Elba Sara Beach & Golf Resort
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"OK, improvements needed"
Our experience at the hotel was much like other reviews suggest. If you want a sun lounger with shade, set your alarm for 6:30am—by 8am most loungers are already reserved with towels. Reception explained that nothing can be done until the lifeguard starts at 10am. Staff were a mixed bag: some were incredibly friendly—special mention to Jose and Vikryam at the Broadway Bay and Vanesa on the animation team 😁—while others were extremely surly. Some baffling health and safety choices were noticeable, like balconies being cleaned in a way that allowed liquids to pour onto terraces below, sometimes over towels, clothes, and even children! In three- and four-person rooms, expect only two chairs and a tiny table. The Italian restaurant was lovely, with fresh food and a nice atmosphere, despite a few negative reviews. Cleaning wasn’t consistent—we noticed the same squashed cockroaches in the corridors for several days. The baby kit was excellent, with a travel cot, mattress, sheets, and a large baby bath, but requests to change the bedding on the cot were ignored three times. Mugs for tea and coffee were never replaced. A highlight was the lady in charge of customer relations—she was fantastic, always welcoming, and a real credit to the hotel. Overall, it was an “OK” holiday. Some aspects, especially the sunbeds and inconsistent cleaning, let it down, so we won’t be returning.
"Lovely family holiday"
We had an amazing family holiday at this hotel. The staff were lovely, and our room was clean and a good size for the three of us. The food was enjoyable for everyone, and our little boy particularly loved the chocolate fountain. The pool was great, with a separate kids’ pool that kept him entertained for hours. While we did use the sunbeds around the pool, it was sometimes difficult to find one at the main pool because some guests reserved them very early in the morning. Despite that, the staff in both the restaurant and the entertainment team were friendly and attentive, making our stay even more enjoyable. We loved the hotel so much that we’ve already booked to return in April 2026!
"Great holiday 4.5 stars."
This was our second visit to this hotel as a family of four for 10 nights, and we had another wonderful stay. The location is excellent – just a 20-minute walk to the town or less than 2 minutes to a beautiful beach. The food was very good and generally served hot. Occasionally there were queues, but they moved quickly. The joints of meat were especially delicious. The pool area is brilliant, and even better now with the slide section. It can be a little slippery, so caution is needed, but the lifeguard does a great job keeping it clean. There were always plenty of sunbeds available by 8 am, including prime spots at the front of the pool. Entertainment was fine, though we preferred relaxing in the upstairs bar and playing games. The mini disco was busy, and the kids loved it. We were initially given a side room with a poor view, but reception was incredibly accommodating, moving us the next day to a spacious room with a lovely pool view and a great shower. The staff do an amazing job, and they respond promptly if you have any issues. Overall, a great holiday with friendly staff and a welcoming atmosphere. We also adored the hotel cats and may have spoiled them with treats! 4.5/5.
"Sadly, standards have dropped."
We just returned from a one-week stay with 3 adults and 2 children (16 & 12). This was our second visit, having stayed at Elba Sara at the same time last year. We loved it so much then that we rebooked immediately, but unfortunately, this visit has shown that standards have definitely slipped. I think many of the issues stem from the hotel operating at full capacity without enough staff to meet demand. Room Cleaning: We had two days with no housekeeping, no clean towels, and unmade beds. I had to call reception both times to request towels after returning from the pool. I suspect the beds were never changed during our stay. Food: The meals were very repetitive and not up to the standard of our previous visit. Breakfast after 10am or dinner after 8:30pm was difficult, with slow replenishment. The grill served undercooked meat on more than one occasion. The dining area was extremely busy, and while staff worked hard, there weren’t enough people to clear tables or serve drinks efficiently. We ended up buying drinks from the bar most nights. Bar: Staff were lovely and hardworking, though queues were long due to insufficient coverage during peak periods. Entertainment: Daytime activities were great, and my boys loved water polo. Evening entertainment was dull, lacking atmosphere and engagement. Pool: More sun shades are needed. I managed to secure a sunbed each day without waking at dawn, but most were in full sun. The adults-only area was a highlight for my parents, with plenty of beds and shade. Elba Sara remains a lovely hotel in a perfect location, right next to the shopping center, and my boys enjoyed the arcade and pool games. I sincerely hope improvements are made to bring it back to the standards of our previous visit.
