Arrived Friday midday, pleasant and helpful reception staff, easy check in and hotel looked recently renovated with well presented and modern lobby. We unpacked into a large two bed apartment, three flatscreens and sofa, large fridge freezer and all accessories required for comfortable self catering. We spent a nice afternoon at a quiet pool among other families and couples (pool is freezing cold). This is where the good news ended. Around 5pm two coach loads of students descended onto the hotel with shopping carts (actual shopping carts) loaded with speakers and party signs. Our stomachs sank as did our 7yr olds, intimidated by rowdy youths in the elevator. I enquired at the front desk as to the situation and was met with the news that the party had booked almost the entire hotel out of rooms. The Flor Da Rocha sells the rooms as part of a student party package at various times throughout the year, see screen grab. The sequence of events is as follows; two coaches arrive mid afternoon, the lobby and swimming pool both flood with loud students and then the speakers appear on the balcony’s facing the pool area blasting music. Short lull when they dissipate to the supermarket for alcohol then from 9pm (when the families are settling the children) the noise begins again with shouting / singing / Macarena etc etc. people hanging over balcony’s with guitars, clapping and jeering. No intervention from hotel staff whatsoever. It comes as no surprise the in room telephone also doesn’t work when trying to contact reception. The fact Jet2 are marketing this hotel as a family friendly holiday is ridiculous. No sleep for a family of four for the first two nights of a seven night holiday. We selected Praia Da Rocha as a family friendly alternative to the usual stag and hen locations, what possesses the place to host a two day student bender is beyond me. Unfortunately, this is the second time Jet2 have let us down and we should’ve known better than to travel with them again. The rest of the week was fine although the students continue to come and go, fortunately for us the rest seemed to be athletes / youth groups rather than organised party goers. Given time and money has been spent to update the hotel it’s a real shame they choose to recoup this at the detriment to family and couple guests in an otherwise quiet resort.
Very Good
7 Reviews