Mareblue Beach - All Inclusive Resort

The view from the pool was lovely, and the location was really nice. We also enjoyed the food, with lots of variety in meals and in the food and drink available around the pool. Our room, though, looked nothing like the pictures. There was mold near the air conditioning unit, dust on the bedside lamps, above the bed, and in the wardrobes. The shower holder was broken and never repaired. During our 7-day stay, the cleaners put the previous day’s bedding back on the bed rather than changing it. I know because it had stains. They mopped the floor and made the bed, then left the room door unlocked, so anyone could enter. Clean or presumably clean bedding was left on the floor outside our room, along with uncapped cleaning products. By the end of the trip, my partner and I had hundreds of mosquito bites each, plus ant bites from our room and spider bites. We’re both now taking antibiotics for infections. I wouldn’t recommend this hotel.

We had a choice of two evening entertainment areas, depending on the kind of atmosphere we wanted, plus two fancier indoor restaurants for a change of pace. There were two main pools and a short walk down to a few small beaches. The staff, food, and amenities were great. I loved the hotel, and the Bond theme made me laugh. The room was a bit dated and let the place down. The balcony also didn’t feel very private, so I didn’t really want to sit out there.

The setting on the island’s northeast coast is stunning, though it takes over an hour on twisty roads to get back to Corfu Old Town or the airport. Local amenities just outside the complex are well worth a visit. We had a lovely week, with more positives than negatives. The grounds were well maintained throughout, and there was enough entertainment available without anyone pressuring us to join in. The food was excellent, plentiful, and had lots of choice. Thanks to the hard-working kitchen staff. Toasties and ice creams were available between meals. The room was fine, better than we expected. Our only real issue was that people in adjoining apartments could see onto our ground-floor balcony, though we were out most of the day, so it wasn’t a big deal. We agreed with previous guests that the all-inclusive drinks selection was limited, but without paying more for the stay, I can’t see another option.

The pizzeria by the pool was the best place to eat, and the pizzas were the highlight of the hotel. The main restaurant food was nothing special, though we could usually find something. This place felt closer to a low-end 3-star than a 4-star hotel compared with others we’ve stayed at. There are two pools, but one is adults-only, which left the lower pool very busy. Both use salt water, and all four of our children developed blisters on their fingertips from irritation. The all-inclusive offer was very basic. Drinks were limited to beer, vodka, white rum, peach snaps, or ouzo, all of them very weak. Everything else cost extra, and even those drinks were charged after 11 pm. There was only basic coffee, and the soft drinks and juice were watered down. Our rooms were dirty. I don’t think the cleaners did much, as the beds weren’t made or changed during our stay and we only got clean towels. There was thick dust on the switches and windowsills. The staff didn’t seem welcoming. We were travelling with four children, and the animation team showed little enthusiasm for daytime activities or the mini disco. They didn’t look like they enjoyed their jobs. A beach towel required a €10 deposit, and you could only exchange it every 2 days. The hotel doesn’t have a private beach, and loungers there cost extra. It’s also a 2 and a bit hour transfer, and the hotel is secluded, so plan to bring extra money for excursions.