"Great family holiday"
We spent 10 days at this hotel as a family of three, including our 5-year-old daughter, and had an absolutely wonderful time. Despite some negative reviews, we found the hotel perfect for families – if you’re expecting a child-free, luxury stay, this isn’t for you! Our daughter loved the mini clubs and attended every day, giving my wife and me a well-deserved break. The animation team was brilliant with the kids, keeping them entertained throughout our stay. The adult relaxation area was also a lovely escape when we needed some quiet time. The rooms were clean and comfortable, and the food offered something for everyone – the Nacho Cheese fountain was a definite highlight! The swimming pools were lovely, and the all-inclusive beer, Cruzcampo, was a winner. Evening events like the White Party and the foam party were a hit with both kids and adults. The staff were consistently polite and friendly, and we were pleasantly surprised to find a bottle of prosecco and card in our room for my birthday – a thoughtful touch. Negatives? Sunbeds do need to be reserved early in the morning, and the evening entertainment was a bit bland on some nights. More bar staff in the evenings would be helpful. We also felt the magician from the kids club could have been part of the evening entertainment – he was fantastic! Overall, a brilliant family-friendly hotel. Highly recommended!
"Great daytime team, but disappointing facilities and cleanliness"
We stayed as a family of four with two children aged 7 and 10. Pros: The daytime animation team was fantastic – hardworking, friendly, and engaging. The food was good, and we always found something to suit everyone. Cons: Evenings were disappointing, with virtually no entertainment. During our one-week stay, the music quiz was the only activity offered, and the questions were repeated each night! The lack of a pool bar meant drinks were only available at an indoor bar with a gloomy atmosphere, and the quality of drinks was substandard for a 4-star hotel. Snacks were left out all day, creating mess, and rubbish around the pool wasn’t cleared promptly. We even saw broken glass left on the main stairway for an extended period, which felt unsafe. Outside our room, McDonald’s wrappers and a spilled milkshake took a long time to be cleaned, even after notifying reception. Bedsheets weren’t changed until we specifically requested it after three days. The hotel itself felt a little run down and tired. Sadly, despite the excellent daytime staff, the lack of evening entertainment, poor cleanliness, and weak facilities mean we wouldn’t return – there are far better hotels available.
"Great stay at Elba Sara"
We travelled as a group of nine and had a really enjoyable stay. The pools were large and never felt overcrowded, and sunbeds weren’t an issue. Even though shade is limited, the parasols and the movement of the sun meant it wasn’t a big problem. Food was lovely—breakfast and dinner were especially good, and the snack bar served quick, convenient lunch options. We also tried the Italian restaurant; the food was nice, though it was a bit tricky to get a booking even when it wasn’t full. Drinks were standard for an all-inclusive and perfectly fine. Our junior suite was amazing, with a fantastic sea view and plenty of space. Towels weren’t replaced, but we hadn’t left them on the floor for washing. We were also able to get a late check-out until 5pm for 40 euros, which was very reasonable. The location is slightly further out from the town—about 25 minutes on foot with kids—but taxis were cheap at 3 euros. The beach is a short walk through the side gate and absolutely beautiful. The entertainment team worked hard and were brilliant with the kids, keeping everyone entertained throughout the day. The mini disco was great, with visits from Pepe. One suggestion: it would have been better if the entertainment took place outdoors, as most activities were inside and we missed joining in on some events. We did, however, enjoy the White Party outdoors! Overall, we would return and had a fantastic holiday, though we usually explore different destinations each year.
"Entertainment dire -requires Improvement!"
We recently stayed at the hotel with a prestige package in room 416. The hotel looks beautiful, and the room was big and spacious with comfortable beds. However, there were only two duvets for three of us, and we had to request an extra one. The fridge was stocked daily with drinks, but cups and glasses were removed and not replaced unless we asked repeatedly. The shower worked well when warm, but after 5pm the water was cold. Towels weren’t replaced even when left in the shower to indicate they were dirty—they were just hung back up with marks on them. Floors were dirty, so we were grateful for the provided slippers. The balcony was large, but two massive trees blocked our sea view. Air conditioning was ineffective, and there weren’t enough hangers. We also had to clean black spidery bugs from the wardrobe on arrival. Staff: Friendly and helpful at the bars and reception, but the restaurant staff were unwelcoming, and the woman behind the cooking stations was particularly unhelpful. Food & Drinks: Breakfast was excellent, lunch was okay, and dinner was average. Drinks service was inconsistent, often forcing us to get our own. Food wasn’t replenished quickly, with large queues and underwhelming desserts. The Italian restaurant was lovely, but the Toucan pool bar served disgusting food and vile cocktails. Alcohol servings were overly large and undrinkable, with awful cocktails and wine. A few restaurant sangrias were nice, but otherwise very poor. Location: The beach is a short walk and gorgeous. A 15-minute walk to Caleta was easy, and buses to Corralejo and Porto Rosario were convenient. Chipmunks and friendly doves add charm to the local wildlife. Pool: Too small for the number of guests, very cold, and lacking atmosphere. Not enough sunbeds, and few with shade. A strong sewage smell in pool areas made access unpleasant. Entertainment: By far the biggest disappointment. Unless you have toddlers, there’s almost nothing to do. Over 10 nights with a 14-year-old, we had only five nights of ‘entertainment,’ including two singers, a drumming band, a 30-minute quiz, and a variety show that consisted of poorly mimed movie songs. Chairs were limited, and most nights we ended up watching TV instead. Overall: We enjoyed the sun, beach, and location, but the accommodation, food, drinks, pool, and entertainment were hugely disappointing. For nearly £5000, we expected much better and now wish we had booked the Carlota, which reportedly has superior entertainment and atmosphere.
