bus along the promenade and beyond Garrucha. South of here are pleasant cliff walks by the beach; north is a beautiful promenade lit through the night, and you can walk up into the mountain too. The hotel looks great. I've passed it over the years and seen it renovated a lot.

The food was a real letdown. For a hotel of this standard, I expected more choice and much better cooking. They say they cater for a wide range of guests, but the food could put off a lot of their English guests. Some tapas would be good. You also have to walk through the hotel to get something to eat, so a snack bar by the pool bar would help. You're not allowed to take buffet food to the sun loungers. The alternative is lukewarm pizza from the bar by reception, and it isn't very warm or good. There are good things here too. The hotel is clean and pleasant, with really nice staff, and the pool is great for kids with good slides. The pool bar has a good range of drinks and snacks like crisps and nuts. Just check what's included: ice cream wasn't, which the kids were delighted to discover, though it wasn't too expensive. The entertainment is mostly for Spanish guests. That didn't bother us much, we're in Spain. There are places to eat about a 20-minute walk away, but we haven't tried them yet. With a few changes this could be a great hotel and resort.

We had a great week, and the local area and excursions on offer were a lovely bonus. Our group of 28 was looked after well by the friendly staff. There was a small problem with our jet2 booking because the room layouts and allocations weren't accurate, but the hotel and rep sorted out what they could. The buffet had a decent variety, though we enjoyed eating out now and then for a change. The pool was a good size, the slides were fun, and we could always find enough sunbeds for everyone. A great place for families and couples. Highly recommended.