Sol Barbacan

The bungalow apartments are beautiful, and this is the best place I’ve ever stayed. I only wish there were a small pool on each porch. Cleaning could have been better: just a couple of hours after we arrived, I had to ask for cleaners because there was so much dust and hair, and even nails. Someone had apparently cut their toenails on the sofa. Eeewww. Apart from that, a beautiful hotel.

The patio made it easy to have a swim and then relax in our own space instead of staying on the pool loungers. It had a table, two chairs and two sun loungers, with a good amount of privacy. We had a clean, functional one-bedroom apartment on the first floor, level with the pool, and the bed was very comfy. All the staff we spoke to were super friendly and professional. The location worked well for us, with the beach, shops and restaurants within walking distance. A taxi from the main strip was only about 5 euros. There were plenty of activities at the hotel and nearby. We’d happily return.

The kids’ club was the low point for us. It was a very small room, and when we visited, the young man there didn’t seem to know much about working with kids. He said they didn’t do the listed activities because some children might not want to. One day we turned up for crafts at 11am and nothing was set out. If activities are on the list, I’d suggest running them so kids can join in. The rest of the stay had a lot going for it. The two-bedroom bungalows suited our family, giving us hotel amenities along with space and privacy. The larger bedroom had separate beds, while the room with joined beds was tiny. A bit odd, though I suppose kids have room to play. The hotel was quiet despite being centrally located, with plenty of restaurants nearby. Putt-putt was a nice extra, though the carpet badly needs replacing. The washer and dryer were handy. The island pool really was warm, while the whirlpool was strangely cold. The main pool is deep, and a walk-in entry for kids would have made it perfect. Reception staff were especially friendly and open to the small improvements I suggested. Service from the other staff was mixed: most were friendly, but a few seemed unhappy, and one was especially put off when I asked for a pot for tea. The nightly performers were better than expected for such a small crowd, and the acrobat was entertaining. The breakfast and dinner buffets were very good for a relatively small hotel. I hope they open the sunny front courtyard for breakfast and provide tea pods. The lunch menu was unexpectedly large and even had caprese salad. As long as you don't expect a great kids' club, Sol Barbacan is worth checking out for a nice stay and good value.

Two of the three pools were warm, which was nice, and our room was cleaned daily. The location was great, with everything close by. There was a sewer smell from the toilet, which bothered me a little. Our room faced a busy road and lounge bar, so it could get quite noisy, but once we closed the bedroom door we couldn't hear anything. We had a really nice stay overall and could see ourselves returning.