"Not good"
Our room (615) was very nice, with a lovely balcony view, but unfortunately the overall experience was poor. The standard of cleanliness was very low; the bathroom was poorly cleaned and there was a foul smell, like a dirty mop, lingering in the room. Towels were not provided daily, which caused problems for myself and my family, and it seemed there was no dedicated staff addressing this issue on our side of the hotel. One evening, while sitting on a sofa at reception, a flea jumped from the furniture onto my husband—a clear downside of allowing cats to roam freely over shared hotel areas. Drinks were extremely overpriced, which was frustrating as we were on a half-board plan. The staff were reserved and not particularly welcoming, making the overall experience feel disappointing. The gym facilities were subpar and felt like being “down in the dungeons,” with many machines either out of order or missing entirely. While the location is good for plane spotting under the flight path, we have stayed in many hotels, including lower-star accommodations, with far better service. We will not be returning to this hotel.
"Ignore the poor reviews. Great hotel defo 4star"
I must admit, the recent poor reviews had me a little hesitant before my holiday, but I would advise anyone to come with an open mind. The hotel is lovely, and the staff work tirelessly to make your stay enjoyable. Our room was fabulous, with a fantastic view that matched the extra cost, and it was cleaned every day if you wished, with towels and bed changes available on request. Yes, sunbeds do get reserved very early in the morning, but the staff cannot realistically police this for hundreds of guests. A letter at check-in explains not to reserve beds before 10 am, but it becomes a trend when guests copy each other. Despite that, we always managed to get a sunbed. Parasols are in short supply, but you can purchase clip-on umbrellas nearby, which is handy wherever you go. The food was lovely, even if a bit repetitive, but staff replenished it promptly, and tables were cleared quickly. Ice cream for kids could be improved, as it melted fast or ran out quickly. Drinks were mainly local, and the flimsy paper cups during the day were easy to replace with a plastic one. The all-inclusive setup isn’t unusual for a large resort, and it didn’t spoil our stay at all. The hotel offers a fantastic family atmosphere with foam parties, inflatable slides, Lion King shows, live music, and drummers. It’s clear the staff take pride in what they do. Overall, this is a great hotel for families, with a picturesque location and excellent facilities. A big thank you to Elbra, Sarah, and all the team for making our family holiday one to remember.
"Good but can improve"
We just returned from a 10-day family holiday at this resort and overall had a great time. The pools are fantastic and the food was really good. However, there were a few concerns. The kids’ pool is extremely slippery – my son fell and hit his head on the concrete, and I saw at least two other children have similar accidents each day. Luckily, my son was fine, but it felt dangerous and could easily result in serious injuries. The kids’ club also raised some safety concerns. I left my youngest (4 years old) in there for half an hour, and when I went to check on him, he had managed to leave the area on his own. The staff member in charge was at the back of the room with a small group of children and didn’t notice that he had walked out. She was supervising 24 kids on her own, which seemed unsafe. Thankfully, I was there at the right time, but it could have ended badly. We also had ants in our room, but this was dealt with promptly on the same day we reported it, though they did keep appearing on the counters in the bedroom. Overall, it’s a lovely resort with great pools and food, but the kids’ safety and pool hazards need to be addressed.
"Disappointing, was expecting a 4 star experience"
I was really looking forward to staying at this hotel after watching vlogs and reading reviews, but unfortunately, the reality was less glamorous. The hotel felt very run down, with broken tiles around the pool and corridors, ripped wallpaper, and even broken glass in some areas. At full capacity, it was clear that staff were struggling to cope with the demand. While they tried their best, the pressure revealed shortcomings that I feel are the responsibility of management rather than the employees. The indoor bars were stuffy in the evenings, particularly the Broadway bar, which could benefit from stronger air conditioning. Sunbeds were a major issue—getting shade required waking extremely early, and many beds were reserved by families who left and returned later in the day. Food at the main restaurant was acceptable, though cutlery and plates often had leftover food, and the snack bar was extremely disappointing, with limited options by mid-afternoon. On a positive note, my holiday wasn’t entirely ruined, thanks to venturing out regularly. However, it’s easy to understand the source of some recent negative reviews. My advice: bring an alarm clock, a pack of cards, and slippers to keep your feet clean.
Elba Sara Beach & Golf Resort
A seafront hotel offering golf access, spacious rooms, and a variety of dining and leisure facilities.
Address
Avenida de las Marismas 7, 35610 Antigua - Fuerteventura
Email
[email protected]
Telephone
+34928160020