Smy Tahona Fuerteventura

"want to take the time to write a full comprehensive review of the hotel. To address some of the points in previous reviews. Air conditioning: we knew it didn't have it, as we read up on the hotel. The fans were sufficient for me and my son. We kept the wooden shutters closed, windows closed and curtains closed to keep the sun out. We coped absolutely fine and didn't melt! Cleanliness: The room was very clean, it was cleaned every day. The whole hotel was immaculate, the only mess we saw was others who had left straws and crisp packets round the pool. We didn't see one cockroach, and no ants inside the room. Rooms: Yes, they are a little dated and worn but they are refurbishing. They are a 3* hotel and don't claim to be 5*! The beds were comfy, sheets clean, working plugs and very spacious with a lovely terrace area. They also provide beach/pool towels. Food and Drink: Unless you haven't stayed at a 3* AI before, the food was as expected. Lots of choice for fussy folk and more adventurous. A vast selection for breakfast, and the added bonus of fresh juices, not just machine ones. Neither myself or my son had bad stomachs after eating a range of the food, chicken, duck, fish and pork. The drinks were great. Slushy for children on demand and plenty of soft drinks and alcoholic ones too. I don't mind a small plastic cup, especially when they give you a clean one each time. Staff: So hardworking, friendly and accommodating. The older lifeguard was brilliant and very diligent. We had a issue on one occasion, which Miguel the Manager dealt with swiftly and also showed a genuine level of care and empathy. Also followed up via email. Christina the entertainment lady is like a one woman powerhouse, she was also very friendly and took time to say hello each morning. People: We have met some lovely people here and that has really made the holiday. A really friendly and inclusive place to be. Sharing pool toys, inflatables and playing together. The evenings karaoke and bingo were such a good craic too, everyone cheering each other on. Location: Brilliant, 10 mins from the airport. A short walk to the shops, beach, costal paths etc. We enjoyed a walk out each evening and played minigolf down by the.beach. Overall, we has the most amazing holiday here (despite my initial reservations from some of the reviews). This hotel is what it says, a 3* AI hotel in the midst of a refurbishment with no air conditioning. It doesn't claim to be the Ritz, and certainly doesn't charge like it either. My son was upset when we left this morning, because he'd had THE BEST holiday. That's what it's all about, the memories hey! Thank you for a lovely time, we would like to return next year."

"Smy Tahona Fuerteventura We’ve just returned from a 7-night stay at Smy Tahona. Overall, we had an okay holiday, but there were quite a few things that could be improved. The room: I think it really depends on which room you get, as it seems to be a bit of a luck of the draw. We saw some of the updated rooms, which had wooden-effect flooring and a much larger fan in the bedroom, and they looked considerably better than ours. Unfortunately, our room was very warm and we only had a plug-in stand fan, which didn’t really do much. The room also looked quite grubby, and I was glad I’d taken antibacterial wipes with me. The floors in particular looked dirty and dusty. We later noticed a sign explaining that contractors had damaged the tiles and had got something onto the floors, which apparently caused them to look this way. I appreciate there was an explanation, but it still didn’t make the room look particularly clean or inviting. The cleaners did come into our room and the normal white towels were replaced, but we did have to ask reception for toilet roll during our stay. To be fair, reception had plenty and were quite happy to give us some. Beach towels: There were four of us in the room but only two blue beach towels were provided. The information says to leave dirty towels on the floor to be changed, but our blue beach towels were never replaced. Luckily, we had brought our own. When I mentioned this at reception, I was told that you actually have to take the dirty beach towels to reception to exchange them and that it costs €2 per clean towel. This wasn’t clear to us beforehand, so it was frustrating. The food: The food was edible and, I suppose, acceptable for all-inclusive, but it was very repetitive and there wasn’t a great deal of choice. It got to the point where people were waiting for chips because there wasn’t much else available that they wanted. We ended up eating out 5 nights out of our 7-night stay, which probably says enough about our opinion of the food. The included bar snacks were acceptable, but they could definitely be better. The snacks you had to pay extra for were noticeably better and tastier, which made the difference quite obvious. Entertainment: The entertainment could definitely be better. There was a singer on two nights, which we enjoyed, karaoke on some of the other nights and bingo on one night. Overall, we felt the entertainment was quite limited and there could have been more variety. The lady organising the entertainment was lovely, though, and was always friendly and welcoming. Pool and bar: The pool was clean and lovely for a dip. The pool area was generally clean and tidy at the start of the day, although it did get untidy as the day went on. It did seem to be tidied up again before the evening, which was good to see. The bar staff also seemed friendly and approachable, which was another positive. Overall: There are definitely positives at Smy Tahona, particularly the friendly staff, lovely pool and relaxed atmosphere. However, there are also areas that need attention. The rooms are definitely luck of the draw. Some have been updated and look much better, while others are tired, warm and in need of attention. Hopefully, once all the rooms have been updated and all rooms have the larger, better fans, this will make a big difference. The food needs more variety, the entertainment could be improved, and the information about the beach towels could be clearer. Having said all that, once the rooms have all been updated and all rooms have the better fans, I would consider coming back for a cheap getaway. I think the hotel has potential and, with a few improvements, could be much better. It wasn’t a terrible holiday by any means, but for us it was okay rather than great — and I think it’s only fair that people know what to expect before booking."

"I really feel the need to defend this hotel as I cannot believe some of the negative comments on here. We have just enjoyed 12 wonderful days here! It is a smaller complex than we are used to but somehow that made our holiday even better. We stayed in a 2-bedroom apartment with a terrace on the ground level and felt very safe. The housekeeping ladies came round every day and Pool towels are provided, which was a bonus. The food was really lovely, always plentiful, fresh and delicious! Again, we have been to bigger places but there was always plenty of choice, with show cooking on offer and a different themed dinner each evening. I met one of the chef’s “Laura” who made the most beautiful Paella one day out by the pool. There are also hotdogs and burgers available for AI guests, or the option to purchase more substantial snacks at the pool bar. I honestly think if you can’t find anything to eat here, then there must be something wrong with you! The staff are lovely, and they all work so hard. The reception staff were very accommodating, especially Stefan and Andrea. Shout-out to Pedro at the bar who made us welcome from the moment we arrived. There is a token system in place at the bar, which I was wary of at first but you know, it works! The Housekeeping team literally never stop – they were still cleaning windows at 10pm! I have to mention Rosa in the restaurant as she was there at every mealtime with a polite welcome. The kitchen staff could be heard singing as I walked past on our last day, testament to them being happy at work! The entertainment is run single handed by the lovely Christina. She does her best to include everyone in basic fun activities. We will miss her “Clappy Clappy”!!! The pool area is spotless. The lifeguard is very proud of his area - constantly cleaning and helping the little ones with their swimming! The management are trying very hard to make improvements, to eliminate the Sunbed wars and upgrade the overall complex. Thank you to the Manager Miguel – you should be very proud of your team. We cannot wait to return!"