LABRANDA Playa Bonita Hotel

I have just returned from a week's all inclusive with my boyfriend. Do not listen to the negative reviews, food was plentiful with enough choice for even a fussy eater. Drinks were self-serve and were great, alcoholic and non-alcoholic. The hotel was very clean which is the main thing. The pool is not heated as described but overall we thought the place was great and will definitely return.

i went all inc for my stay ,i requested a quiet room. i got a room by the stage! 30 more euro's to move away to a quiet room, i did not move, i went in November, there was plenty of rooms unoccupied so i think they put you near the stage to make a few bucks more when you ask to move. Some of the people i arrived with did pay to move. 17.50 euro for safe hire. the toilet doors don't lock nor do they fit the hole! we had an 2 cm gap at the hinge side and a 1 cm at the handle side, lol, the door enabled you to see from the toilet who was passing down the hall. Sound echo. Romantic! the entertainment was bingo, quiz, singing yourself and musical hits to clap along to, not all at once, bingo was one night, quiz another etc. i gave this hotel a low rate because the food is dull and uninspired, the toasters don't work. I complained to the management, they said they'd be fixed by next day, they weren't fixed when we left 5 days later. bacon is slices of ham grilled, luke warm food, never hot. the food is pork or fish or chicken , pitza, chips, rice and peas with sweet corn and carrot or cheese salad every day , every meal time, very little or no variation. one day we had mash potato appeared to be made from powder, next day reconstituted mash potato piped grilled . the dessert is angel delight in 4 flavours, ice cream in 4 flavours, fruit, also tiny portions of cream with a cake base. I recommend the bananas. serve your own drinks, there is a lovely outside dining area but non smokers beware once the diners next to you have finished they will all light up smokes and ruin your meal under the stars. If you book here i recommend you go room only and eat out. the rooms are clean , there are many restaurants within walking distance. The staff here are great but i think let down by management. The hotel is in a great spot for shops, restaurants and the beach. The beach is a short 200 yard walk, down 130 steps , sandy . when we were here the life guards kept whistling people out the water but i couldn't see why, the waves were great to jump about in , no power in them, no under tow, just fun, i sea swim around our coast, i'm used to pounding water, this water was for kids. I assumed they know the water better than me and got out the first day, day 2 i was swimming along with others and got whistled out again. i went and asked why and was told it was too dangerous! the breeze was onshore the wave a child of 10 could stand up in and there was no under tow. So along with everyone else as soon as the life guards drove off doing doughnuts in there toyota truck we all got back in until they returned 40 minutes later , again we all got out, they drove off, we all got back in until they returned 40 minute later. All the 3 life guards did was drive up and down at 40 minute intervals, the life guards in Newquay would be hung up by the tourists if they behaved like this, the waves in Newquay are brutal. No one whistles you out they just keep you in a safer area with flags. The pool at the hotel is ok to get wet in, some girl on the side did a frantic exercise routine and tried to get the 2 swimmers in there to follow her, ridiculous thing to do in my opinion ,one kid just looked alarmed at her parent in a ''help'' kind of way, . They serve drinks all day hot and cold, it's a help yourself thing, it was very nice. I would come to this resort again but not the hotel, the food was too ''canteen'' and dull. I like ''treats'' food, novelty, fun something to go ooh lovely! over, this hotel doesn't have any.