ApartHotel Costa Encantada — Hotel in Lloret de Mar

We stayed here from Sept 27th- Oct 5th in one of the new 2 bed suites, room 501. The room itself was brilliant; very spacious and clean and finished to a good standard. Having 2 bathrooms was handy too given there were 5 of us...! ||I read that the new rooms apparently have extra sound proofing but I would question the level of effort they went to to actually soundproof the floors. I could hear every single solitary foot step from the room underneath us. It was so bad that I genuinely thought that one of my kids was walking and running all around our apartment when we were in bed...! Also, every slight move of furniture beneath us felt like it was in our apartment too...!! ||The balcony was a good size too and there are 3 sliding door access points to it. The only let down with the balcony was what we were looking out on. It was the back of the hotel and the noise from deliveries and rubbish collections late at night was very loud. Also, we were overlooking a campsite next door. During our stay, there were youthful residents of the campsite drinking, making shocking attempts to sing in tune, blaring music on their verandas and constantly looking up at our balcony, so much so that we rarely sat out. This really took from our experience of the room. All these noise problems were cancelled out with my trusty earplugs, to which I never travel without...! But I would definitely and strongly suggest to the hotel that they consider some way to block off the view from the campsite onto the hotel||The rest of the hotel is brilliant, with just one or 2 minor flaws, but none worth noting really. The pool area is fantastic. Plenty of room everywhere. We set up behind the kids splash pool every day as it was so much quieter than the main pool area. I would question the need for some of the really loud music playing by the pool/bar. I understand they are probably trying to build up a kind of party atmosphere, but when it’s a family hotel and most guests are there with their children, I didn’t see the need for it really. And also, I was shocked to hear music with the N and the F word being played. I thought that was really unnecessary and very distasteful.||The indoor pool was brilliant as the outdoor pools are not heated. But to be honest, once we got into the outdoor pools, we stayed in as we warmed up pretty quickly and didn’t feel any cold after a few seconds. There is a lifeguard in the indoor pool at all times also. I did feel that perhaps there was too much chlorine in the pool because I nearly chocked one day when I walked in and my kids’ eyes were all red after they came out.||The splash park with the slides was brilliant. My lads are 10,10 and 12 and they had a ball going down the slides. Lifeguards were good and vigilant too and didn’t say anything when us adults decided to use the slides...! ||The food at the pool bar was nice and reasonably priced to be fair. But there is absolutely no need in the world to be charging guests €6 for an OREO ice-cream...! Also, the service could be a little faster. The queue for the till was nearly in the pool one day...! ||The breakfast was amazing. It really was top notch. Such a brilliant variation of food and the restaurant area is really big with outdoor seating as an option too. We really enjoyed the breakfast every morning. We went breakfast only as we prefer to get out and about for our meals so I can’t comment on the rest of the dining options.||The spa is really nice, albeit a little small. But it was super clean and had everything you’d want. Steam room, sauna, ice room and various shower options with jets etc. Pool has a jacuzzi area and nice comfy sun loungers surrounding it. We got one free pass each as part of our booking which was a nice touch.||We also used the Padel courts. It cost me €16 which is fine if you’re an actual Padel player and will get the full use out of it for the time, but with 12 and two 10-year olds I don’t think it was worth the money. But we did have fun. Also, we used the soccer pitch which was great for a kick around in the evening.||I did use the gym a few times and yes, it is really small. But it was functional with a couple of treadmills and a few bikes. It has dumbbells up to 15kg which was fine, but I would have liked 20-25kg dumbbells. There was one cable machine for various workouts and only one bench. There are no plate weights or bars to work with, but for a quick light workout the gym was fine.||The arcade room is perfect to spend an hour or so. The machines are all €1, which we appreciated as with 3 children you can empty your pockets pretty swiftly if they were €2 each like some other resorts we have stayed in! It has 2 pool tables also.||I have to say, all 5 of us really enjoyed our stay and we will definitely return here. OK, there were a few niggles like I have noted, but no hotel is perfect and everyone will find things they don’t like, but I have no problem recommending it to parents with children. Maybe not for couples but it is definitely a very family friendly hotel. It is probably one of the best places we have stayed where children can be children and really get the most out of their stay. Costa Encantada, in my opinion, definitely warrants its 4-star status. A special mention also must be given to the staff who worked tirelessly in every dept, they are a credit...

