SBH Crystal Beach Hotel & Suites - Adults Only

This is just my opinion but is a truthful account. On first impressions the reception area was dark and a bit dingy, however the man on reception was pleasant and helpful. You have to pay €20 deposit in cash for pool towels which you get back when you check out. There is also a charge for the room safe and you have to pay tourist tax too. We stayed in a standard sea-view room on the 8th floor. It had two double beds with a view of the sea and beach but the view was more directed to looking over the hotel next door. The best rooms are the suites and superior rooms which have a better central aspect over the pool and fabulous sandy beach. The room was clean and was cleaned daily. The maid left little towel animals on the bed each day which was a nice touch. Beds were comfy however the pillows were a little thin. The rooms and the hotel in general could do with updating, There were cracks in the sink in the bathroom and the shower valve was loose and coming out of the wall. There is a fridge to use. If you drink the bottle of water provided or use the tea or coffee in the room the hotel will charge you for it. Dining room is sort of in the basement of the hotel! We were holidaying with another couple and needed a table for four. Our table was place furthest away at the other end of the restaurant by the back door, not a particularly nice aspect. Throughout the week we had to walk past the same empty tables to get to the one allocated to us and even though we had asked on two occasions to move tables we were told it was not possible by the senior lady in the restaurant. So annoying! It seems that the ethos of the hotel is geared towards making their staffing life easier rather than keeping their guests happy. I found that they did not go out of their way to help! We found that the food wasn’t the best quality and possibly directed towards the German pallet. Orange juice at breakfast was dire but the coffee and tea was good. You could always find something to eat but we didn’t particularly look forward to mealtimes, however breakfast was better than dinner for us. I would say the food and hotel is a 3* not a 4* as advertised. There is a definite sewage problem. One of the men’s toilets by the dining room was blocked for the entire 9 days that we were there with an awful smell emanating from it, not the sort of thing you wanted to smell by a dining room as you were going to eat, you could even smell it in the bar upstairs. Nasty! We found the dining area upstairs by the bar is too formal for lunch. The hotel is in need of a snack bar otherwise you have to go out of the hotel to eat and there are not many options in the vicinity as the hotel itself is in a quiet area with just a few shops. The acts that we saw in the evenings at the hotel were quite good although they have to stop at 10.30pm. Ruth from animation was always pleasant, cheerful and quite talented! On the whole our hotel stay was ok but we wouldn’t go back, we have found much better

Lovely hotel, staff where friendly and helpful. I booked a room with sea view, the view of the beach from the balcony was beautiful. Room was cleaned everyday. I booked half board, I had breakfast and evening meal. Food was really good, lots to choose from. I travel Solo at the evening meal I was put on a table with other solo guest which I was not sure about for the first few nights, as the people on my table were having conversations in German which was uncomfortable for me as I do not speak German. it would have been nice for staff to let you know before hand. I was glad that the others on the table realised and started to speak to me. Pool and bar area was lovely really peaceful and lots of sun lounges. Evening entertainment was good, when I was there one night they had a female group singing Soul and one night a male group singing Motown both were really good. Bar area is quite small so there was a few people talking when the groups where singing which spoil it for others trying to watch the groups. Overall I enjoyed my stay there it was lovely. Big thanks to all the staff especially the cleaners who keep the rooms and hotel spotless, and the Chef and kitchen staff food was excellent. Thank You.

If you are looking for a lively, busy social life don't come here. If on the other hand you are looking for a peaceful, tranquil and calm relaxing holiday then this is the place for you. the majority of holiday makers at this hotel are over 50 and yes, many of them are German (which was said previously by another reviewer). The staff were professional,friendly and courteous, especially Bere &Itziar at reception. The hotel was extremely clean and tidy and our room was keep that way by the lovely Aibaly. Food (we were half board) was very good with lots of choice at both breakfast and evening meals. The staff (restaurant, bar and others) were unobtrusive but very helpful when needed. There is a couple of questions I would like to ask hotel management however. (1) Tea,coffee and water are provided in the bedroom, but unlike any other hotel I have ever stayed in, you have to pay for these. A small courtesy would be to provide these with no charge. Why does the hotel charge for these basic items? (2) In the restaurant at evening meal, if you wish water, you have to pay for it. It is not cheap i.e. 3.10 euro. Why is water not provided free of charge as it is at breakfast time where there is a container of water beside the breakfast juices? (3) Alcohol price is very expensive. e.g a bottle of local beer is 4.10 euro, whereas in the sister hotel next door, the same bottle is 2.50 euro. How do you justify charging 4.10?.... and 10 euro for rum and coke? Because of the expensive alcohol, we drank very little which reduced socialising. If the alcohol was more moderately priced, guests would consume more and the hotel would make as much profit. Will we return? most likely; we really enjoyed our stay but the negatives above (water and alcohol prices) did leave a bitter taste.