Garden Playanatural

We’re currently staying here and can’t really fault the hotel or facilities, it’s all kept clean and even when coming down to the pool at 11am there are plenty of sunbeds to choose from. The only downside I can report on is this hotel is very focussed towards its Spanish guests; most of the evening entertainment we’ve experienced has been completely in Spanish, even the interactions between songs, and the activities during the day are all carried out in Spanish, which if you don’t speak the language, doesn’t feel very inclusive. But that’s not to say you can’t enjoy yourself here, you just may not feel able to participate in all activities/entertainment. With that as well, I was really hoping to try some genuine Spanish cuisine here, but as it’s so focused on the Spanish guests, there doesn’t seem to be too much of that which is a shame for us wanting to experience it. Every night is a theme night and the food is lovely - hopefully we just haven’t come across the Spanish night yet!

Hotel very clean at all times. 2 pools spotless. Bed really comfy, shower great. On the whole staff were lovely esp in dining room and at the bar. On the downside, the breakfast was absolutely awful. Couldn't compliment any of it except the tinned peaches and crusty rolls and I am not fussy. Receptionists were mostly young girls with little english which made communicating v difficult. Obviously I could have made more of an effort re learning Spanish. Lastly On a high note I had 2 fantastic spa treatments from 2 lovely ladies. Wouldn't go back but did have a great time.

We stayed for one week as a couple. There were some positives. The pool was very good, and the pool bar staff and food offering were also good. Our room was generally clean, the cleaning team were excellent, and check-in and check-out were straightforward. Unfortunately, several issues significantly affected our stay. The room needed maintenance because the shower head was loose and some of the sealant was coming away. Wi-Fi was slow around the pool, there were numerous flies near the pool and inside the restaurant, and we regularly had to queue to enter the restaurant. Plain water was not always as easy to obtain with meals as it should have been. The main restaurant food was otherwise okay. It was nothing exceptional, but it generally did the job. Restaurant service sometimes felt rushed, with staff appearing ready to clear our plates almost immediately after the final mouthful. The kitchen staff also seemed reserved and rarely interacted with guests, including at the live-cooking stations. Our most serious concern involved illness. My partner developed vomiting and significant stomach symptoms on Thursday, and I became ill with diarrhoea and similar stomach symptoms on Saturday. We had both eaten the paella during the stay before becoming ill. We cannot confirm the exact cause, but the symptoms and timing made us suspect food poisoning and left us concerned about the paella's preparation or storage. We informed reception on Friday afternoon and spoke to them again on Saturday morning before checkout. Nobody apologised, expressed much concern or offered to involve a manager. Because we were unwell, we asked whether we could keep the room until 8 p.m., but were offered only an extension from noon until 2 p.m. We understand that late checkout depends on availability, but the lack of empathy and practical assistance made us feel that our situation was not being taken seriously. The hotel has potential, and some staff worked very hard, particularly the cleaning and pool bar teams. However, the suspected food poisoning, maintenance issues and reception's response meant the experience did not feel consistent with a four-star hotel. Based on this stay, we would not return.