ALEGRIA Costa Ballena

The restaurant staff were happy to find gluten-free options for me during my four-night stay, and the buffet food at every meal was excellent. Everyone else I encountered was friendly and helpful too. Room 243 was a letdown. It was poorly cleaned and sparsely furnished, with smeared mirrors, dirty bathroom floors, and no stool in either the bathroom or bedroom. The toilet was very dirty and not working. While waiting for maintenance, I asked reception where the nearest usable facility was. The closest public toilet had two women’s cubicles, but one was only a shower, and the toilet in the other stopped the door from closing. You’d need to be a gymnast to get in. Other public toilets around the reception and communal areas were also in poor shape and badly maintained or cleaned. The toilet repairs in our room looked like they’d been needed for a long time, which makes me wonder why the cleaners never reported them. There was only a shower, no bath, and the toiletries were so watery they seemed to have been diluted repeatedly. The whole hotel needs a complete refurbishment to meet four-star standards.

The hotel itself was okay, but the staff didn’t seem trained. Our all-inclusive package included dinner and free bar drinks, though reception never told us that, so we ended up being charged for everything.

The water park was a highlight, and there were plenty of lifeguards, which helped it feel safe. It does come at an extra cost, though, and that might not be worth it for everyone. The hotel was clean and well maintained. Food was generally acceptable, though repetitive and mostly Spanish, while the bar food was disappointing. All-inclusive didn’t cover many drinks, and most still cost extra, even with a 50% discount. There were service problems during our three-night stay: one day our room wasn’t serviced, staff gave us inconsistent information, and they got our drinks bill wrong more than once. The pricing for our three-year-old was another frustration, since the child was charged like a teenager despite not needing an extra bed. The Kids Club also only accepted children aged four and over. Those issues with pricing, service, and dining are why we gave it one star, even though the hotel itself might deserve a higher rating.

The rooms were nice and clean, and the beds were really comfortable. The hotel and the park next door are both beautiful and fun. We loved the aqua fun swimming pool, especially the slides, and the staff kept a close eye on everyone so it felt safe. There’s loads of tasty food to choose from, and the people are always kind and helpful. Their English isn’t very good, but they do try. Most guests here now are Spanish, and I’ve seen one English couple. We’ll definitely come back. Amazing!