Apartamentos Pocillos Playa

There’s no hotel service here now, since the former hotel has become privately owned apartments. Some are rented for holidays, and the lady we rented from was really friendly and welcoming. Our apartment had been renovated last September and was spotless and well kept. The only shared facilities are the pool and tennis court, but shops, restaurants and the beach are all about a five-minute walk away. A lovely spot for a quiet break.

The room matched the photos, and there’s a nice outdoor pool. Inside, there’s a kitchen. Spar, the shopping centre and the beach are about a ten-minute walk away. The plane noise is annoying, with arrivals about every 7-10 minutes and takeoffs twice an hour. :/

I stayed for a week in December 2013, after a week at a three-star hotel in Playa Blanca, and I liked these apartments much more. My room was surprisingly spacious, with two single beds, plenty of wardrobe space, a sofa and armchair, coffee table and TV. The kitchen had a two-ring electric cooker, fridge, microwave, toaster, kettle and coffee maker, and the bathroom had a shower over the bath, toilet and basin. The pool area gets sunshine all day, and staff clean the rooms early, so you won’t need an alarm. Reception is staffed from 9am to 5pm. Next to it there’s a small spot for basic food like breakfast, plus beer, soft drinks and ice cream. For more choice, the main complex in Matagorda has Chinese and Japanese restaurants, Italian places, tapas, steak and burger joints, and bars. The downsides didn’t bother me, but might bother others: you have to pay for TV, apart from Sky News, and Wi-Fi is paid too. That seems to be the same across the island. Tip: get a Wi-Fi code from staff when you eat at a restaurant or have a drink at a bar, then use it for the rest of your stay. I’ll try to upload some photos I took. I planned to come back for a month in December 2014.

It’s at the far end of Plays De Carmen, in a quiet and safe spot. The airport is nearby, though you soon stop noticing the planes.