Julia SL
Great hotel, specifically for families and triathletes.
The hotel offers good rooms, we had an apartment towards the Albufera reservoir, with a separate bed and living room. It was quiet and had a nice balcony.
We went to the hotel with our friends for a cycling vacation in October and were pleasantly surprised about the large bicycle storage/ center, where bikes could be securely locked, AND they offered fresh snacks, fruit and drinks for pre- and post-ride AND a cycle shop & rental place.
The pool area was also very nice, and there were enough sun-chairs even though the hotel was fully booked.
The service was great, apart from two occasions in the restaurant where the waiters were too stressed and told us one second we could sit at a specific table we wanted just for another waiter to told us we cannot in a not so nice way.
For guests without kids, I do however believe that the restaurant might be slightly too loud, hectic and we would next time chose the Viva Gold adults only hotel.
James Fellowes
We've just come back from a great 9 night stay. The hotel and grounds are very clean and well maintained. All staff worked very hard to make sure guests had a great stay.
The kids loved the animation team and the evening entertainment was varied and fun. They were kept busy all day & night.
There was plenty of choice at the buffet and it was great to be able to order off the menu at the pool bar for lunch. The food at the patio bar was also very good and the sweet corner was a massive hit with the kids.
We paid extra for a garden room but didn't really use the garden as we were never at the room apart from sleeping!
Great family holiday, where new friends and great memories were made!
Daniel Cunnington
Really great family hotel. Pool areas were great - loads of options for kids of different ages and adults and loads of sun beds available in early September. The beach is also an easy 5mins walk and is exceptional, one of the best in Europe. The weather of course helps!
Buffet restaurant is superb, really wide range of options and good rotation of themed nights. Bars also excellent and drinks well priced - we were on half board plus and it was great to have a beer/wine or 2 included with dinner before heading out to the bar for the disco and nightly entertainment. Drinks service is great too, super quick and efficient and sensibly priced.
The kids club is fantastic, the best we’ve ever come across. Great arts/crafts/tattoos/discos etc and Julia/Carla/Rhody and the team are all an absolute credit to the hotel.
Perhaps only minor negative was the room was a little basic, but with a 3yr old in tow that suited us fine and it was still very comfortable. Overall a great week in the sun.
James Lam
I recently spent a week at Viva Blue with my two children (ages 7 and 9), and I would like to share my experience.
The overall atmosphere of the hotel is very pleasant, and the cleanliness of the reception, rooms, restaurants, and pool area is commendable. However, I did notice that used reusable cups were left in trays around the pool, which sometimes attracted bees. I recommend that these trays be emptied and cleaned more frequently. Additionally, the sealant in the showers could be refreshed for a cleaner appearance. Aside from these minor points, the environment was generally clean.
The quality and variety of the buffet restaurant were good. We opted not to choose the “All-Inclusive” option, as we enjoy exploring local restaurants. However, on two occasions, we paid for the buffet (27€ for adults and 50% for children), which included drinks and was good value. I found the lunch buffet price of 25€ for adults to be somewhat expensive, especially since there are cheaper options available at the pool bar with cooked-to-order meals. While I am unsure of the exact cost of the All-Inclusive option, it does seem to offer good value.
The kids' entertainment was adequate, but it appeared to be more geared towards younger children (under 6 years). My 9-year-old daughter found limited activities during the day and evening and felt a bit too old for the Pirate Mini Disco. Additionally, the evening entertainment starts quite late, which meant my children were often in bed by that time.
One of my biggest frustrations, which is common in many hotels, was the reservation of sun loungers in the morning. By the time the pool opens at 10 a.m. (which feels too late during the summer months), there is hardly any free space left, as many guests claim their spots as early as 6:30 a.m. There are signs on the umbrellas indicating that towels will be removed if a bed is unoccupied for more than 30 minutes, but this seems more like a scare tactic than an enforced rule. While there is staff walking around, I did not see any action taken regarding this issue. I would prefer to see the pool open earlier, perhaps at 8 or 9 a.m. The pool closes at 7 p.m., which again feels too early, as there are still several hours of sunlight left during the summer.
Despite these concerns, we had a pleasant stay at the Viva Blue hotel. However, I would consider a different hotel that caters more to teenagers for our next visit. If you are traveling with two adults, this hotel may not be the best fit unless you opt for a room with a jacuzzi or private pool.
The location is nice, with plenty of restaurants nearby. The beach is within walking distance, but be aware that sunbeds there are quickly claimed, and you will pay 14€ for two beds for the day. The ocean is very shallow, making it suitable for children.
Diana Diaconu
The hotel is really nice and in a very easy location, surrounded by shops and different facilities. The hotel itself has a small supermarket inside as well.
I recommend this place for families, as they have many attractions and big pools for kids. On the other hand I do NOT recommend it for couples only, as it is very noisy and the pools are always full. We do not dislike kids, but a full week of listening to kids yelling might be a bit tiring, if you are looking for a quiet place to relax.
Another thing that bothered was that the sun beds were “reserved”, with towels, from really early morning and not really being used, making it difficult to find an empty one if you just want to stay by the pool at midday, for example.
The food was good, plenty of choices and they even had a gluten free corner.
As a summary, go there if you have kids, you will enjoy it. Look for something else if you are just a couple :)
My Booking
