Eftalia Marin Resort

We stayed for 10 days as a family of 5. We arrived at 1:30am and they upgraded us to a swim up room (which we later found out seemed to happen to everyone to try and get you to pay extra to stay upgraded) we were told we could stay in there for a couple of days but to go to reception at 12 the following day to discuss. We already discussed with other people at the pool what their experiences were and between a few couples they told us they upgraded for between €200 and €300 for 10 days so we went to reception with this knowledge. They then told us that no there was no space it was fully booked but If we wanted to it would be minimum €600 and our original room wasn’t ready anyway. (Made absolutely no sense) We declined and asked for our room then as it was already an inconvenience to move. She said it wasn’t ready but they managed to find us a room and she put us on the top floor as far away from the lifts as possible. So not the best start to our holiday.

The relax pool was lovely, there wasn’t much of a fight for sun beds there and we managed to get 2 with ease every day until the last day (it seemed to be getting busier) when there wasn’t one subbed left at 9am and still only about a quarter of the people sat on them by the time we left the pool at 12. The relax pool only had one type of beer, red, white or rose wine or the soft drinks menu (coke, Coke Zero, can’t, sprite and peach iced tea) there plus the coffee machine and the fruit juice machines (cherry, apple, pineapple and lemon) that are dotted around everywhere self service. There was only one place you could get a wider variety of alcoholic drinks there (burger land) or the main reception where you could get a red cocktail or a green cocktail and if you wanted anything else you have to pay. There is a cocktail bar at the entertainment section which is paid for and if you sit there they will come round every 10 minutes to ask if you want to buy a cocktail.

Burgerland is great an open all day and all night for late night snacks and drinks (chips, doner, salad, fruit)

The entertainment in the hotel in the evenings is also good with some karaoke, dance shows and live music.

While you are laid on the sun bed for the day, someone different will come round every 20 minutes to ask if you want a tattoo or a Turkish bath or a cocktail all at extra charge.

There is ice cream available (twister lolly or feast lolly) only available at burger land 2-4 otherwise it’s €1 an ice cream in a cone from the coolers by the pool.

The food variety is pretty vast but a little like a school canteen. The hot food cooked for you on the specials seemed to be the best but a queue to get it and the food is on a 7 day rotation so after a week the food repeats.

You will get collared on your first day by a hotel rep to book excursions which we did book one and went on the Dino tour, not good value for money at all (apparently there is a place down the road is much cheaper for the same thing) so don’t use the hotel rep to book excursions

The hotel was very clean and comfortable with great air con and the room was cleaned daily. Cleaners were really friendly and made an effort with swans and towel art daily which my little boy loved. Staff were friendly and said hello every morning. The food hall they come and clean up as you go and are smiley and approachable.

There is tip boxes everywhere even in the rooms, on the bar, in the canteen and when you get out of a cab they even hold out the tip box to you.

The island is very busy and unless you go very early you won’t get a sunbed by the pools or slides there. The children enjoyed the water park but beware my 7 year old (quite tall for his age) could only go on two slides.

The beach is pebbly but if you walk right to the end there is some sun beds there that you are left alone and there is sand and the water is lovely and warm.

The watersports on the island are absolutely extortionate, we didn’t go on anything. There is also arcades, golf, bikes, high ropes, zip line, soft play etc but all at extra cost.

The evening entertainment in the amphitheater was amazing! The shows were really fantastic from bmx and roller skate tricks to dance shows and bubble and balloon magic, the kids thought this was amazing! It is very busy in there and very very hot so take a fan!

We had a good time as a family but I wouldn’t come back here.

Great place, spotlessly clean, staff are great and always wearing a smile, nothing was a problem for them. Ignore the reviews about the food (I did read negative reviews before I arrived) there is something for everyone, and it’s good, yes! It can sometimes be warm and not hot but look at how many they cater for! They do every type of food at every meal time, we never had a bad meal. The snack bar is 24hr and the food is standard, salads, burgers, pizza etc, but all very tasty, you have to try the chicken kebab, only served through the day though, but it’s really good! Beach/pool towels available everyday. The only downside are the drinks, they do seem very weak (even watered down possibly (or very short measures). Other than this I’d really recommend this hotel