02.01.2005 12:49:24

Spain/Puerto de la Cruz/SOL PUERTO PLAYA

We stayed here during Christmas 2004 and found it to be a very dated and basic hotel. It needs some serious cash spending on it to bring it into the 21st century. Our room overlooked the ocean but the view was spoiled by a very run down public swimming pool, a sports court and a shack full of rubbish. The room contained two very dated pink PVC armchairs, two single beds pushed together, a very old TV that didn't pick up anything and a safe that costs 11 euros per week. The bathroom looked better but was small. The rooms don't have any heating during winter and the hotel could only offer more blankets so sitting in the room is impossible, not that you would want to anyway. The balconys look very old with peeling paint and two old plastic chairs which needed a good clean. The restaurant is very poor quality. We decided to eat out during the evenings even though we were on a half-board basis as it didn't look good at all. The bar was better but there is no entertainment at all. I'm sure the hotel only had one CD and guests even started bringing their own down. During the evening there is only one bar person who just could not cope. All the tables were covered in glasses and we felt so sorry for him even started to collect them ourselves. The pool looks OK but we did not use it as it is NOT heated in winter as stated on a lot of websites. Many guests were being moved when we arrived as did our friends who moved to another four star hotel around the corner and that was pure luxury compared to this hotel. We checked out after 3 nights (booked 7) as we just could not stay here any longer. We would not recommend staying here.