The rather ugly-looking building, which looks more like a council tower block than a luxury hotel, dates back to 1974, and it certainly shows! It was last renovated in 1998 and could now do with another makeover. It does have two lifts though which serve its 109 guest rooms, when they decide to work, that is! The conventional rectangular 6 ft-deep swimming pool is open from 7:30 am to 7:30 pm and is surrounded by a small solarium terrace complete with blue plastic deck chairs, white canvas parasols, showers, and the odd cactus here and there, but it is a little on the small side. Having said that, the views across the bay and the surrounding mountains are superb. You will need to remember to bring towels down with you, though. There is also a separate round pool for children to splash around in, which is just over a foot deep. The view over the bay and surrounding mountains is splendid from the terrace, and there is a staircase which leads down to the basement level where you will find a second, indoor pool, though this is not heated and is not that clean either (we found sand on the bottom of it). There is also a small gym (the minimum they can get away with), a jacuzzi, a hammam and a sauna (which was out of order when we visited). In short, it does have the facilities, but they are poorly maintained and the handrails are shaky throughout. The bar is open from 11:00 am to 11:00 pm, but you may have difficulty finding anyone to serve you!
Amy Adejokun
Section editor
