San Francisco Park

After spending the last 10 years in Costa Taguise, we tried somewhere different and weren’t disappointed. The staff were fantastic and friendly, and the room was clean. We booked a basic room, but would definitely upgrade next time.

We stayed in June and weren’t told beforehand that TVs and music weren’t allowed. On our first morning, while we were having breakfast on the balcony around 8-8:30, the person above us signalled with her hands that we were talking too loudly. We explained at reception that our friend has hearing problems, so we may speak more clearly and distinctly, but we wouldn’t say loudly. One evening, a security guard came up the stairs on the balcony side without us knowing he was there, which startled us. He told us to shush and go inside. We laughed because we thought he was joking, but we were only talking, and we did go in. There was another issue about talking, so we went to reception and asked for the manager. The apartment wasn’t working for us. Other guests we spoke with said they couldn’t hear us, and we got along well with many of them. Some said it was like a “silent order” complex, which wasn’t for us in the future. Some guests had moved to other accommodation. We kept the apartment clean, and the cleaning ladies were excellent, as were the other staff. The manageress was the exception; she never came to speak with us. We brought our own toilet rolls. The microwave and toaster had no socket on the worktop, so we had to put them on the floor near a row of multiple sockets. A red light kept flashing and worried us. There were no fire alerts or alarms in the apartment, so we didn’t use the cooker and ate out. Eating on the balcony had caused problems for us. My friend emailed management to complain about the lack of understanding around our friend’s hearing problem and the other issues, but got no reply.

The location is handy, about five minutes from the ATMs, main shops, bars and restaurants. If you’ll be out enjoying the beach and exploring the island, it’s probably fine as a place to sleep. The adults only policy is a plus, but the atmosphere wasn’t relaxing for us. There’s a pool area, though you’re expected not to talk too loudly or play music, headphones only. Notices and folders listing rules are everywhere, and night security told us to keep our voices down even at 11:30 pm. The reception is open only three hours a day, from 10 am to 1 pm. Towels are changed every third day. There’s no air conditioning, and you have to pay for an electric fan. Umbrellas, sunbed cushions and WiFi also cost extra. The owners seem very tight with money. The housekeepers only empty the bin, which matters because toilet paper must go in the bin, not down the toilet. The apartment is very small, with shelves placed awkwardly close to the bed, so it’s easy to bump into them. The linen is old, paper thin and overwashed, and the bed was hard. The light fittings and wiring look questionable, dated and in need of replacement. It was noisy even with the door shut, and bottles were constantly being banged and broken at the bottle bank just outside our bathroom window. Shower temperature and pressure kept changing, and the kitchen sink water could scald you easily. The shared balcony is small. The ground around the pool is paved with rocks, so walking without sandals is awful. Overall it felt dull, with too many rules and little comfort.

The location is fantastic, and the accommodation is very basic but fine. Our room needed maintenance and didn’t look like the photos: there was mould in the bathroom and paint flaking from the ceiling. I think the rooms are privately owned and rented back to the complex. The outside areas are nicely presented and well kept, and the pool man was the nicest person there. Still, the complex didn’t feel welcoming. Staff didn’t interact with us while we were there or when we left. It’s a shame, because this place could be great.