Waterman Hotel Kaktus

"Just returned from a week at Waterman Kaktus. I must start by saying the rooms are well decorated and airy and pleasant but I have several complaints about the hotel. This is an all inclusive package but not all inclusive. For a start the hotel charges extra for everything - machine coffee, sun loungers, use of certain pools, beach towels, safe. Only a small number of pools are included in the all inclusive, a number of which would be better suited at a 2 star in Benidorm. Food in only one restaurant is included, covered in flies, repetitive, stale. The all inclusive drink menu is very limited and watered down. The snack bar opens for a few hours a day and is not great at all. I had two rooms, mine was for 3 people. The extra bed was not made up on arrival and I was given a room with a balcony overlooking the road that barely fit 2 people. I complained to Helena at reception who tutted and shrugged her shoulders and told me no more rooms were available (although booking.com showed plenty) and that if I wanted to move i would have to pay €40 cleaning charge - even though they put me in a room not fit for 3 people. My friend had a double room with a sea view and balcony double the size of mine (neither of us paid for anything different). I complained to the tui rep who was told the same - eventually tui agreed to pay the cleaning charge and the second room was much better - although initially the bathroom absolutely stunk of sewers until I doused it in bleach I bought from the supermarket. The room after that was fine. Rooms are not cleaned after night one and on the last day. A room clean seems to consist of making the bed and nothing more. On one of the days we were moved from one of the small pools after being told a sun lounger was €10 each per day. Let me tell you this was a small pool, not exclusive and absolutely not worth paying for. The indoor pool is €3 each per day as well. The pools that are included are either overcrowded or dirty or too deep for any child to go in. Sun loungers at the hotel beach are also payable. The area is lovely, 10-15mins walk from the town and the island of Brac itself is beautiful. Taxis are extortionate- we paid €100 for a 20min return trip to a beach - the beach itself was beautiful but we ended up hiring a car from Supetar to drive to Zlatni Rat beach in Bol - highly recommend Bol - absolutely stunning place. Just to be clear I have absolutely no issue with paying for things - I have an issue with being ripped off and missold something or taken advantage of - none of this review is about having to pay extras - i expected an all inclusive resort and what I got was far from that. I felt everything i would normally expect was extra and everytime i asked for something it was yea but you have to pay. Ice cream for example, is available at one ice cream bar, for 3hrs per day and closed on a Sunday. The snack bar is barely open, there are 2 outdoor bars. There is no iron available- instead you can pay for a laundry service. Another issue- all the stops seem to be pulled out on a sunday which I assume seems to be the common changeover day. Entertainment team are around, music at the pools, live music in the evening, restaurant clean with no flies, the team make an effort - if everyday was like we found Sunday to be I'd have less to complain about - but it just shows they can do it, and choose not to the other 6 days of the week. Most guests are French, the entertainment is in French, entertainment team are a complete other ballgame. Maybe its my British sense of humour but the variety show we watched was diabolical but yet all the French adults were screaming and cheering like they were watching the world's best entertainment team- it was mediocre at best and consisted of grown adults swapping clothes in French. Besides all of that we actually had a wonderful holiday but 90% of that was down to the sunshine and company - the hotel is fine but its honestly 3* at best and is absolutely not all inclusive - if you go with low expectations you'll be sure to have a great time but I absolutely would not return to this hotel. I would 100% however return to Brac."

"Hotel is lovely lovely decor. Food is not great on the all inclusive, cold, only caters realty for europeans not British. Ate out most evenings as got fed up with the same thing. Staff are nice and friendly. As for where this is located there isn't much to do. Is really quiet in May. Imagine it will be alot livelier soon. Done it once, wouldn't go again."

"Just returned from a week Hotel is clean and good location Not fully open so very limited and had one night with singer and a quiz all week Not fully all inclusive Safe £1.50 a day beech towels £20 a week coffee machine charge 2 euro. Or flask coffee is free Drinks at bar very poor unless you pay Flat coke and poor extra fizzy beer and cheap spirits Food did change but basic Meet balls , stew , bolognaise all very very salty and barely warm Going to stick to bed and breakfast Asif is a Good bar man that works hard and makes a good cocktail if you buy one."