My wife and I with two children aged 13 and 6 visited Safari Park for the 8th time in 4 years in August 2008, ( previous visits included are first child (15-17) we are always impressed with this hotel to such an extent that this year we invited some very good friends, I am sure they will review later.

This is a very big hotel but it never feels like it, some of the reviews are accurate and there really is not alot to complain about. I felt I should correct a few anomolies.

SUNBEDS

Yes they are 8 deep around the pool but only in ver y isolated areas (1 actually). If you want a bed directly in front of the water (on the front line as it were) then yes you have to secure one by 8.30am. But there were plenty of beds most of the day.

CLEANLINESS

This is a magnificantly clean hotel, you will always see maintenance and cleaning staff all day everyday from 7.00 AM till well past midnight, you will even spot the maintenance man walking around all day with his tin of paint and a brush.

The pool side is washed down every morning without fail.

FOOD/RESTAURANTS

In all our times at Safari Park we have never had a bad meal and never fealt rushed at the restuarants, removing the plates quickly from the table when you have finished is in my book effeciency not the waiters rushing you.

The all inclusive package is good but does require some improvement, the red wine from the bars is apalling but in the restaurant it is acceptable, the latenight sandwiches are not really worth the effort and really needs improvement.

ROOMS

Good clean rooms, with just enough equipment, house keeping every day but Tuesdays and Sundays.

To summerise this is a wonderful hotel and will keep the family entertained all day, there is a large european guest base. Germans, English, Dutch and Spanish and the entertainment is spoken in all those launguages and English isnt the first. But surley thats part of the holiday is it not?

This is an excellent hotel, we really enjoyed our stay but the one downside was the pool area - it was too busy and the loungers really are jammed in. Granted we visited in the middle of August, this particular hotel has over 600 rooms and is deceptively huge.

Whinge over, as AI veterans, the food was fine, fairly typical AI fayre (don't believe the fact that it was geared to the Germans although there were a lot of chips and we have seen more choice of salad dishes previously). The rooms are nice and big and clean and there is plenty to do especially for families.

I will mention the entertainment (a first) as, although it was typical hotel entertainment, it was the best we have ever seen: a nice mixture of outside acts and the hotel's own staff. Quite often they spent all day building the stage set and rehearsing - well done to them. Also the "mini disco" - we were treated to one most lunchtimes as well as the nightly one, and nice to hear that at least one hotel has shaken off the "Superman", "Music Man" songs from 20 years ago.

We were for 10 nights and tried to book the Italian on day one but couldn't get in. We ended up in the Tapas on day 9 - and beware of the waitress from hell. She was the most miserable, rude woman we have ever come across. having said that the food was slightly different from the main restaurant and made a change.

Would we book again? Probably not as we are used to quieter hotels (pool areas) but in all other respects it was very enjoyable.

