The positives:
- good, spacious pool areas
- easy access to beach
- great views to beach from rear of hotel
- friendly reception and restaurant staff
- good variety and quality of food
- good evening entertainment (free)

The negatives:
- pool freezing (including the children pool)
- no entertainment or play facilities or toys for children or adults in any areas (hotel or pool)
- no creche or child care services
- rooms looked tired and basic furnishings
- no complementaries in the rooms (not what you expect for a five star price)
- TV channels limited (no high-speed internet access in rooms)
- only one PC for guest use in the whole hotel!! (constantly busy as you can imagine)
- restaurant times limited (not enough flexibility for a five star!)
- room service menu limited
- hotel parking was expensive
- the sun beds at the hotel beach area were very expensive for Spain (should be free for guests of this five star hotel)

In summary, we enjoyed our stay and met some very nice people but they all had similar negative comments. The hotel should be rated as a four star hotel (although the restaurant food quality probably rates as five star). There are, however, none of the frills and high class services that you would expect from a five star. There are also too few staff in the hotel so you are constantly waiting.

Would not pay the price again. Go to a Parador!

My husband and I have just spent a wonderful week here. We had 5 star service from start to finish.We parked outside the hotel door, and our suitcases were whisked up to our rooms as we checked in. All the staff, from the chambermaids up to management were SO helpful, and so friendly. We loved every minute of it! The room had a fabulous view from the balcony, of the pool and the sea, and it was really peaceful. The hotel was luxurious, spotlessly clean, and had everything we needed for a relaxing spa break.
The buffet breakfast was spectacular, and the restaurant staff couldn't have been better. We didn't eat again until the evening! There was lots of choice for the generous buffet dinner, and for a very reasonable price we had an amazing meal in the a la carte restaurant.
The long beach, which is just a few yards away, through the pine trees, is beautifully clean, fine sand. The hotel has a beach bar, and free sunbeds.
We couldn't fault the hotel. WOW!!

We were very impressed with the look of the hotel. It was finished to a very high standard. The rooms were comfortable and well equiped, the staff helpful and the food excellent. The pool was large and clean though rather cold and the beach had soft sand. We enjoyed the walk through the pines to the beach. We have no complaints about the hotel at all just the area it is situated in. It was quite a distance from Isla Cristina town - okay as long as you have good walking shoes - and a very unattractive walk. There was a lot of graffiti on unfinished apartments and shops. It was as if a lot of money was spent on building up the area and the money ran out and it was just left.

We stayed for a week and were house hunting so had plenty to occupy us but unless you were on honeymoon or a short business stay it would not be a suitable venue.

We stayed at this hotel, not long after it opened. The rooms are gorgoeus and the bathroom was huge. Big enough for 4 people in the shower! The food was excellent. Breakfast, there was a huge assortment to choose from, and the evening meal, was fantastic. There was a sushi chef, huge amounts of prawns and other seafood as well as a magnificent salad bar and various hot meals. The beach is a short walk through the trees and if you turn left along the beach, you come to some lovely restaurants and quaint Spanish tapas bars. The actual town centre is the other way. It has quaint back streets, banks, bakeries and shops. Although we eat in the hotel every night because we were on a half board basis, the restaurants along from the beach looked lovely. I think that the person who wrote the above review, perhaps didn't find these little gems.... I found the staff to be extremely helpful even remembering our names at night in the main restaurant. There was a pianist playing most nights in the hotel. I'm only in my 30's so yes it probably would be too quiet for some, but for a truly relaxing hotel on a lovely beach with a good book it's ideal.