Inturotel Cala Azul

The location worked out perfectly, and we came at just the right time of the season to enjoy the town and views after the busy period, with children back at school. The property was impeccably clean, the facilities suited our short stay, and the staff were polite and friendly. I came back from a birthday weekend feeling we couldn't have asked for more. Breakfast was nice and had a selection I liked. For a longer visit I'd want more hot breakfast variety, though. The room's shower looked a little dated and needs improvement, it didn't feel like a four-star experience. For a short stay, everything else was perfect.

The kids especially loved jumping from the rocks into the sea, and the nearby beach was excellent too. There were plenty of dinner spots, and our family of four could eat with a few drinks for about 100-120 euros a night. The mini-golf and football court were hits as well. A little land train stops right outside and takes you to the Marina; we rode it a couple of times and walked back in the cooler weather. A taxi there was only about 6 euros. We stayed a week in a standard room. It was somewhat dated, but Isobel, our cleaner, did a great job every day. We saw a couple of ants on the balcony, nothing worth making a fuss over. Breakfast had a good selection for everyone, and the coffee was especially nice. Sunbeds under the trees were always available, with both sun and shade, if you didn't mind being away from the pool. Our balcony was quiet despite having no pool or sea view. The family and I had worried after reading negative reviews, but it turned out to be a fantastic hotel for the price, and the resort was lovely. The kids had a blast. One thing to know, there are no lifts, so ask for a ground-floor room if stairs are an issue.

We asked for our money back and left on the day we arrived. At Inturotel Cala Azul, it quickly felt like the hotel and accommodation had been misrepresented. Our bathroom in Block D had mould stains, limescale-covered taps, and odd brown marks in and on the toilet. Reception asked if they could send a cleaner, but the dirt was deep and a quick wipe wouldn't have removed the mould. They offered us a look at another apartment. It was a bit cleaner, but ants were crawling all over the bath. We returned to reception to complain and request a refund. After a lot of back and forth, they agreed to a full refund if we packed up and left straight away, which was fine with us. The rooms were outdated and hygiene was poor. We found a much nicer hotel for £50 less per night.

The location is fantastic, with two amazing beaches on either side and a cove with a platform and ladders for getting into the sea. Our family group of 18 had a great holiday, and I would stay again, but only in the modernised rooms. We were in Block G, which was great: clean rooms with everything needed for self-catering. Others in our party got rooms in Block D that were very dated and didn't even have a microwave. Service was slow, though our cleaner was brilliant. The different room types for the same price are why I rated both service and rooms low.