Occidental Jandía Mar - All Inclusive

The kids’ club was a real highlight. Dora and Claudia were wonderful with my children, and the Barcy Club team kept them cheerful and busy with activities every day. We had a lovely family holiday, with a great location and lots of different food to choose from each day. There was a problem with the room our travel agent had booked, and reception wasn’t very helpful when we asked to change it. We eventually paid extra for a better room, and the view was amazing, so we felt that was worth it. A wonderful choice for a stay with children.

The beach is about a 10-minute walk away, though the resort sits at the top of a really steep hill, so getting back can be tricky. There’s also a free coach to the main shopping area twice in the morning and twice in the afternoon, which came in handy. We hadn’t realized when booking that the beach near the lighthouse, the closer side to the resort, is popular with naturists. We got a shock, and I wouldn’t walk that way with kids. We spent a week all inclusive at the Occidental and had a brilliant time. The place was amazingly clean, and everyone on staff was friendly. Our twin room was much bigger than expected, with a balcony and sea view. The walls are thin, though, so noisy neighbours are hard to miss. Dinner had a different theme each night, like Italian or American. If that wasn’t your thing, there was always pizza, pasta, and chips. We had a lovely stay and would definitely come back.

The animation team kept things lively with activities all day, from water sports and games to entertainment for children. They worked hard and made for a fun atmosphere. The hotel was also accessible, with lifts, ramps, adapted rooms, and a pool hoist for guests with disabilities. Indoors it was very clean, and the cleaning staff clearly worked hard. Food was generally very good, with plenty of buffet options, plus snack bars serving burgers, pizza, chips, and other things throughout the day. At busy times, finding a table could be difficult, and sometimes plates, cups, and glasses ran short. The coffee machines occasionally ran out of beans. The room stayed clean, but two bottles of sun cream went missing. I contacted the hotel, and one turned up again the next day. Around the pool, maintenance could have been better: there was some rubbish left overnight, and sunbeds were hard to find because guests put towels on them early and left them unused for hours. The pool itself was clean. A free shuttle takes about 10 minutes to reach the beach and runs several times a day. There are shops and a café there, but their food and drinks aren’t covered by all-inclusive. The hotel looked clean and well kept when we arrived, and check-in took around 10 minutes. Reception is on Floor 3, while the restaurant and entertainment area are on Floor 2. Check-out is at 12 noon; there’s secure luggage storage and guests can book a shower room, which was useful before heading home. The airport transfer took about 1 hour and 45 minutes. We enjoyed our stay at this clean, family-friendly hotel, despite the issues with sunbeds, restaurant crowds, and housekeeping.

We had a wonderful 8-night family stay at Jandia Mar, with 7 of us: 5 adults, a teen, and a toddler. January still brought beautiful weather, reaching 23°C and feeling like 26°C, so we could sunbathe and swim in both the pool and ocean. There was plenty to keep every age busy throughout the day and evening. The teen game room, or arcade, stayed open until 11 PM. The hotel also had on-site shops, several bars, and a kids’ club for ages 4 and up. Food came in a good range, with options for different dietary requirements. Our rooms and bathrooms were spacious and clean, and the rooms had a TV and mini-fridge. We didn’t feel the standard inclusive package lacked anything we needed. The “Ultra Inclusive” upgrade was offered for €19 per person/night. Pool towels took a €20 deposit, payable by cash or card, and each towel change cost €2. The service was the one disappointing part. Staff seemed less friendly and helpful than we’ve found at other resorts. Even so, we’d highly recommend the hotel, especially for families.