VALBELLA

The key pickup took two hours because the line was long and only one person was handling check-ins. The place itself was very dirty, with old furniture, uncomfortable old beds, and dirty pillows. The kitchen was dirty too, and there weren't enough cutlery items for four people.

There's plenty to do here: several pool areas, tennis and basketball courts, beach volleyball, and themed entertainment nights. Once a week, the central pools stay open until before midnight. The holiday center has apartments in different sizes. It's near the emergency room, and you can easily walk to the center. There are also several supermarkets close by.

The residence has spacious pools and good local services, including a shuttle to the beach. Cleaning on arrival needs attention, though, as it was definitely below average. The rotary parking isn't always available, especially during the busy season.

The air conditioning and big terrace were the only real positives. The terrace at least meant I didn't have to spend all my time cooped up inside. For the quality of the stay, the price was unjustified. I was in a studio at the Valbella residence, and it was a mostly negative experience. Getting through the door was a struggle because the lock kept turning, and every time I opened it I had to try several times. I was worried I might get locked out. The furnishings were old, and some were broken. The shower had no tray or side panels, so the bathroom flooded every time I used it. The toilet water came from an electric boiler, leaving me without hot water for a long time. With the windows shut, a strong sewer smell made the apartment hard to live in. The fridge was too small, and its tiny freezer was unusable because it was packed with ice that hadn't been defrosted.