Returned 22/8/08 weather wonderful and excellent facilities at complex. We enjoy quite active holidays and there was plenty on offer.
Travelled with my husband and our 2 girls 5yrs 3yrs.
Can see why its had good and bad comments safari is huge and bit overwhelming at first, 600 rooms and only 4 floors ,big horseshoe shaped complex. Didnt help by the fact the welcome meeting didnt seem to happen ( thompson as a whole bit disappointing) also some staff at hotel esp British ones bit grumpy but certainly not all of them.
Although didnt spend much time on balcony we did have a nice pool view if important to you check since many did not. Also I imagine those near stage v noisey until about 12 when it all stopped.
Why we enjoyed the complex was because of the choice it offered . When we did use the (limitied) thompson kids club we enjoyed the spa (free if AI) stunning and surprisingly quiet.
I spend a lovely odd hour on the very plush loungers at the 5 star Grand complex. ( not sure if I wasnt supposed to but it was so quiet there no one seemed to mind. Lovely to escape from the "safari noise" .
We fed the girls early on two nts and then they went to the 7.30-9.30 thompson kids club (cholate party esp a big hit with ours) while we went to the Tapas ( cold selection v good but then we like seafood) and La Reserva (nice setting even if it is a big bbq type place).
You do have to book these alternative restaurant ASAP, La luna loooked v good but its adult only and by the time we learned when the evening kids club where ( wed/ ? mon/fri) it was fully booked.
We all enjoyed the Italian Fontana esp since it had a few tables outdoors. Unfortunately we found the main buffet bit disappointing (main dishes often repeatative and bit lacking in choice for young children) although again some nts better than others.
Girls loved the pools and paradis park with its water slide and trampolines/adventure play ground( free). They also loved the nightly minidisco and the animation teams shows, grease/mama Mia, ok was overacted and mimed but 100% effort and good dancing/ stage sets.
The protur club are 4-12yrs 10-5pm children come and go when they want so we always stayed outside (unlike thomson club strict sign in/out).Howver its right next to one of the toddler pools and often had spare sun loungers right outside.
Although we didnt use this much it was handy when they got fed up of swimming or the heat they'd go and colour /paint for a bit .Staff v good.
They spend most of one day rehearsing and then preforming in a kids show. Ok between my husband and myself we spend 5hrs that day watching this in the heat but they were so pround and have showed everyone the medals they got for doing this.
I enjoyed the aerobics (40mins 10.am most days) even went to the yoga and pilates (held at the sa coma playa hotel few days a week 10.30am) very relaxing.
Hired a bike (again free) and cycled down the promenade to S'illiot. easy cycle once you get off the main road.
IN SUMMARY WE FELT IF YOU HAVE YOUNG CHILDREN SAFARI WILL SUIT YOU BEST.
Familis with Older children prob sa coma playa (100 rooms) more enjoyable ESP FOR THE ADULTS since much quieter around the pool , still had (smaller) hotel run day/nt activiets and you also have the option of using all the club house activies, golf range/climbing wall/achery/scuba/tennis/volleyball. DIDNT USE ANY OF THIS SINCE OURS TOO YONUG etc
WE SPEND VERY LITTLE EXTRA MONEY SINCE WE RARELY LEFT COMPLEX APART TO USE THE VERY PLEASANT BEACH. ( SHALLOW WARMISH WATER, GOOD SANDCASTLE MAKING SAND) AI we felt was good option, girls had lots of drinks/ice creams and we found the wine surprisingly drinkable
We would take their packed lunches to the beach handy if just for the water and fruit ( book day before)
Next to the Thompson desk they had a " Left for other quests box". Excellent idea saved us having to buy airbeds/buckets and spades and sun umberella .
PLAN TO RETURN NEXT YEAR which we have never done before.
However already regret buying the protty minidisco cd...

We have just returned having been for a 2 week all inclusive holiday - we travelled as 2 adults and children 9,11 and 2. We are a normal family looking for a good break with the children and look for clean accommodation and good food and got exactly that. Having been to the Greek islands for the previous 2 years this was luxury!!

The hotel was very impressive very friendly staff and large rooms, spacious bathroom, lounge area and kitchenette facility if needed. All very clean with towels and linen changed everyday except tue and thurs as this was their day off. There was ample storage space and we had a double depth balcony to our room.

With regard to the facility we couldnt fault it - buffet selection was very good breakfast, lunch and evening meal - they were continually bringing out fresh food and there is something for everyone (including fussy children!!)

The buffet had themed evenings ie Mexican, italian, chinese at regular nights and you can use the other restaurants if you book in advance - we did not rate the Tapas but friends who met us the second week had a great meal at La Fontana.

We never go away for evening entertainment however this was superb with something on every night eg entertainment team put on shows like Grease and Mama mia, there were acrobat acts, magicians and we even had the Four Tops and Rod Stewart tribute bands. All kicking off with kids disco from 8.30 - 9.00 with Protty Bear the hotel mascot.

As with all places in the Summer it was exceptionally busy and you had to sneak down about 8.30 to save beds (which you had to wait with until 9.00 because of pool patrol who would remove all the towels!!!! )

La Reserva water park behind the hotel was great for smaller kids - yes slides limited but enough to keep them occupied and so much quieter than the main pools.

We walked down to the beach area in an evening but didnt use in the day as we had a toddler - our friends enjoyed a day down there but said it was windy and obviously you have to pay for beds etc.

The group no longer share facilities across the hotels although on our first day we did get permission to use the pool opposite. I am sure there were hotel guests from the others using our pool too.

If you are prepared for very busy and not expecting a Dubai level holiday you will have a good time........

Enjoy!