Having read a lot of great reviews on this hotel we had certain expectations. These all seemed to be met at first sight. The hotel impresses with a Cathedral of a Lobby on first entry. At which point any person would be content to agree this is a 5 star hotel. Professional, forthcoming and friendly attitude by the staff carries the feeling onwards. Great architecture impressed us, all the way to the building in which we had our room.

It's a large hotel yet consists of many buildings which gives a feeling of something smaller, non-monolithic. Cool archways, parks also with great/tasteful design. So also with our building. But the/our room did not meet expectations and was a downright disappointment. Recently refurbished but that could not include the room we got. There might be other rooms in other building that would live up to the 5 star they brand themselves with. We did not get to see these.

In the room there was an old air conditioning system which did not allow personal temperature adjustment. Something I have come to appreciate in many other hotels in the range 4 to 5 star. Instead, an old system with only a switch to adjust the speed/power. On full noisy almost to the point or irritation and I would believe not at all very energy efficient/green solution.

The bathroom did not show many signs of recent refurbishment but repairs that made it look more of a 3 star. I have seen a few "falling stars" in my life and the bathroom in this room were nowhere close to a strong 4 star. If I were the owners/management I would have been more mindful of details in the accommodation part of the resort. But since one normally would spend little time here, above annoyance remained those we noted.

Stated before, we do not know the standard in other rooms/buildings but a 5 star should not include just parts of it.

Dining area were extremely well designed, spacious with large outdoor areas. One place you could definitely say one had had focus. Again, very professional staff, great food (for breakfast). We did not eat dinner here for one particular reason, something that annoyed other guests than us.

In order to access Restaurant for dinner as well as bars a certain dress code were required. Not all of us likes to do that when the temperature is 30C+ and you want to sit out. Without being "slobbish" instead come in shorts and t-shirt. This I have had no problems with at other 5 stars. I suspect they may have lost business, many choose to go out and eat elsewhere in the hot evening. I also suspect many of us would have liked to eat at the restaurant but, dressed as we felt comfortable in a hot July.

A hotel that does not enforce its own policies - poolside
One thing that came to be a major annoyance was the "reservation mania" that took place down by the pool. People, possibly from large groups or agencies simply reserved the best seats by the otherwise excellent saltwater pools. To such an extent that it was sometimes, if coming late, impossible to get good seat. And even more impossible, on busy days, to get an umbrella. Bad for many of us when you have a baking sun almost in zenith.

The worst was that even hours into the day, or several hours after our arrival, many of these sunbeds remained un-occupied! Although the hotel policy did point that this was not allowed. In my opinion this is a very bad and selfish un-culture, something that is strictly not allowed on other good hotels I've been at. The management failed to enforce their own policies, and give all guest equal opportunities. Something that the people working there could do nothing about without moving into conflict with certain guests/groups. This you don't do, as one consequence could be, wrong people lose their jobs.

Again as before, people working in the area were very friendly, very helpful, and very polite. Yet they could to nothing about the un-culture. Which also did expand into guests ignoring other rules, such as no ball playing in the pool, even inflatable rafts or boats. Smoking in toilets is not respectful. But I did not see any non-smoking signs. I will say some certain guest groups should have been more mindful of respect for other guests.

Several complaints led to no improvements during our stay which surprised us. We were not the only to one, in fact many had expressed their feeling towards the policy failures. Why at all have any if you do not intend to enforce it? Besides the beach, when you are here at this place, the pool area remains one of the most important ones. A place where guest "ranking" should absolutely not be allowed.

Lunching at a restaurant close by the pool was on the other hand a downright pleasure. This hotel has chefs who made excellent food! Extreme professionalism in how guests were attended by waiters and serving personnel.

Conclusion - a way to go.
Because of the above issues it is our impression that the management is this hotel's worst enemy. We also feel that more should be put into refurbishing rooms rather than surface and common spaces. A resort this quality, especially with regards to almost all the staff working here, would do better practicing its own preach.

Guests are guest whether they are few or many. We do not speak only for ourselves when saying that unless aforementioned issues is/will be dealt with, it would not be a surprise if some come here, only once. This hotel as tons of potential. With more mindful attitude to all guests, whether few or group, everyone would leave with without a mixed feeling.

