Villas Bocaina

The villa worked well for a family because there’s lots of room, it feels private and safe, and it’s away from the busy parts. The walk down to the main strip takes about 10 minutes. The pool is roughly 20 by 10 feet, with depths from 1 to 1.5 metres, though it isn’t heated. On our second stay, we had a small ant problem from the first day. The internet kept dropping devices and the TV, and there’s no air conditioning. I’d still recommend it for a family holiday once those issues are sorted. Taxis from the strip were usually €2.50 to €5 each way, and the airport taxi was about €16.

We’ve just wrapped up our stay in Villa No 18. It was great value, and the seafront is about a 10-minute walk away. Don’t be put off by the bad reviews, the villas are really good for the price. I’d definitely book again.

The pool was meant to be cleaned twice a week, but nobody cleaned it during our ten days. We mentioned it to the rep near the end of the first week and were told it would be sorted, but it never was. The hot water was another serious problem: the small boiler in the utility room was unplugged when we arrived, with no instructions, and water from the taps was close to boiling. Two of us nearly scalded ourselves shaving, and there were no warning signs. That seems especially dangerous with children staying there. We were at Villa Bocainia (Villa Christina) for ten days in September. We enjoyed the trip, though more because of the company than the villa. The area was quiet and fairly pleasant, and the villa looked clean at first. There was enough furniture and cutlery for six, and the TV system was up to date. But the beds and furniture were uncomfortable, the WiFi was slow and unreliable, and the advertised satellite service had only about six channels, all in Spanish. There was a lot of dust under the beds and couches, cracked tiles around the pool, and a dirty BBQ with weeds beneath it. Given the problems and the rep’s lack of follow-through, I think even three stars is generous. A fresh coat of paint and more comfortable furniture would make the villa much more appealing.

The location made it easy to get to a Spar in one direction, HyperDino in the other, and the seafront and shops with just a short walk. We took a quick taxi to Lidl to stock up, which worked out great. There’s a pool table and table tennis too. We were a family of five, and after dealing with the safety concerns, the villa felt close to perfect. It’s not ideal for very small children because there’s no fence or gate around the pool, so you have to keep watch. We used the sunbeds as a barrier. The curved ceramic stairs are steep, but stair gates are provided and really needed. Air conditioning is only in the bedrooms, though it worked very well. We booked through Villa Plus, and they were available whenever we needed them. The pool was cleaned during our stay, and we got fresh towels.