Thomson Hotel Review 1 - 16th Jun 2004 - Tenerife Princess hotel
Had a really nice holiday with Thompson - their Platinum service is excellent as you know that you will have a great hotel that serves great food! Thompson Reps did give a lot of useful information on excursions and also made sure there was breakfast served for us at 3am as we had an early flight!
My partner and I really enjoyed our holiday to Tenerife-we stayed in the Tenerife Princess hotel which is 4 stars and also exclusive to Thompson Holidays as it is one of their Platinum hotels! We were lucky enough to get a high view and a pool and sea view and we didn't pay for it! When booking the hotel we asked to pay for a pool view but we were told that they had run out - it is defiantly worth paying for though! The pool there is lovely very exotic-although make sure you are ready at 8am to put your towels on sunloungers as customers are all running about at this time trying to get some! We even saw 2 customers fighting over one sunlounger!!!
The flights were ok-we flew with Euro Air (or something along those lines!) It is definatly worth trying to get a Britannia flight though as you are able to take advantage of the Platinum service by getting your bags checked in for you on the way home - it would have helped us a great deal as we had to queue for over an hour to check in for our flight home!
The food at this Restaurant is excellent - we couldn't wait for dinner time and we nearly had steak every night! They also do themed nights for example Mexican and Chinese food is served.
The Hotel Entertainment is ok-depends what you are into really - they had a night with 4 lads who were doing fire-blowing etc but they were very funny, another night was an ABBA night. We did spend some time in the town and had drinks their but watch out for the 'Lucky Lucky' men who try to sell you Lighters, sunglasses etc - to be honest we didn't have that much trouble with them and they do not hang out anywhere near the hotel only in town centre. The PR's can get a bit annoying trying to get you in their Bars but all-in-all we had a good night out in the Town Centre.
There is a beach close to the Hotel which we went to, and wasn't too packed at all-was very pleasant.
We went on two Excursions with Thompson-one was the Loro Pargue (Animal Park) and the other the Aqua Park (Water Park). They were both worth the money-although the Animal Park is in the North of the Island so it is a coach drive of an hour and half-well worth it though! Aqua Park is only 15mins away and the slides are ok it's just the floor there-very stony especially when your walking bear foot! The Dolphin show at the Aqua Park is excellent we really enjoyed it!
We are defiantly considering looking at Thompson Platinum holidays next time as its worth paying that little extra to get a great hotel & location!
Thomson Review 2 - 16th Jun 2004 - Hotel Bahia Princess - Costa Adeje
We have just returned from a two week holiday in the Bahia Princess. The hotel was excellent and very impressive. On our arrival we were given a room (which we had asked if it were possible to have -high level and pool view) which unfortunately had a high metal type barrier which meant we couldn't see out of the balcony. We asked if it was possible to have another room and this was not a problem at all - we were given another room on the same floor on the same side on the Tuesday - they even offered to move all our cases for us!!
We had read on various previous comments some good and bad reports. I don't think we can give any bad reports only very good ones. The food at both breakfast and meals at night was of an extremely high standard and was quite varied. Over the 2 weeks we did have some repeats but that is only to be expected.
The cleanliness of the hotel rooms, restaurants, toilets etc was excellent.
We went on 3 excursions - the island tour (very interesting guide who explained a lot of things to us); the Mount Teide tour (another excellent trip especially if you like winding vertical roads!!!!) and the Medieval Night - not to be missed. Its quite expensive but there is free red wine, white wine, beer or juice -TAKE PAINKILLERS FOR HEADACHE NEXT DAY!!
The first night we had there in one of the bars there was a tribute band to the Drifters - they were excellent! And when they are free its even better (we've paid to hear a lot lot lot worse!).
All in all excellent hotel and wouldn't hesitate to recommend it. The area is also nice and a walk towards the fort on the right when you reach the beach is well worth a visit.
Good for it with!
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Review 3 - August 2005 - Grupotel Playa Camp de Mar - Camp de Mar - Majorca
We have just returned from a very relaxing week's holiday in the Hotel Playa de Mar. I use this web site to research all the package holidays we have recently been on and they are pretty accurate so far.
The hotel was very clean and well organised. Our room although not huge was adequate, but do take a travel kettle if not staying in a superior room and you like a cuppa. Our sea veiw from the balcony was obscured by trees, but we had an end room on the 4th floor which had a balcony extending round the end of the buiding which made up for it.
