Evenia Zoraida Resort

I had a terrible experience just before leaving, and wouldn't recommend this hotel. The maid who cleaned our room kept asking on the last day what time we'd be leaving and when our flight was. I'd had a $450 perfume sitting on the sink throughout the stay and never imagined a staff member at a 4-star hotel in Europe would steal it. I reported it to reception and management. I've been trying to resolve it for nearly a week, but the hotel hasn't communicated with me. Their response makes me feel they don't respect their clients. There were also nails sticking out of the wooden pier, which didn't seem maintained. My son cut his leg on the way to the shower. Don't go there. The hotel deletes every negative review, so customers have no chance to know the truth!

We had a great family holiday in Almeria. The hotel is beautiful, with big rooms, large beds, a powerful shower, and lovely balcony views. It's about an hour from the airport, and right beside a beautiful, huge beach. The big pools have slides for younger and older kids, plus adults, and the foam party was a lot of fun. The food was lovely, and all-inclusive included branded drinks in glass bottles. The staff work hard to keep everything running smoothly, and the entertainment was fun. There are a few shops and a supermarket outside the hotel. The town is ten minutes away by taxi, and the ride was very cheap.

The hotel is right on the beach, but it isn't private, and beach chairs and parasols cost €10 to use. The beach is small pebbles, not sand. The rooms are spacious, with decent-sized bathrooms, working AC, daily cleaning, and fresh towels. The cleaning staff were friendly. There were lots of loungers packed close together around the pools, and guests smoke there, so expect to be near strangers. There's no large pool, just a maze-like pool with a few mini jacuzzis, which were fun. The kids' area looked lovely and enjoyable. Children will like this place. The poolside Italian restaurant serves snacks and light lunches. Remember to cover up as the notice at the door says. There are ice creams, slushies, and snacks at the bar too. Food was much like other all-inclusive hotels, with limited variety in low season. Breakfast choices were quite limited, while lunch and dinner had fresh fish and different meats. The salad selection was similar each time, but the fruit was a highlight at every meal. There was a chocolate fountain at dinner. Drinks were cheap liquor as expected, so beer was the better choice. Vegetarian options were very limited, and people with allergies should check before serving themselves, since food labels were often wrong. The bar staff were lovely and friendly. Restaurant staff seemed overworked and tired, and were selective about who they were nice to. One waiter got very angry when we sat at the end of a row of tables reserved for a large group that never came. He was rude and didn't realize I spoke Spanish, so we avoided him after that. Roquetas de Mar isn't near Almería. Don't count on the bus to get there, as there are no timetables and you might wait at least 40 minutes. There's little to do nearby and very few shops, and tourism development in the area is still underway. The hotel mainly caters to Spanish guests.

We had a good holiday in July, staying for a week with four children and two adults. The staff deserve a lot of credit: the people at the bars, in housekeeping, and at reception all worked hard and were great. Plenty of sunbeds were available, though the ones by the pool were taken early, before it opened. It was a very crowded, noisy place. The poolside main-stage show usually carried on past 11 p.m., and Spanish families with children kept partying until midnight or later. Many didn't rein in their children's behaviour. Thankfully, our room looked onto the parking lot, not the pool or sea, where it was loudest from morning to night. Some guests also ate and drank like animals. The hotel seems aimed more at local Spanish guests, and staff don't speak much English. The food could have been more varied and better seasoned, and quite often our glasses or plates were dirty. Thanks for the stay, but next time we'll choose somewhere with nighttime rules so we can sleep peacefully.