It is not Gold all that glitters.

we have just returned from Anthelia hotel after staying there for two weeks, arriving at the hotel at 2am in the morning, even though we were totally shattered the first appearance was 'WOW' the reception area was absolutely awesome, my husband, myself and our two daughters aged 12 and 8 were amazed, check in was fairly quick, we were supposed to get champagne and soft drinks for the kids and a cuddly toy each for the kids but all we got was one cuddly toy, the champagne etc we didnt get but all we wanted was to go to bed for a few hours, the porter took us to our room which was absolutely beautiful, we had interconnecting room for the girls which was exactly the same as ours,so far so good, when we woke up the view was beautiful we could see the sea and part see the pool which is salt water which we dont know why but was bearable once you got used to it. We were booked in for bed and breakfast, so once awake we went down for breakfast into the restaurant and once again was amazed to see the amount of food available, the choice was unbelievable but all i ended up having for two weeks was poached egg on toast, my taste is not very outgoing not through not trying the food, kids got on okay with frosties and toast, everywhere was clean, staff were very friendly but no air conditioning in the restaurant, so most mornings it was rush breakfast to get out in the fresh air, they have got outside eating area but they were always full. Now we have to mention the pool area, usual job of finding a bed without a towel on it, the pool area seemed to be overtaken with not germans but belguims who thought they owned the place, after complaining about the towels being left on we were told that the pool people are supposed to take towels off but they didnt, luckily we did manage eventually to get some sunbeds and enjoyed our first day there, we did try to go to the restaurant that night to have our first dinner, but were refused because we had shorts on, in the heat we were in we found this very upsetting so ended up going out for some food, on returning we went back to the hotel for some evening entertainment, well what can i say, there was no entertainment, the entire holiday the entertainment was disgusting, they had a mini disco for the kids which lasted half hour and that was it, the complaints the hotel got from numerous people in the first week about the entertainment was unbelievable, so the second week two shows were put on 'Moulin Rouge' and 'Lion King' we were so excited but within half hour of both shows people were walking out, dont get me wrong the animation team tried so hard, but it was all mimed, it was nothing like either films and basically could not be understood, so all in all if you want any sort of entertainment don't bother going to this hotel, During the day around the pool the animation team tried but no one really wanted to know, they did bingo but you had to wait till every single language had been called out for each number, aquacise was done every afternoon and they were lucky if 2 people joined in i did with my girls and we had fun, and in the morning they played water polo, which normally only had three people on each side, such a shame, people were not friendly even english people, staff were more friendlier, we did meet up with a lovely gentleman and his son from norway and enjoyed therer company, the pool guard was lovely, but be warned out of the three pools the salt water pool only has a life guard, all we kept hearing about were cutbacks, which i feel in a supposedly 5 star hotel is not acceptable. Considering the look of the hotel and the room we stayed in i would say yes definetely a 5 star but everything else definitely not perhaps between a 3 star and 4 star. Dont get me wrong this was one of the most relaxed holidays i have ever been on but any more relaxed i would of dropped down dead, would i go back again, no definitely not, and the icing on the cake was because our flight wasnt till early saturday morning, we were picked up at 11.45 friday night, we asked for a courtesy room which they said we could have for half hour, what use is that, but after complaining we did get a room from 6pm until we went, we spent our last day after packing around the pool then went back to our courtesy room to shower, the room was basic had no air conditioning, and while we were laying on the beds we became covered in ants which really topped the holiday off for us and by now could not wait to get home, we also were told that the hotle was 50% down on trade from last year, so basically i think that says it all.

OK, so we've been to Anthelia five times. I don't really think that it is five star, but it's getting there - the addition of a turn down service and a decent a la carte restaurant would help as would the installation of proper showers in the rooms. However five returns speaks for itself - we have always enjoyed our stays and the staff have always been central to that. We were welcomed back like old friends and given a room where we had requested at the front overlooking the sea. Our greatest joy though is the salt water pool and lazy, stress-free days in glorious sunshine. The hotel was relatively empty this year in July, probably only about half full, which gave it an aura of peace and calm, so relaxing.

The food was as good as always especially the breakfast buffet which I have not seen bettered anywhere. The evening buffet can be a bit of a scrum at certain times but the range and quality of food remains excellent. I think that if the a la carte restuarant had a half decent menu then more guests might be tempted to use it, but with the buffet being so good and extensive, there is no incentive to spend that bit extra.

Overall, yet another fabulous holiday. Yet again we didn't want to leave and will return next year?...........

We have just returned from a two week stay at the Grand Anthelia (myself, husband and 7yr old daughter). We had a fantastic time. The hotel itself is very large, but well laid out. The rooms were fantastic (all have been recently refurbished). On arrival we had white bath robe and slippers each and a bowl of fruit on the table. The staff and service from all areas of the hotel was excellent. We were treat like a King and Queen and loved it!!

Hotel was immaculately clean and food was fantastic - although we decided to eat half board 1st week and then eat out 2nd week.

One of the things we loved was not having to "reserve" a sun bed by the pool! We did not go to the pool until afternoon one day and we still had a choice of beds..... not bad in July!

The hotel had a few brits staying, but mostly German, French & Spanish. This was not a problem as the staff all spoke English and as I say they could not do more for us.

As you leave the hotel from the rear entrance - always turn right - its where the good restaurant & bars are and is a much more up market area. If you turn left - then god help you! Its like Blackpool in the sun.

Also if you fancy days on the beach, then again turn right out of rear entrance and go to playa del duque - fabulous beach with sunloungers, parasols and imported sand.

The only thing (and its quite small) that I was dissapointed in for a 5 star hotel was that there was not tea/coffee making facilities in the room. But I survived!