Le Jardin Resort

This was my second stay, last month, and the hotel’s manageable size makes it feel more personal than the huge places in Lara. You get familiar with the staff, and they get to know you too. On arrival, we were welcomed at the large reception, checked in, and helped to our room with our luggage. The room was clean and roomy enough, with a large bathroom and a high shower I could stand under comfortably. The air conditioning worked well. After a few days, though, we noticed a sewer smell. I mentioned it to Guest Relations before breakfast, and it was fixed by the time we returned. The sink siphon’s non-return valve had failed. The restaurant was tidy, chilled food was kept cold, and there was enough choice for everyone. In mid-September, we could usually find sunbeds by the pool or under the garden trees, while the beach was busier. There was plenty of shade in all those areas. Staff were easy to speak with in English or German. When someone couldn’t understand, they found a colleague to help, so language wasn’t a problem. The hotel was also being kept tidy throughout. A shopping street with clothes, bags, suitcases, perfume, and sweets was about a 200-meter walk away, with the usual haggling. The hotel also looks after several cats all year, including their food, health, and sterilization.

The hotel’s facilities feel somewhat dated, and I wouldn’t call this a five-star all-inclusive experience. The internet was poor unless you paid per person for better access, and orange juice cost extra. Reception staff weren’t very friendly. Our first room was dirty and had broken air conditioning. We had a terrible first night, then complained several times before being moved to a better room the next day.

We spent a week here and liked having both lively spots and quieter corners. The guest mix felt balanced and pleasant, with visitors from France, Poland, and Russia. Most areas were calm, but there was entertainment too, and quiet places where you could read or just look up at the sky. The entertainment team was friendly without pushing, and there were seaside options like parasailing, jetcar, jetski, and Ringo. I didn’t use the spa, so can’t speak to it, though they do have plenty of massage choices. The beach was one of the highlights for us. It’s by the sea and has a Blue Flag, and we spent more time swimming there than in the pools. Lying in the sun or under the trees was lovely, and food and drinks were easy to find around the hotel. There’s a main pool, an aqua park, and pools for children, plus spaces for adults and kids to enjoy activities separately. The mini disco and mini club were good for the children, while adults had the amphitheater, dance floor, and club. Rooms were practical, with lots of lockers. Food was delicious, and the menus changed daily. We particularly liked the meat dishes, rice pilaf, moist cake, and ice cream. There were a lot of choices, including a la carte restaurants, and it was hard to try everything in one holiday. The staff were very friendly and went out of their way to make guests comfortable. The layout works well for families and for people without children. It was a great experience for the price, and we’re already looking forward to coming back next year.

It’s a really nice place for a holiday if the guest mix doesn’t bother you. The hotel was full of Russian guests, and the animation was only in Russian. They did the same dance to the same song every day and didn’t come over to us, even though they saw we had kids. That was the one really bad part. The beach is very close, and the food and drinks are delicious. People at the main bar, cleaners, porters, and waiters were lovely. Reception was different: the staff seemed annoyed when we spoke a language other than Russian, and they didn’t know much English. There are loads of cats around. They all seemed vaccinated and healthy. 😃