Abora Buenaventura by Lopesan Hotels

The animation team put a lot of effort into keeping everyone busy during the day, so I’d recommend this place for families with children. We went for a week with the all-inclusive package, and for the price we paid, we were happy with what we got. The atmosphere was nice, everyone was relaxed, and the staff were friendly. We had two family rooms on the second floor. My room looked out only onto a roof, but I didn’t mind because that floor was convenient. The rooms have been renovated and are nice, though other areas feel tired, especially the volleyball court and the kids area aboritos. There was always food available, but it got boring after a while because the menu was nearly the same every day. Valentine’s Day was the only night that felt like they’d made a special effort. There’s just one restaurant, with more of a loud canteen feel, instead of different restaurants you can book into as I’ve had at other all-inclusive places.

The pool area, food and drinks, and the look of the hotel were all brilliant. Fiona and Miguel from the animation team deserve special thanks for a great immersive show and the beer pong competition. They were a lot of fun and very personable. We’d definitely come back. We were there for a short break for my friend’s 40th, and we were impressed by the hotel overall. The beds were twins pushed together, on wheels, rather than proper doubles. Not ideal for a couple, and we actually fell between them during the night. My friend also got birthday chocolates and wine in her room, which was a lovely touch.

The animation team are bloody brilliant. They’re so much fun and include everyone, whatever their age. It was a bit quiet in January, but they still put in the effort and brought plenty of energy. JJ, Vivi, Miguel, Sophie et al are all brilliant. The hotel is right in the middle of the action at the Irish Centre in GC, with great bars and restaurants nearby. The food has mostly been great, and I can’t complain for a 4-star place. All the staff have been amazing and polite, and they appreciated my very broken attempt at speaking Spanish. I’ll definitely return. For the price, wow, I can’t explain how good this place is.

The food was fantastic at breakfast, lunch and dinner, with plenty of variety every day. The food hall’s table system worked well: open means take a seat, closed means someone has gone to get food. Only once did someone ignore our closed sign. The pool areas were clean, and there were always lots of sunbeds. The entertainment team had games around the pool and encouraged people to join in, but left you alone if you said no. All in all, we had a great time, and this hotel would get our vote if we visit GC again. This was our second visit, and we had another good stay, despite a few niggles. Check-in takes too long, and I don’t see why the travel partner can’t provide all the details beforehand, leaving us only to sign and get the keys. We also weren’t told about the 50Euro room deposit. The towels aren’t great, so bring your own or be prepared for one that doesn’t wrap fully around you. The hotel has adopted cats that roam freely, including in the food halls, so it may not suit anyone with cat allergies.