Eftalia Blue

This was our second time at the Eftalia group. Last year we visited ocean with Jet2 and this time Blue with Easy Jet. Firstly I would recommend Jet 2 as you get priority drop off and a wrist band to get spirits on the island. With easy jet it was over a 3 hour transfer (an hour of that was waiting at the airport for others). However even the way back took over 3 hours due to the amount of people being collected and we weren’t the first collection! First impressions of blue were poor. We arrived around 1.30am and there was no one around at reception. We rang the bell and waited. Someone came and we said who we were and apparently they were “expecting us over an hour ago and we were late”! No one to help take bags to the room, no offers of room upgrades or any explanation of where anything was. It seemed the same layout as ocean so we could easily find our way around. Got to the room. It was clean (ish). The safe was locked open and someone came and fixed that easily so clearly they can easily access safes…. Beds were so much comfier than ocean but the patio door didn’t close fully and the bathroom toilet wasn’t clean. Woken at 7am every morning with the maids making lots of noise and hoovering. We were travelling with friends and our group found that If you left tips then the fridge was stocked, towels given and room made up nicely. If you didn’t tip then you had your bed made up only. There is a tip box in the room. I personally don’t usually tip until the end and there was nothing to tip for as I had to ring for towels and toilet roll and bring water from the bar for the room. My son, and friends son had a sickness bug which lasted 24 hours (on seperate days). They both had eaten the kebab on those days but don’t know if it was that. It wiped them out and they couldn’t do anything but stay near the toilet in the room. Everyday we took a slow 15 minute stroll to the island to the pools. It was hard getting sun beds but the pool boy helped. The island isn’t big enough to accommodate the amount of guests. The island has some improvements from last year by putting all the snack bars together but not enough seating and really long queues. Drinks you have to also queue for and are given a drink in the smallest paper cup! They really are trying to encourage you to purchase drinks as there are more places to buy drinks than all inclusive. For an all inclusive drink choices are extremely poor. On the island (unless you pay or are jet 2) there are soft drinks, wine, beer. At the hotel it’s the same apart from the lobby bar does sports of rum, vodka and gin but the pool bar doesn’t have rum. The lobby bar also has premixed water based cocktails which don’t taste nice as they are warm. At the hotel there isn’t enough sun beds laid out. You have to ask for them and drag them to a space. There aren’t enough chairs for night entertainment either but it is great that you don’t have to walk to the island for the entertainment. The shoes lasted around 30 mins to 45 mins but made a change and some were really good. Organised activities at the island were centres more around adults this year. Our 15 year olds weren’t allowed to play games involving the surf board but were last year. At the hotel they tried to get involved with darts but were also told no as for adults. There was no signs saying what entertainment was where and what times which would have been useful. Slides at the hotel were amazing, ones at the island good too. They shut for an hour at lunch but open from around 10.30 to 16.30. Lifeguards were letting lots down at the same time and it was easy to run into the person in front. The majority of times they are on their phones scrolling TikTok. At the pool, We witnessed a dad running to pull his daughter out the pool (fully clothes) who had slipped in and the lifeguards were oblivious to this event! There was an Astro pitch for football at the front of the hotel which was good. You can get clean towels everyday for free from the Spa but expect to be hassled into buying spa packages. Overall we had a good time and facilities and rooms are better than ocean. The downside is the long walk to the island and on an evening they don’t turn on the lights that they could and it isn’t very well lit. I personally wouldn’t feel safe walking on my own back and forth at night. We would probably return but would love a better drinks package for the alleged 5 star they claim to be and the island needs expanding since they are bringing on board another hotel.

The pool and water slide facilities were excellent, and getting a sunbed was never an issue (though the layout is a bit of a maze). The room and cleaning were spot on, and the spa with Turkish bath was fantastic — definitely worth doing as a family. Unfortunately, the food and drinks let it down. We had food poisoning twice, and the variety was poor unless you love chips and bread. The grill/BBQ section was disappointing, and the alcohol is very weak. Definitely not an “all-inclusive plus” experience.

Great hotel! Staff friendly. Entertainment staff brilliant. Great waterpark! Hotel lovely and clean with great food 🙂

Hotel is only 2 years old & one of the cleanest hotels I've ever stayed in. We paid a wee bit extra on arrival to have a swim up room. The kids loved it & so did I. We stayed at the Eftalia Ocean & this hotel is head & shoulders above it. Only reason it's 4 & not 5 stars was the food & alcohol not the best but again not the worst. Pros Slides were brilliant & lifeguard were very relaxed & fun Pool was great Rooms were perfect Cleaners do a fantastic job All members of staff were happy & great at their jobs Ice lollies poolside 👍 Snack bar at poolside 👍 Fridge in rooms refilled every day Cons Breakfast really poor if you're British Not a lot of fish or meat options at dinner Al a carte steakhouse extremely poor Vodka watered down Entertainment was poor Not much near hotel Bars nearby charging £7 a pint

Very beautiful hotel, everything looks great. Food is fine, room is cleaned every day and the staff are extremely friendly. Especially at reception and entertainment!