Hotel LIVVO Lago Taurito

I will start as many other people started - DON'T BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU READ. I think some of us are forgetting, that they booked 3* hotel and not 4* or 5*. Yes, hotel facilities are maybe a bit outdated but that didn't bother us, we went there to have a good time as a family. We got room with kitchen on 9th floor with balcony and sea view and great air-con. Kitchen had fridge and microwave. Housekeeping was coming and cleaning our room every day apart from Sunday. Restaurant very good - very friendly staff, they tried to talk to us but we don't speak Spanish sadly. Only words we could say were "gracias" and "ola" but it was enough for them to smile or wave every time they saw us. Food very good and good selection. Nice hotel pool, but yes we had seen people reserving sun loungers very early in the morning. There were many families staying at the time so I kind of understand, that they would like to sit/lay together by the pool. For us it didn't matter really, we just put our stuff whenever there was a free space. Pool was always very busy. Maybe because the waterpark next door had salty water, which was a shame really as waterpark was one of the reasons we booked this hotel. We only went there once but for our kids (6 and 4 years old) water was too salty so we were mainly using hotel pool - which they loved. Another thing if you book all inclusive that doesn't cover waterpark - you can though pay a bit extra at the hotel and then you can enjoy 3 drinks per person and some snacks (I believe) over there. As this place is quite out of the way, there is not much to do apart from the pool or...visiting the famous Arcade. Be prepare to spend some money there. You have everything there from bowling, mini golf to mini soft play. There is a football pitch at the back but they charge 20 euros per hour to use it! I bit expensive for my liking. Overall we had great time at the hotel, is the surroundings we are not sure about.

We were really worried before arriving and reading the reviews, we even tried to change the hotel but decided to stick when quoted to move. Two families of 9 in total The hotel rooms itself are a little dated but spacious and nothing wrong with them. We had some issues with cockroaches as we were on the 1st floor, we just kept balcony door closed! Hotel cleaners - miserable! We used to leave our balcony door unlocked and sit on the patio outside to sunbathe, the cleaners would lock the door then when we asked them to reopen as our key cards were inside, they refused to open the door without going all the way down to reception. Key cards - the biggest bug bear! Every time you put by your phone it wipes it. We went down numerous times throughout the holiday (along with many other holidaymakers). The receptionist even commented they need a new system. Its crazy! Food - we had no issues with the food - yes 'samey-samey' just like any other all inclusive we have been to but a wide choice each day - or pizza/pasta/potatoes/salad/desserts, you wouldn't go hungry there. Drinks - did not like the pre-made cocktails. very watered down , I have never been to an AI that premakes their cocktails, really put me off. Staff do not crack a smile or even look up to meet your eyes when ordering. There was one lovely lady on the pool bar each day but other than that - miserable! Lovely guy with long hair on the reception - credit to the hotel. Waiting staff in reception will always say hello. Real issues with birds - around the pool bar food, on the terrace - I know this cant be helped but never seen so many before. Beach bar - Sunset Taurito - the highlight of our holiday - lovely food and lovely staff (Sam (Salim) is super friendly down there. Rachel and her friend on the excursion desk - very knowledgeable been in the area 36 years! We booked a boat trip with them and saw loads of dolphins! Waterpark okay - but the salt water put us off going every day - the stinging eyes were real! Didn't realise the sun doesn't come up 7.45am the week we were there. Super cloudy as its on the mountain. I would come back for the beach bar, wouldn't come back to this particular hotel but wasn't bad overall.

Good points. Food was varied and restaurant was clean when we stayed. If you spoke and smiled at the staff they were always friendly and helpful back. Reception was helpful and again friendly as were the bar staff. Close to the beach and water park. Entertainment crew tried hard with limited resources. Bad points. House keeping was not great. Our floor was swept once in the week. Beds weren’t changed and only one change of towels. Bathroom was only cleaned once, we knew this as the same tooth paste marks were there every day and the soap ring in the shower. Pool area had tiles missing and was always cloudy. You have to put your towels out at 6.30 if you want to sit where you can keep an eye on your children in the pool. Drinks were poor unless you paid extra. Would I go back, I think not.

