El Pinar

The whole stay was a pleasant surprise. We were three adults and seven children in two adjoining cottages. Each house had two bedrooms and two sofa beds, so there were 16 beds across the cottages. The sofa beds were comfortable and roomy, and the typical Spanish cottages had a lovely charm and cross-ventilation. With the sea air, we didn’t need air conditioning. The children and adults both enjoyed the outdoor pool. Everything was clean and freshly painted, and we were happy with the utensils and accessories. The parking area is closed and under video surveillance. Reception was attentive and quick to help whenever needed. The place has the warm, family feel we were hoping for. Special thanks to the central reception at Miami Platja, which was professional, attentive and responsive. Thank you, thank you.

The host and reception staff were very attentive, and the location is quiet with parking inside the townhouse grounds. But the Airbnb and Booking.com photos are out of date. There’s no separation between the townhouses, and the patio and garden are shared with the neighbours. Their children and dogs walk through, so there’s no privacy. The walls are thin enough that you hear everything. The pool wasn’t in the best shape, and although there’s a barbecue area, there’s no grill. It could be okay for a weekend if you’re not too demanding, but I wouldn’t recommend it otherwise.

The pool was the only good part. There were cockroaches, the sofas and beds were uncomfortable, cell reception was poor, and the sound was bad. We planned to stay a week but left after two nights.

We cut our three-day reservation short after the first night. The apartment was in very poor condition, and the pool was filthy and completely green. We reported it and were told someone would come to look, but since the chlorine level met the requirement, they seemed not to care that it was dirty and full of mold. The outdoor terrace was awful, wide open and dirty, with pests like cockroaches or rats able to get in. For the service on offer, the price is a rip-off.