SBH Fuerteventura Playa

We came for a family holiday and were completely let down. The rooms, hallways, and kitchen were filthy, staff were rude, and the food was terrible. Cleanliness was poor throughout, and every evening there was a huge queue at the all-inclusive bar. There's nothing positive I can say about the place. Save your money and go somewhere else. Apparently, in the days after we left, the kitchen was locked and guests were sent up the road to other SBH hotels to use their services for the whole week.

Some staff were friendly, but the problems were numerous and I definitely wouldn't recommend this hotel or return. On arrival, we waited more than two hours past check-in time for a room. Reception couldn't say when one would be ready, and 5-7 other families were waiting too. There were three of us but only two pillows, and it took more than four hours to get another. To get room service, you had to ask reception 3-4 times just to have the bins emptied. The place is old and not clean. Beds were uncomfortable, the toilets near the pool were dirty, and the women's toilets had no lidded bins, with dirty pads left around. The corridor carpet was old and filthy, and many walls, including in the restaurant, were mouldy. You had to get to the pool at 6 am to reserve a spot, otherwise there was no chance of finding space. There was plenty of food, but the quality was very poor. The first half hour of each meal time was okay, but later there was still lots of food out in a state that didn't make you feel good about eating it. Some items, including chicken and meat, weren't properly cooked. Drinks were okay.

We had an eight-day stay, and the hotel kept disappointing us. The room smelled strongly of sewage and death from the moment we checked in. We told reception, but they did nothing to help, and the smell never went away. The bathroom smelled too, and the shower was old and mouldy. The floor still had crumbs and pretzels from the previous guest, the sheets and pillowcases were stained, and the balcony looked dated, with cracks in the paint and ceiling. We had to chase the maids. The buffet was the worst we've had: the same things daily, bland and oddly combined, with food cold, undercooked or overcooked, and dirty plates and glasses. Hardly anything was labelled, and when we asked, the cooks didn't know what they'd made. Drinks were what you'd expect from all inclusive, but most cocktails tasted like juice and sugar with hardly any alcohol or flavour. The wine tasted like vinegar or apple juice, and the beer was best. There wasn't much to do. We weren't expecting anything elaborate, but there was little for adults. Apart from morning water aerobics, they barely played music by the pool. They'd spring “darts in 5 minutes” on you, but activities felt lazy, dated, and boring. The entertainers were good with kids during the day and at mini disco. Night entertainment for adults was tacky, effortless, and disappointing. Staff weren't very helpful, and the whole resort needs a big update and better upkeep.

The entertainment team really made the holiday, especially for children. They were friendly, energetic, and worked hard, with darts, water polo, pool dancing, aqua aerobics, and evening shows. Staff were polite and seemed to be doing their best with what they had. The pool is a nice size and right by the beach, and the pool bar staff were friendly and hardworking. That said, this felt like an average stay, and the hotel doesn't deserve its advertised four stars. It may have done so 10 years ago, but now needs a refresh. The hall carpets are worn and dirty, and the whole place looks tired. Rooms are spacious with decent basics, though the air conditioning gives off an unpleasant smell. Food was average, to be kind. Freshly cooked meats were good, but the meals got repetitive after a week. I'm an adventurous eater, but avoided food left out because it was often lukewarm and had been sitting for a long time. The pool area was okay, but had lots of loose tiles and got mucky without cleaning through the day. The lifeguard was extremely rude and seemed more like an enforcer than a lifeguard. They didn't keep their eyes on the pool at all times, but often scolded adults for minor things like playing ball or using a float they considered too big. I wouldn't return, though the location was great and the holiday pleasant overall.