I am going to start off by saying please don't let the reviews worry you like they did me, there was 8 of us all together, Mum, Dad, Nan, Grandad and 4 kids 14, 8, 7 and 3. We had a fabulous holiday and will be back. Rooms - we had 2 rooms and in-laws had a room. Our 2 rooms were interconnected so it turned into one massive room which was amazing fo us so we could all be together. The rooms are very spacious and the views were unbelievable. The rooms are outdated but you're only in there to sleep and get ready so didn't bother us. The floor can become very slippy if gets wet after shower/bath so please be careful of that. The beds were very comfortable and we slept amazing all holiday. We were floor 8 so right at the top of the building, we used the lifts to go up but generally used stairs to get downstairs as was much easier and faster. Lifts - they are abit temperamental but there are a few so there is always one to use. Just expect a wait during busy times of eating etc. Only thing that did disappoint us was no tea facilities inside the rooms which was a disappointment. You also need to pay €3 a day for the safe which I think is abit cheeky especially as people want to keep passports/important information safe. Stuff like this is what keeps it at a 3 star for me. Food - we thought the food was amazing, always a massive choice and changed every day, they have staff coming to collect plates all the time which was nice to see. My in-laws have been on multiple cruises and said the food was on par with them, we had salads and everything, daughter loved the burgers and hotdogs served at snack by the pool bar, none of us were ill which was very unusual as one of us usually gets a bad belly. Hotel - Hotel itself was clean and tidy, Sunday they don't have cleaners so saw a bit of rubbish then but that is down to us tourists not putting that in the bins. Staff in the food hall were amazing, always interacting with the kids and giving high fives etc, reception staff were good when asking for bus times gave us a sheet with times but was very confusing so I just used ChatGPT. Pool - the pool is overly small and had to be shut a few times due to people pooing and being sick in it, I personally thought it was too small for the people in it. The floor is also very slippy when wet so wear some crocs or beach shoes, we did see a few people slip. We only used it 2x the rest of the holiday we went to the waterpark which our kids loved, there is no rush for the beds and plenty of beds available, we would leave our stuff and then go back up to hotel for food, we would buy a pack of 6 Tropical beer for €4 and take them in. Definitely recommend the waterpark, the water is salty though but that didnt bother us kids just wore goggles but it does make you burn faster. Entertainment- I think the entertainment was ok for a 3 star, the Lion King, Greatest Showman and Michael Jackson tribute stuff was amazing, the girls dancing were samey though and got abit boring but there is plenty to do around there with the arcades, mini golf etc. Kids enjoyed themselves and that is all that matters. Beach - the beach is nice but the sea is very rough so please watch your kids when they are in there as it can drag a full adult out. Some lovely restaurants and a sports bar on the beach you can use if get bored of the all inclusive food and for a change of scenery. Shops & Amenities - there is a brilliant supermarket underneath the hotel on main path along to the beach which we loved, it had everything in and wasn't overly expensive, if that was in Britain with the hotel being so secluded they'd wack the prices up but the prices were generally good, big bottle of water €1. There is a place where you can get hair braids seemed to be a popular thing for the girls, a full head along top with pink hair added was €45, they also have a lady doing it at the pool during the mornings. DO NOT use the pharmacy underneath the hotel, they aren't proper pharmacies more like a Holland and Barrett and we only learnt this after spending €100 on food supplements that they sold as 'pain relief' and having to see the doctor who is under the Princess Hotel. The Doctors under the Princess Hotel were amazing when our daughter got swelling on her head from the heat, you have to pay €95 to see the doctor and then get your prescription from Peurto Rico which was €16 there and back (think taxi driver felt sorry for us as should have been double), can also get bus 9 for a few €s but we didn't have the time to wait. We claimed the taxi expense, medication and doctor on our travel insurance and got it all back, that was Post Office, they were amazing 48 hours after claim put money in my bank. Just keep all receipts and documents. SO PLEASE UNLESS WANT TO GET SCAMMED DON'T GO TO THE PHARMACY, THE PROPER PHARMACIES HAVE GREEN FLASHING LIGHTS AND CLOSEST IS IN PEURTO RICO. Excursions - we booked our excursions through get guide and did the dolphin and whale cruise with Bluebird I think they were called and they were amazing, picked us up from opposite the hotel at Spa Krabi and took us back at the end. We saw loads of Dolphins and also flying fish, the kids also got to jump in a calm part of the sea and snorkel for 8 of us cost us £195 we were gone for about 4 hours all together. Puerto de Mogán- is beautiful, we got a bus but the bus times are very confusing so we got translate on phone and asked the bus drivers and they told us which buses to get etc they were amazing!! Whatever you do, go to Puerto de Mogán (Little Venice) it is honestly beautiful there, bars along the harbour and could see so many beautiful fish. We also ate at Mr.India and OMG we are big Indian eaters and it is the best Indian we have EVER had, the staff were incredible too!! You need to go there, you wont regret it. Family of 8, 3 kids meals (brilliant size curries), 3 adult curries, chips, 2 rice and 2 naans, 3 Cobra bottles, 2 coke bottlles & 3 bottle water, €10 tip was €140. You have to go!! We have been dreaming about it since weve left and would go back just for an Indian 🤣. Temperature - we were worrying as was only saying 28 and with the recent hot weather in Britain thought we were going to be cold, how wrong were we, it was bloody boiling felt more like mid 30s and no cloud in the sky.

Holidayed this August with family, very average hotel, 2 stars max, one outdoor swimming pool that clearly not big enough to accommodate all the guests, it is packed from morning till evening you can only stand in it forget swimming freely. Breakfast, lunch and dinner very dull, staff members couldn’t care less, especially the breakfast grumpy omelette guy who was absolutely shocking, brought this up with restaurant manager no results next morning this “happy“ individual was there serving (no hi, no acknowledgment, facial expression is almost he hates everything and everyone). Positives- sun, beach outdoor dining, basically anything outside hotel was grate. Hotel LIVVO Lago Taurito very poor.