The reps were very helpful and it's up to you how much of the activities you join in with. But the quiz is good if you are around the pool at 4pm. Also the Paella and Sangria demonstration is well worth watching and you get to taste.
The hotel was very busy when we arrived, and on the first day we were surprised not to be able to find a sunbed at around midday when we surfaced. We have never experienced this before on any of the Gold holidays we have been on. I am sure that this was just because it was peak season as there were plenty of sunbeds not put up, so just grab one and a parasol and sit were you can. Or you could go to the beach instead which is just lovely, although you have to pay for the sunbeds and parasols a little over 7 Euros for two. Please don't join in the 8am rush there is no need.
The hotel sangria is excellent as is the restaraunt food. I enjoyed the local fish and the vegetables especially. The house red wine is good. The service as usual on Gold holidays is excellent. You don't have to wait to be seated so you can sit were you like.
The entertainment is variable depending on your taste. There were a couple of good comedians but we're not into productions so didn't watch the reps perform. Had a dance at the end of one night which was fun. All the entainment is outside so take a cardi girls it gets chilly!
Went to see the SonAmar production it was fantastic, the dance companies were breathtaking. The food and drink were OK, as it all makes for a great night out. We paid the Gold option because included in the price was a good seating position, glass of champayne, photgraph and two gold towels! Lee the rep was excellent and kept us all happy and entertained on the journey home.
We went to Paguera for half a day using the Taxi outside the hotel paid about 6 Euros. Very much built up resort then Camp de Mar with lots of shops and 2 beaches. Had a long wait for a Taxi home you have to stand at the Taxi ranks and wait until one passes on the one-way system that spots you.
Really loved the quiet Camp de Mar resort although if we had been there for 2 weeks we would have had to venture out to a livelier place for an evening or two.
The restaurant on the jetty is really good for paella, sardines and sangria. Take a boat trip from there around the little coves for 12 Euros each the ticket stand is just down the road from the hotel. A lovely stroll area along the sea front before or after dinner.
Overall I would stay at the hotel and resort again but not for a while. If you like quiet then this is the place. My only negative on the whole holiday was the resort lacked an alternative lively bar form the hotel and the transfer back to the airport went round all the hotels as we were first to be picked up very early.
Review 3 - August 2005 - Grupotel Playa Camp de Mar - Camp de Mar - Majorca
Have spent two wonderful weeks at this hotel and thoroughly enjoyed every minute. Its location is superb; the pool and its terrace overlook the beach and is easily accessible; it is located in the centre of the small, quiet resort, with a few "essential needs" shops located immediately outside, including a bank, a newsagents and two Spar's!. A taxi rank on the doorstep and a short walk to a bus stop means you can get out & about to larger, livelier and busier places if you want/need to (Paguera, Puerto Andratx & Palma to name but a few) for no more than a few Euro's.
The hotel staff are all friendly, helpful and efficient. Everywhere is kept immaculately clean and the pool is crystal clear.
There is an 8 o'clock rush for sunbeds, but this is people wanting the same spot day in, day out!. There are plenty of sunbeds & brollies for everyone and you can move them wherever you want to.
The meals are varied and excellent quality. Nothing ever ran out and lots of it was cooked and served in front of you.
The room was well equipped with really comfortable balcony furnishings and there was space left, in the mini bar fridge, for you to put your own bits & pieces in.
Beach towels were available from Reception (no charge) and exchanged whenever you wanted to change them.
Fun & games were available, if you wished to participate, but no-one forced anyone to undertake anything they did not wish to do. Evening entertainment was varied but, as they are trying to please everyone, not all of it was to our taste. Nonetheless it was generally fairly good quality and pleased the majority.
Being a Thomson Gold Hotel, the overall plus point for us (and many people we spoke to) was the absence of the under 16's! It was really good to be able to use the pool without being jumped on, splashed, battered with a lilo or thumped with a football. To eat in the dining room without a crying, screaming or demanding child within hearing, or sight, was wonderful and to be able to have civilised conversations, day or night, was incredible! We have two children of our own, so do not dislike them, but to not have them, or other people's offspring, around made the holiday a truly relaxing and enjoyable one.
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