Bungalows Santa Clara

Watch out for tiny yellow ants, maybe Pharaoh ants. They were crawling around, so freeze your suitcase and everything you brought with you, or you could take them home and they might start new colonies. I did like the place, though, and the area is really nice.

The bungalows are basic and small but nice, with comfortable beds, and the cleaner does a great job. The pools are lovely and clean too. They’re very strict about reserving sunbeds: staff remove towels one by one and hang them on the fence. I think that’s a good policy. There’s no air conditioning, just a ceiling fan in the living area and bedroom. A few costs felt ridiculous after paying good money for the holiday: €100 on arrival, another €25 for the TV remote, plus a daily Wi-Fi charge. We arrived at 9pm to a dark, closed reception. After waiting about 20 minutes outside in the dark, the maintenance man came, took our holiday voucher and gave it back, then sent us off with a map. We had to find the bungalow ourselves. Three days later we were told they’d been looking for us because we hadn’t paid the €100 or handed in the voucher. We explained nobody had mentioned any of that.

The pool and bar are superb, and I really like the bungalows and the friendly staff. The rooms get stuffy, though, with tiny windows and no ceiling fans. The bathroom is tiny and windowless, and turns into a sauna when you shower. Our roommate nearly passed out in there.

Two good-sized pools and plenty of loungers, plus a great Greek Taverna beside the main entrance. The complex is decent for a holiday. The beach is about a 25-minute walk, which can feel tiring when it’s very hot.