Castival Hotel

We stayed as a family of three in July and were really looking forward to our holiday based on the glowing reviews. While we did have a good time overall, the experience was very inconsistent, and unfortunately, not quite what we expected from a hotel marketed as 5-star. What we loved: Cleanliness: Impeccable throughout the entire hotel. This is a huge plus for us, especially when it comes to public toilets – always spotless! Beach Shuttle: Quick, reliable, and a fun touch with its cheerful “ding dong” sound. Just be aware that not all guests queue politely. Cold Pool: A total lifesaver in the heat – we spent most of our time here. Lifeguards: great and funny! Facilities: The gym, various bars (lobby, snack, beach), and coffee shop were all great additions and well-used throughout our stay. Bar Staff: Friendly, efficient, and always up for a laugh. We really appreciated their energy and tipped them at the end of our stay – they absolutely deserved it! Cocktails at the Lobby Bar: Delicious and included in the all-inclusive – a highlight! Where improvement is needed: Entertainment Team: Sadly, they seemed disinterested. Most engagement with the guests was only young girls, which came across as uncomfortable and inappropriate at times. There was little interaction with families or mixed groups. One female team member stood out for being energetic and inclusive – she was fantastic, but the rest fell flat. Evening Entertainment Setup: The current layout (rows of chairs and sun loungers) isn’t welcoming. Adding tables with surrounding seating would improve the atmosphere and comfort dramatically. The current setup feels temporary and awkward. Restaurant Service: Unfortunately, we avoided the main restaurant due to unhelpful and at times rude staff. On more than one occasion, we wandered around looking for a table without assistance – with a child in tow. Clearing plates felt cold and dismissive, despite us trying to help by stacking them. Drink service was inconsistent, leaving us confused about what was expected. We ended up choosing the snack bar instead, where the staff were far friendlier. Food Variety: The buffet was repetitive, with little variation from night to night. A few themed evenings would go a long way. Breakfast in particular was disappointing – if you love a good holiday breakfast, this might not hit the mark. Sun Lounger Policy: Understandably hard to manage, but something should be done about guests reserving loungers early and not using them. Perhaps a rule to remove towels if unused by 10am would help. Coffee Shop: We loved this spot and visited almost daily. However, there was no consistency – the delicious sandwiches weren’t always available, and on our last day, my husband was refused entry for wearing flip-flops (at a café right next to the pool!). This was both frustrating and confusing. It left a sour taste, especially as we had intended to leave a tip here – but after that encounter, we chose not to. Final Thoughts: This hotel has so much potential and many positives, but the inconsistencies in service and engagement let it down. It’s advertised as a 5-star, but the overall service doesn't match that standard. While we always tip when we’ve received great service, we don’t believe in tipping before it’s earned – and unfortunately, that’s the impression we often got. We had a nice time overall, and there were moments we really enjoyed, but we won’t be returning. With a bit more training and consistent service, this could be a truly fantastic resort.

It was good and fresh. The rooms were clean. The food was good and very many options. Good location and close to the local bazaar and the beach. Happy for the stay and will probably visit again. The only negative about the place was the sunbed “claiming” not the hotels fault but still a little annoying.

Great hotel, clean and fantastic pool areas. Food lots of choices , staff friendly really good with the children. Close to beach, photographer offers nice family photos. Would return if in the area... had a spa treatment was fanrastic and worth the money