This is almost the perfect holiday for a family if they had a better system with the services they offered. ||The hotel itself is beautiful, I found it very clean and there was always a cleaner around. I could not fault it on this part. Our room was one of the nicest hotel rooms we’ve stayed in (we did book the new ones but it was so much nicer than we could have expected) rooms were very clean on arrival and we had housekeeping everyday to make beds, wipe floors and replace towels.||The sunbed situation was not as bad as I was expecting due to it being the summer holidays, everyone waited till 9am and then made a mad dash for the best spot but even if you weren’t there for 9 there was still beds. ||The pools were great!! Little cold but they always are. The kiddies water area was really well thought out and something for all ages with the range of slides.||Onto the food, We had a very mixed group of people within our group (in total 6 adults of all different backgrounds and 3 kids) and we all managed to find something at every meal time. It did become very repetitive and sometimes random things were served at breakfast (chicken nuggets??) I will comment that I could have done with more children options because my autistic son was pretty limited on options but he made it the week on what was there. Staff were great with supplying the table with a cold bottle of water at dinner and tea. ||Hotel is situated far away from the party bit of the island and it is a 10 minute walk from the beach and 5 minutes for the rows of “tat” shops and 2 minutes from a supermarket. As well as a shop within the hotel (from what iv gathered over the last 7 days, it is open 10:30-8:30 usually) ||Staff are all very respectful and I cannot fault the hotel itself, just the inner workings. Which brings me onto my next point.||Onto the side of things that I think need improving. ||WiFi was absolutely awful. ||The cards system. I completely understand why there is a need for this; to stop the endless cups by the pool and left on tables BUT when we first arrived my husband left to figure out the lay of the land and I was sat desperate for a drink but unable to get one because my husband had walked away with the cards. The waiting to hand the cups back to get your cards was ridiculous sometimes… maybe a better system? Which brings me into my next point. ||Staffing numbers?! It is the summer holidays and I expected more than 1 member of staff at the outdoor pool bar as this had the biggest queue. The inside bar of an evening had 1 member of staff most of the time and that was the only bar open so again.. endless waits for either drinks or to hand in drinks to get cards back. ||Opening times??? The pool opens at 9 but the kids part doesn’t open till 10? Then the outdoor bar doesn’t open till 10:30 unless you want to go inside but that bar doesn’t open till 10 so you’re all inclusive is as inclusive as they’ve decided to make it based on timings. The kids club bar doesn’t open till (well I’m unsure cos we didn’t stay as it was a bit rubbish) but past 8:30 definitely. So if we wanted to sit and enjoy the show we had to go to the main bar and bring it down. All inclusive ends at 11pm and you have to pay full price. I was never awake by then but I thought it was worth mentioning as a lot of the adult entertainment doesn’t start till quite late but you’re unable to get more than your stated drinks due to the card situation and then blocked at 11pm. ||To summarise, me, my family and friends had an absolutely fantastic week but the card system, the all inclusive being restricted almost, timings and the staffing are reasons we are not in a hurry to return but we had a lovely holiday with lots of...

Room is clean, beds are comfy, aircon is spot on, maid service is great if you leave sign up and it’s very quiet at night after 1130. We were straight above the club overlooking the pool ground level, so expected thumping bass and screaming karaoke.||Food is good, plenty of choice and different dishes each day depending how adventurous you are. If you are not then there is plenty of fresh salad, chips, pizza, pasta etc. We had a Burger King (which is 500 yards from hotel) last night as a treat, as in the restaurant I cannot pass the pudding section without having my entire body weight in cake. They really are that nice!|The snack bar is really handy to refill drinks and to get more burgers, hot dogs, nuggets, chicken skewers, salad, fruit and yet more cake.||Pools are brilliant, main one with fountain is great, but don’t sit on the edge on a windy day, as you’ll get sprayed. If you know, you know. The other two inter-linking ones are also good, one used for kids pool party and other for water polo at various points in the afternoon. I’m 6”3 and deepest point was up to my norks. |The toddler pool looked great, but a 6”3 52 year old baldie who looks like a Temu Pep would look out of place in it! |The splash pool with the slides is ace for toddlers and ages up to 10. There are good amount of things to do in it, kids love it, but lots of parents with look of horror or confusion on their faces.|In one week we had three turds, the particular pool is shut for an hour whilst they fish it out and treat with disinfectant. Not sure why they don’t shut all pools as they are inter-linked?!?!|I guess turds don’t swim that fast, just a good job it’s not bum flu and a big brown cloud 💩💨|But I do wish parents used swim nappies, I had my suspicion on the suspect…|You can get sun beds up to 1030, or queue for the run of shame at 0845 for the prime locations. Get sharpening them elbows!||The entertainment is great when it is Gabriel and Thomas hosting, they have such a brilliant rapport and feed off each other so well. Not so good when the bald dj has all the levels that high it’s deafening and like being at the Hacienda in 1991. He is obviously a frustrated club dj wannabe!|We saw the magic illusion neon show which was ok, acrobat balancer jugglers who were brilliant, Disney type singing show which kids loved, Colombian dancers who even did a Michael Jackson bit in a room full of kids 😬 and a traditional Spanish circus show by a family who were really good.|I’m still confused why they sell love on the beach cocktails whilst they play stuff like Dr Dre, Eminem etc which all have mf’er at every other word 🤣|Kids club is brilliant too, esp with the aforementioned Gabriel and Thomas, I had my face painted, did lots of drawings and even made a paper dog. Not too shabby for 52 years old, saying that some 7 year old chancer creamed me on the drawings. I must get gud.||Location of hotel is good, only a mile walk to Fennels Beach straight on at roundabout, the beach is gritty not Sandy and is very steep at waters edge. Also we had a jellyfish invasion of the fried egg types. There is a supermarket on the roundabout which has everything you need and loadsa shops / restaurants too. There is even a woman who braids hair half way to Fennels Beach by the side of Tattoo Studio. The older woman is better than younger, €30 for part or €100 for full.||Overall a solid 4/5 and good to know it rains in Spain on Bank Holiday weekends for...