After a disastrous start where we had originally booked with part of the XL group, I emailed the hotel on the friday and they replied within a few hours and told me to book directly on their website. Although we paid an extra £90 we were still able to stay in the same hotel, which was the most important as we were leaving in 4 days and didnt have time to hunt for a new hotel (we had booked our flights through a separate company).
Check-in was speedy, had room 831 which had fantastic views down to Porto Colom and over the sandy coved beach below. Met a couple who had been moved to another hotel for their first night and they had arrived a couple of hours before us, but as we booked directly with the hotel it seems we were given preference. The bar staff were entertaining. Sometimes there was a long queue at the pool bar as there were only 2 serving, but they limited everyone to getting 3 drinks at a time (everything is served in half pint plastic cups). Food was of a good variety, hubbie loved the chips and I loved all the european dishes. Good salad choices too. The pizza looked a bit "microwaved" and only ate other dishes from the Pizzaria which stayed open til midnight and was great if you had the munchies after a few drinks.
Evening entertainment was amateur, but still good fun. While we were there they had a magic show with contortionist, humourous beatles tribute act, kareoke, also every night bingo for us oldies and "mini disco time" for the youngsters. Shakey Shakey Wakey Wakey! The Sofia bar was open til 2.30am and charged 3euros for a pint of San Miguel, but becareful if you sit at the bar as they give you free drinks, namely tequila slammers. :) There were daily activities: archery, pool, football etc and they handed out winners certificates in the evening.
There are a few places where you can book excursions and hire cars around the island, but we had hired a car for the 9 days so never used these. The resort is small, but has the usual gift shops selling lilos in all colours, postcards, souveniers etc. Tabacco shop, chinese restaurant, Irish bar with live music which was good and reasonably priced, supermarket etc.
Kids seem to find things to do, although it was raining 2 evenings in a row and they didnt have the disco as this is held outside, thats probably the only downside we saw as the hotel didnt cater much for entertaining kids inside, apart from a couple of pool tables and those "pick up a toy" machines.
Some people were grumbling over the quality of the place, but my husband and I found that these were the sort of people who mistook 3* All Inclusive with 5* Luxury, which we found quite funny as they were also upset as it wasnt all "chicken, chips and beans" sort of food (the hotel has mainly British guests, but also popular with French, Spanish, Polish and Czech, so the food catered to every taste). There's a well known burger place up the road!
If you are open minded, want a clean hotel with beautiful views, then stay at the Hotel America.
Overall an excellent hotel and would definitely come back, but I would pay the extra to book direct with the hotel again just for the security of staying at the hotel for the entire time.









