Grecotel Luxme Costa Botanica

A good spot for a laid-back holiday. The resort is roomy, green, clean and well cared for, just outside town with the shops you need close by. Staff were friendly and helpful throughout, the buffet was generous and kept topped up, and our spacious room was cleaned every day.

The hotel itself is beautiful and peaceful, and our room was spacious. We booked about two months ahead, first through TUI, then found a better deal on the hotel's own website. We arranged a private transfer because we arrived late. The distance isn't great, but the drive took around 45 minutes to an hour, winding up and over a mountain. There's a lot of potential here, but service felt inconsistent and short of premium. We tried not to blame the staff for the poor weather, which they couldn't control, but the hotel didn't seem equipped for it. The restaurants were overwhelmed since their dining areas had no windows or doors to shield guests from the weather. The kids' club was also unavailable because its room wasn't suited to bad weather. Cups and glasses were often left around the hotel instead of being cleared. Our room was cleaned somewhat regularly, though I don't think the floors were cleaned often. Two days after wearing them, the bottoms of my slippers had picked up the floor's color. We got clean towels daily, but sometimes they were just left to the side. Minibar items, including Nespresso capsules, water and soda, were replenished almost every day. We also got one bottle of wine for the whole week.

We had a really fun stay with our two children and felt comfortable throughout. The rooms were perfectly fine. You might spot little things to complain about, but I could find those even in a five-star hotel in Germany. The weather wasn't kind to us at the end of September. We rented a car on site without any trouble, and the price was reasonable and in line with what I'd checked beforehand. There was more than enough food. We were usually among the first to eat and had a great experience, so I couldn't understand people saying they waited 15 minutes to be served. Staff were friendly all around, and our one booking at the à la carte restaurant went smoothly through the internal reservation system. Some things that had been criticized before, like mosquitoes, food, reservations and rooms, seemed to have improved. Mosquito spray was available, and reservations at the office worked well. I honestly don't understand negative ratings for the food. Five stars or not, we had a good time.

We arrived around 11 pm and got a warm welcome from the staff, which was a lovely start to our last-minute mini-moon. The food and people were wonderful, though the rooms are a little basic. There was a mix-up with our balcony loft booking. We were first given a ground-floor room with a veranda facing the pool and very little privacy. Reception said nothing else was available that night and asked us to check again the next day. By 3 pm we'd been moved into the room we booked, and the problem was dealt with well. Wasps around the outdoor dining and bar areas made it hard to relax outside, and the room mix-up cost the resort a star. It's a beautiful place with great food and lovely staff, but we probably wouldn't return. If wasps don't bother you, you may have a great stay.