Aparthotel Costa Mar

Arrived as a couple for the 2nd week in September. Booked last minute so didn’t know what to expect. Had read mixed reviews, especially about the food being poor or cold - total nonsense. We were half board so got breakfast which was limited enough if you were expecting a full fry every morning but plenty of fruit, yoghurts, cereals, eggs, bread, juice, etc. The dinner never failed to impress - a couple of hot choices every night - chicken, pork chops, lamb, turkey, beef meatballs, pasta, fish and plenty of salad. Chips most might. Also soup, rolls and plenty of cakes and ice cream. Great value! The menu can be quite traditional and not very child friendly if you have a fussy eater expecting pizza and chips. The only complaint I would have is that you have to pay for bottled water with your dinner - €2 a bottle each which is not expensive but I would have thought the water would be free. All drinks go on your room bill and are payable on checkout. The pool area is lovely - very clean and no sun bed wars that we saw. The pool is split in 2 with a deep section and a shallower section. Only downside is the pool bar - very expensive at €4 for a pint of Tropical and €5 for a pint of Magners. This compares badly with most other bars. The pool snacks seemed reasonably priced. Had a one bed apartment in block A on floor 3. Had a huge balcony overlooking the road and fabulous Pocillos beach. The apartment was typical Spanish style and spotless. It was cleaned 5 days out of the 7 we were there. The staff are the real success of this hotel - from reception to the restaurant to the pool bar to the exceptional cleaning staff. Everyone was most friendly and efficient. The hotel is set out in blocks in a horseshoe shape - our block was at the front while others go around the back of the pool and reception. There are no lifts so request ground floor if needed. There is no air conditioning in some apartments but the website does say this. You can pay for it in certain apartments - we just opened the patio doors and a window in the bedroom, which had a mosquito net to keep out the bugs. (Didn’t actually see any!) The hotel is in an ideal flat location. Great walks to the left to Matagorda or to the right to the main *****. The beach opposite is pure class! There is a huge Spar next door and a very handy pharmacy. A few restaurants but nothing hectic in our view. Please remember that this is a 3 star hotel. It certainly lives up to that and more. Folk should not expect or be critical of things that you would find in a 4 or 5 star hotel that the Costa Mar doesn’t have. We have booked to return as a family next June.