Alba Queen Hotel

I was there over New Year’s Eve, and the experience didn’t match the advertised 5-star rating. The facilities and conditions fell well short of what I’d expect at that level. The activities and entertainment also seemed aimed almost entirely at German guests. I understand that lots of visitors come from Germany, but other guests can feel excluded when staff communication, shows and game nights are only in German. The rating doesn’t line up with the service or the stay.

I stayed over New Year’s Eve, and wouldn’t go back. The food was okay and the service good, but it felt like a 3 or 4-star hotel, not 5-star. From the music to the entertainment, everything was in German, which makes it hard to enjoy if you don’t speak the language. I wouldn’t recommend it to international tourists looking for entertainment.

We booked two rooms, one double and one triple, and both were spacious, with large balconies facing the mountains. The beds and soft pillows were comfortable, and the rooms were bright, with lots of lamps and lighting. A switch let us choose “Clean Room” or “Do Not Disturb”, and housekeeping still cleaned daily, even on mornings when we slept in. The complimentary minibar was restocked each day. One bathroom had a slightly slow drain, but it didn’t affect our stay much. The food was a real treat. The main buffet ran at set times, breakfast 07:00-10:30, lunch 12:30-14:00 and dinner 19:00-21:00. Dishes changed daily, food was cooked fresh in front of you and the buffet was regularly replenished. The waiters were attentive and friendly. I especially liked the Food Bar by the outdoor pool, open 11:00-17:00, with waiter service for food and drinks. They also had set times for fresh waffles, pancakes and ice cream, all delicious. The beach is less than a five-minute scenic walk away. The sand and sea were very clean, and lifeguards were on duty. Sunbeds were free, but the beach bar charged extra. Around the hotel there’s a lot to do: a spa, though it’s on the expensive side, outdoor and indoor pools, a baby pool, jacuzzi, a gym with the basics, a 24-hour bar, an indoor arcade with a pool table, and different evening entertainment every night. The Wi-Fi worked really well all around the hotel and even reached the beach. It was a good choice to come in December, as the weather gave us sunny, warm days and cool evenings. The hotel wasn’t crowded in the off-season, but there were still friendly staff and guests. About a ten-minute walk away, several markets were open, with friendly shop owners selling clothes, jewellery and bags. You could book jeep safaris and quad biking too. Our Loveholidays guide arranged a free shuttle to a bigger market. One of my favourite things nearby was the masjid. Hearing the Adhan for the five daily prayers gave the holiday a peaceful feel. I booked through Loveholidays and would happily come back. A beautiful hotel for a relaxing stay with plenty of good food.

We’re here now, and everyone at reception, among the waiters, bar staff, animation team, chefs and most of the cleaners has helped make this a really lovely stay. The hotel is welcoming and very clean, our room is lovely, the staff are lovely and there’s a good range of food. We can’t fault it overall and would highly recommend it. We’ll be back! One cleaner on our floor has been pestering us for a tip every day, telling us she’s finished. I’ve had the flu for a week and have been in the room, but she still comes in even with the red light on, saying “finish, finish”. My partner went to get water and said no thanks to cleaning, but she followed him down the stairs repeating it. She’s been doing this for two weeks, which is annoying. We always tip at the end of our stay; we don’t expect preferential service, but sorry, lady, you’ve missed out. Please leave people alone!