HotelClub Riu Garopa

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74 out of 100 (3 Sources)

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harry-scott (55)
billericay, United Kingdom

94%

excellent

[harry-scott, 21.02.2007] There is always some bad news. This is not a complaint, but observation. The Thompson flight seats are not sufficient for long haul journey's, they are too narrow and cramped and I have said this to Thompsons, why have a 5 star resort and travel on a 3 star plane?
Through no fault of Thompsons, imigration at the airport took 1 1/2 hours; it is a small airport and cannot, at the moment handle the volume. For the return trip, we queued behind a flight to Norway and/or Paris and were at the airport a long, unnecessary, 3 hours before take off. The Airport has a bar, with limited outside and inside seating and a duty free shop, though prices are cheaper on the plane; for us bad guys, Silkcut was £22 for 400 onboard the plane.
I should mention the Thompson Reps. at the hotel, were helpful and not the Bimbo type.
So that is the only bad news.
We, two families of three, Totally enjoyed this holiday, great value for money, we heard only compliments from other guests.
Contact Thompsons for your visas, and pay latter at the hotel, they are 25 Euros per person.
Hope this has been of help, go enjoy.

Harry Scott, Billericay, Essex 21st. February 2007

97/100

Room [more][less]
100/100

Size
100/100

Cleanliness

All buildings are in the Moorish style. They are two storey buildings and placed so as not to be on top of one another, lots of open space. sheets and towels are fresh each day.
rooms have AC. A small fridge,a free safe, hair dryer and shampoo and shower gel. All have a balcony. Beds are larger than in many hotels.
95/100

General hotel amenities [more][less]
100/100

Appearance/Architecture
100/100

Lobby Atmosphere

The complex is far more attractive than the brochure photographs. The lobby is nicely laid out with comfortable expensive furniture; toilets very clean, marble everywhere, there are also shower facilities. There are a few boutique type shops plus a shop for tooth paste etc. though the better shop for that kind of thing, is in the sister hotel Funana. Front desk very capable, but touchy when inundated ((normal). There are 3 restaurants at each hotel. The first night you will eat in the main restaurant Espargos, this restaurant also serves the breakfast until 10.30 after which, it serves croissants and coffee. For evening meals, the other restaurants can be booked, in the lobby ,4 days in advance. They all up to standard, but in our opinion, the Espargo is the best.
Lunch time meals are in spacious restaurants near the swimming pools, plenty to choose from (see below)
Guests, very international, German, Italian, French and Scandinavian who have been coming to Sal long before the Brits and Irish. We saw no riff and no raff, all were well behaved; everyone dresses smartly for dinner, with the Italians leading the way. T shirts are required lunch times.
All bars close at midnight except the Disco bar which opens 11 until 2.30am, for those who want to bat on. Lobby bar, with help yourself beer taps, wine taps and soft drinks taps, saves queues. Stage bar and side stage bar, which I thought the best, as it makes better cocktails, serves real expresso coffe and not such a bad brandy, either.
Each hotel has 2 large swimming pools, each with a bar, toilets, ample sun loungers, there was no case of, you know who, nicking all the sun beds; towels are issued at the pool and can be changed daily. Sports, water polo and aerobics. Each hotel has 1 tennis floodlit hard court, rackets and balls available in libby, free, you must book ahead.
There are 2 indoor pool tables and 2 table tennis tables and other games. Archery is available, on the beach 5 aside football and volleyball. Quad bikes, 2. 1/2 hours are 50 euros, daughter went, said great fun.
Spa; Saunas free, massage 50 Euros, all looked professional to me.
We have a daughter, 16, children under 18 are issued red wrist bands which stops them from obtaining alchahol, but not from entering the disco, but not the parents fromsupplying it. The baby to under teenager group have a special area, some indoor, and looked very good to me, staff dress up as clowns etc.
94/100

Food & Beverages [more][less]
90/100

Food Variety
90/100

Food Quality

Plenty of eggs, bacon, healthy stuff and European stuff. Quality, if the food, especially fish, appears to have been standing, ask for a fresh batch and it comes along; food quality is good, better than many restaurants in the UK. Would take ones time to look around first,look for carvery table, where you can get, cut from the bone depending on the night, lamb, pork, chicken and some i missed.
Here, again, help yourself to beer, wine (the reds not for me , white, fair enough. Some nights you will be offered Champagne, others, port and sherry, sometimes shampoo for breakers. Cocktails you take a chance on, some of the mixers are not as per UK, depending on the bar (as said earlier) The local drink is grogue, ghastly!
Tables are cleared promptly between courses. A real temptation, for those on diets to abandon them. No complaints
84/100

Location and surroundings [more][less]
90/100

Landscape/Scenery
80/100

Transportation Connection

As said, the hotel is nicely laid out. The scenery, You might expect to see Lawrence of Arabia passing by. Sal is a cross between beach and desert the only grass is around the hotel grounds. Walk in either direction from the hotel along the beach and it is deserted. We were there 12th. Feb. for 1 week, weather very good and quite ,to very windy, it is a wind surfer, kite surfer and surfer surfer paradise; February being the windiest month; as such it may not feel, as hot, as it is, that sun is very strong, bring the sun factors with you. The hotel part of the beach has ample sun beds, 2 to a sun shade, not all on top of one another, it seemed to me, quieter than around the pool and even less windy. Whislt I mention wind, BRING SWEATERS, JUMPERS OR CARIGANS, for the evenings, in Dec. Jan. Feb March, you may or may not need them, just in case; although on the same latitude as Barbados, Sal does not have a Caribbean climate, humidity is low. The waves are great fun for those who love the challenge, but too much for small children or those that are not strong confident swimmers. The sea is a fabulous colour and has a temperature similar to that of the Med. in August. It is a great setting. There is a beach bar, but the loos are a stroll back to the entrance. I loved it.