Bahia Feliz, Hotel Orquidea

In summary, the hotel is dirty, crowded, noisy and poorly maintained. The staff tolerate the guests at best, and are downright rude at worst.

The all-inclusive option is a joke unless you plan to survive on watered down drinks, processed foods and chips. The all-inclusive facilities are completely miss-sold and involve lots of additional expenditure. Meal times in the main restaurant were a real treat spent counting flies and watching the surly waitress staff circle around the tables scraping half eaten meals into festering bin bags hanging from their serving trolleys - what joy!! The only ray of sunshine was the excellent El Sultan A la Carte restaurant which, suprise suprise, was not included in the all-inclusive package!! and cost our family an additional £180 over our week long stay.

The reps were very helpful but slightly apathetic towards the guests' criticisms which they had probably heard countless times before. We requested alternative accomodation but this was unavailable.

On the plus side we met some fantastic people, but even this was not always by choice as the poolside sun deck was so crowded you found yourself apologizing to your neighbour if you brushed toes, tried to adjust your sunbed or attempted to pick your way through the lounger jam to get to the pool.

The rooms were serviceable but not very clean. Ours was split level which was not ideal for small children although this was pointed out in the brochure....well done Thomson!!

My kids had a great time running around the room every day playing "who had the dirtiest feet".

The resort was a little remote but again this was expected. Facilities outside the hotel complex were minimal but more representative of the Canary Island experience we had anticipated.

We have written to Thomson but to date have not received a satisfactory reply!!

In conclusion the holiday fell so far short of our expectations I found myself wishing we had booked the mock up beach scene on Thomsons tv advert instead! Sorry Thomson if that's your world, I'd rather not be welcome!!!

My fiancee and I (both mid- twenties + no children) have visited this hotel the Hotel Orquidea twice already and have just booked to go back for 2 weeks. Would highly recommend. Can see why this would also be a good place to take young children as lots of activities daily.