AR Galetamar

We have just spent 7 nights there as a replacement for the Thomas Cook holiday initially booked. The hotel is well located for the coast and promenade. The closest beach is only a few minutes walk but is rather seaweed covered. The beaches a little further along the promenade are bigger and better and there are plenty of restaurants and bars for snacks. The hotel reception is quite smart and the staff helpful. It was a pleasant surprise after reading some of the reviews. We were 'upgraded' to an apartment type room on the south side which was nice as it had good views and a large terrace. This is a 3* package holiday hotel and would probably not stand '4 in a bed' type detailed inspection but the rooms were clean and comfortable and perfectly adequate. The maid service cleaned and made the beds every day and even tidied up our mess in the bathroom. The main improvement would be provision of a kettle and cups to make our own coffee as there is nowhere to get this out of the breakfast and bar opening times. The AC is not powerful but was adequate overnight for our stay. Our room (Room 406) also had a problem with the door. They tried different key cards but this did not improve it and the maid service also said they had problems with it. We developed method of putting in the card, pushing the handle and barging the door which seemed to work. The food was not exotic but was adequate and plentiful with choice although the veg's tended to be overcooked for our taste. We went half board but changed the evening meal to a packed lunch one day to suit our excursion. Despite our requesting too late they managed to provide it for us. Note that you get quite a large carrier bag of food per person as a packed lunch. The pools are not massive but seemed clean and adequate although the hotel did not seem very full while we were there. There were enough loungers although they were a little hard and uncomfortable with no cushions. There is a short cut rear exit/entrance from the pool are to the promenade and beach. Calpe is quieter and nicer than bigger places like Benidorm. The bus into town is only E1.50 for as far as you want to go and there is the 'old town' area to explore. Overall a pleasant holiday stay. However, if you go with Tui do not expect to see anything of them or hear anything from a rep. All their event cards posted (not many at this time) are not in English. You only have their app on the phone as contact to the UK which thankfully we did not need! As a group of 4 we were given a taxi transfer from the airport. The return transfer was an odd mess with one taxi turning up to take 2 people, then while trying to sort it (without any Tui help) a second one turned up for the other 2!

My husband and I just come back yesterday, we stayed here for 7 nights. After booking the hotel and read the reviews, we just accepted the hotel was just going to be standard but actually we were very impressed when we arrived. Plenty of sofa at the reception area, our room was clean, a good size with a balcony with sea view. There were a fridge, television, a table, chairs and a big sofa in a sitting room. We booked a half board, breakfast and dinner was good but could be better if more variety on cooked breakfast (food was sometimes cold). We were informed that if we wanted a pack lunch instead of dinner / lunch which we ordered on 1 day the pack lunch which was very generous. We went out for my birthday dinner and when we came back to the room, there was a birthday card and a present, that was very nice of them. Staff were very nice and friendly. Swimming Pool was a nice size and clean. Overall we were happy with 3 star hotel with all service. Hotel was a little walk from the main beach but not that far to make it a chore. Bus stop is near by for main town.

AR Galetamar visit in late September was a pleasant surprise after reading some reviews We visited after we had to cancel our trip to Greece after T Cook went under and booked here at the last minute This was the end of the season really but the weather was superb The hotel Located in a nice side of Calpe at Calalga in a residential part with a mix of villas and high rise apartments Reception at the hotel Welcome at the hotel was smooth but we were the only couple to check in They were pleasant and had a late supper made for us in our room which nice with a bottle of water Stayed in room 102 which was on the 1st floor at the end of the corridor so only adjoining 1 other room Had a great balcony which wrapped around the room over the front of the hotel entrance with a partial see view through the villas Nice sized bedroom with twin beds nice and firm nice clean white sheets Safe was 7 euros a week which you need to put your valuables in but not great when you have to pay with living room and a dining area table and chairs with full size fridge freezer and kitchen area which was very useful and a very nice addition Bathroom with a great double shower Food wasn't very good sorry to say wouldn't have evening meal included again as we had to eat out every night I'm not saying it was inedible but it wasn't very nice reminded us of school meals Clean pool area and hotel very clean We would stay here again but on a room only basis Overall a good stay and good location