Playa Flamingo — Attraction in undefined

Where do I even begin? We made a terrible mistake by booking our holiday at Merry Hill Store. My husband, daughter, and I were all excited to go, especially after our agent highly recommended it.

We arrived late at night and were sent to a room the furthest away from anything, across a road. To make matters worse, the key cards didn’t work. I went back to reception and asked for a room closer to the front of the hotel, away from any open road. They gave me room A37, but the toilet was making noises like a T-Rex, and the shower didn’t work properly. These issues were reported on the first day.

The TUI team on site, on the chat, and the hotel staff advised us multiple times that maintenance would fix it, but they never did. They didn’t even go to our room at any point. On the morning of day 5, they offered to move rooms, but it was day 5 of a 7-day stay! I was given a key for another unsafe and isolated room, just as bad as the first.

The ceiling had been replaced multiple times and looked like it had been lifted and shifted out of Baghdad. There were cracked tiles everywhere that people could get hurt, and multiple chunks of concrete steps were missing from areas, leaving raised metal drains that could cut open people’s feet.

The entire hotel was dirty. From the eatery to the stairs leading to the rooms, there was rubbish and hair everywhere. It was clear that the hotel needed money spent on it rather than TUI sending that money elsewhere.

The food was also a major issue. There was fish in the cheesey pasta, undercooked food, and basic hygiene was missing from the dirty plates. Hair was even found in the food as it was placed on the surface. It was just disgraceful.

On another day, a child was sick in the food area, and the family was not seen for a few days after.

I requested a downgrade of our food option, as evidenced by the photo I have (it’s £934). Multiple placards around the hotel advertised the costs of upgrading. The place is a health and safety hazard. We’ve spent over £1000 eating out of the hotel because of its poor quality and dangerous conditions.

Why can’t you downgrade if you can upgrade? It’s the same process in reverse!

After speaking to other people, I discovered that the entire hotel is in the same state, and the staff are fully aware of it. The TUI rep, Dylan, offered to sort my late check-out, but it was only until 2 pm because they had others coming into our room. I asked how he could possibly put people in the room knowing its condition, but he said that was his problem to sort out if they complained. He’s sent me a link to refund me the 20 euros to the wrong mobile number, which seems like it’s been done on purpose, I’ve asked the TUI team on the app a number of times to correct this and they still haven’t.

An hour until we leave, and the receptionist recommended using the ‘spa’ shower, advising us to book it quickly as they get booked up. We went down to use them, and my 9-year-old daughter and I went to the ladies’ room. Next thing, there was a crash, and the shower door came off, hitting my daughter. She slipped and fell onto the raised basin, where there was a rusty latch or screw that had broken off. She has severe bruising and is screaming. I ran to the receptionist, who said she had told the hotel and TUI staff that they were not safe repeatedly, but her advice had been ignored. This clearly indicates that despite being told that there’s clearly no care from either TUI or hotel management.

The TUI manager and the deputy hotel manager came down to speak to us. I asked the hotel manager to fetch a doctor, and he got the doctor to check Scarlett’s ribs to make sure they weren’t broken.

This hotel is dangerously unsafe. I’m horrified that there’s no accountability or ownership of the issues we raised. Multiple laws are being broken, and it ended with my child sustaining a serious injury.

I have photos of every point I’ve made above, including the injury...

Lovely beach and turquoise sea around a half hour walk from Playa Blanca.

Due the slightly off putting wave breaks built from huge square concrete blocks the sea is very calm and shallow for quite a long way out. My 3 year old granddaughter loved every minute of it in her armbands and little boat.

The sea is teeming with fish and we even saw a little cow fish just off the rocks, take a bit of bread and crumble it in the water and you will be surrounded! Very clear for snorkeling. Unlike in the Balearics I didn't see any jellyfish.

The clean imported sand is soft and suitable for making sandcastles as well as burying grandparents....

I never saw any rubbish, the whole area was spotless when we were there.

There are small reasonably priced shops and cafe / restaurants along the promenade and Holiday Village Flamingo beach hotel directly behind. . For those of us with problems getting around the majority of the hotel is set on different levels above the promenade and beach. The levels are interconnected by either slopes or steps. There were people with wheelchairs and pushchairs and everyone seemed to manage apart from one lady on crutches.

When we visited it was still a First Choice Holiday Village and there was non stop entertainment for young kids by the main pool and kids clubs. However this is probably not the hotel for people without children or whose kids are now teens looking for something a bit more lively.

The food choices were superb and there were several places to eat throughout the day as well as a visit to each of the all a carte restaurants over the say of your holiday. My young granddaughter is celiac and there was always something nice for her and the staff were great at letting you know what did contain gluten, although everything was labeled anyway. One disappointment for me was that none of the paella type dishes that were on offer everyday were gluten free and contained wheat flour, I love paella and all spanish food and see no reason for such a simple meal to contain gluten. On the other hand the italian restaurant by the beach that is part of the hotel (maybe not now though) were fabulous and cooked delicious gluten free pizzas specially for both of us.

I'd go back tomorrow if holidaying with children and am curious to see what the change to a TUI Family Life style hotel has brought for this fab...

Booked with TUI family Life. First time in playa blanca and at this hotel. It was mainly a family hotel everything is themed around the kiddies. If you have children it us a paradise for them. They look after them really well. Food was lovely plenty of choice. Bar staff excellent drinks and service. Beautiful promenade for walking or running. Not a lot outside of the hotel. A fair walk to harbour but nice. The entertainment staff were excellent best I have seen in a long time. Great singers, dancers very talented. None if this boring miming to flat musicals. They know exactly what families want. We were the only people getting off our coach without children so as you can imagine, a little bit concerned but apart from noisy dining with so many children all went great enjoyed it thoroughly. There is a quiet pool for us oldies and two tiny pools for really tiny kiddies. Apartments lovely and comfortable and clean. Beach towels dressing gowns and slippers all provided and a nice welcoming drink and snacks in apartment for your arrival. My only suggestion would be to provide some quieter adult dining area as we have done all the high chairs and excited shrieks. There are frozen drinks, ice creams etc for them all day a real kiddies paradise and the fabulous entertainment team organise lots of competitions for children and parents alike in pool. And plenty of football and water pool for the big kids the dad's and an excellent aqua aerobics for ladies, as well as poolside and pub quizzes. From restaurants to bars warm friendly professional staff...