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Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

Anyone been to a Sensatori hotel?

16 replies

CDMforever · 19/05/2011 13:35

We're looking at either Greece or Tenerife resorts for august 2012.
We have 3 DCs aged 14, 3 and 5.
It looks amazing!!!
Would love some advice.

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Figgygirl · 21/05/2011 04:57

I havn't stayed in these myself, but have you read reviews on Trip Advisor? I don't book anywhere without reading those.

www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Review-g1064199-d1733446-Reviews-Sensatori-Guia_de_Isora_Tenerife_Canary_Islands.html

Also on Holiday Watchdog.com

www.holidaywatchdog.com/41481-Guia_De_Isora-Sensatori_Tenerife-Holiday-Review.html

This hotel was previously called the Gran Melia, and changed to Sensatori in May 2010. There is a thread about it on Mumsnet.
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/shorthaul/942805-Sensatori-Tenerife/AllOnOnePage

Frazzzled · 21/05/2011 17:50

we went to the greece one year before last, the year it opened, had a great time, what do you want to know?

Frazzzled · 21/05/2011 18:01

we went to the greece one year before last, the year it opened, had a great time, what would you like to know?

CDMforever · 23/05/2011 21:31

Hi frazzled,
I want to know..........everything really!!
This will be our first holiday abroad as a family so its a very big deal for us. We're very very excited! Still in shock that we are paying that much but hey ho!
What did your kids find to do?
I've never used kids clubs before (I went to Zante with my now 14 yo years ago) not sure whether they really appeal..
What was the food like? Me and DH are big foodies but obviously kids need to eat too!
Been on Trip Advisor and worrying a bit about the drinks situation...would like to have a drink around the pool etc but don't want to spend that much on drinks package. Did you find as you got alcohol with lunch and dinner that it was enough?
Reports on Trip Avisor not very positive about the beach??
What was the village in walking distance like?
We've booked a family suite, did you?
Any top tips would be greatly appreciated.
Yours, already planning what to wear on the plane! Blush

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CDMforever · 23/05/2011 21:39

Thanx figgygirl, have just taken a gander at yr links.
When I saw the name Watchdog I did freak out a bit!! Thought the resort had been on the TV watchdog!!
Majority of reviews are very positive... I want to go now!!

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CDMforever · 23/05/2011 21:43

PS we ended up booking the Crete Sensatori, wouldn't have minded Tenerife but they didn't do a family suite. Would have been 2 rooms which they couldn't guarantee would be next to each other.
Shock TBH it has been really tricky trying to book a holiday having 3 DCs, everything is geared up towards 2 adults, 2 chn.
Anyone else out there with a bigger family had the same problem?

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frazzzled · 24/05/2011 12:20

CDMforever

What did your kids find to do? we had a 3 year old and 9 month old, within the resort there is a kids water play area and an outdoor pirate playhouse. our then 3 year old loved the kids club, the kids club reps will round up the kids for whatever activities that are on. once you arrive get a schedule then sign up as much as you can, your kids will love it. they did 2 hour sessions in the morning and afternoon, you have to sign up day before or in the morning (cant remember) they also did evening movie sessions and even sleepovers (extra cost) so you can have dinner quietly... 9 month old used the creche which is all UK run ofsted etc...

What was the food like? food was fine, lots of families with young children so it was a bit chaotic as you can imagine, they had a lower childrens serving area which was handy, good variation of fresh food. there are also a la carte restaurants around the resort, except for one of them, they are all included, you sign up on the computers dotted around the resort, again, do this when you arrive so you don't miss out. there is also adult only restaurants which imho is fab, there is also adult only pool area which we used the short times we were child free!

Been on Trip Advisor and worrying a bit about the drinks situation...would like to have a drink around the pool etc but don't want to spend that much on drinks package. Did you find as you got alcohol with lunch and dinner that it was enough? for us yes as we are not big drinkers with little children by the pool area. we bought bottled water and drinks from the supermarket and took them to the pool/beach.

Reports on Trip Avisor not very positive about the beach?? beach was fine, had a little paddle, so much to do and enjoy in the resort it wasn't neccessary to head to the beach everyday. we went to a local village one day and it was gorgeous, can't remember the name of the place but very greek, very pretty, lots of nice restaurants, bars, took the street train down there and cabbed it back...

What was the village in walking distance like? the walking distance one was lovely, very quaint, had a pharmacy there which we used to get medicine and aptimal baby powder milk (expensive though)

We've booked a family suite, did you? yes we had a family suite, 2 rooms, kids in the living room in the pull out bed and a cot.

Any top tips would be greatly appreciated relax and enjoy yourselves!! :) the evening entertainment was fun, kids well catered for as were adults (spa was lovely), actually if you plan on drinking more after dinner then the drinks package might work out better for you?

hth's! if i think of anything else i will add... but i am sure you will have a great time! people will always have something to gripe about (tripadvisor), but its your holiday so focus on the positives... no cooking, cleaning, lovely weather, free kids clubs... :)

frazzzled · 24/05/2011 12:22

just re-read my post, about the kids activities, i remember they would round up the older kids for activities, kids club (playhouse) you had to sign up... we went out of school holidays (june) so wasn't as busy...

CDMforever · 24/05/2011 15:47

Wow!
Thank you so much frazzled for all your information.
I will be relaxed when I finally get there but at the mo I'm so excited/hoping its going to be lovely!! I don't think I can keep this up for a whole year!!
Sounds like you had a gorgeous time.
If you could remember the name of the village you went to on the land train that would be very helpful, tho the one in walking distance sounds nice too.
My youngest will be 3y 9mo old when we go, will I have to take my own buggy or do they rent them out at the resort?
Will def try and book the a la carte restaurants as soon as we get there and maybe relaaaaaaax Grin
Thanx loads, I CAN'T WAIT!!!!!
CDM
PS What were the other people like there? Are they all Brits?

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Docbunches · 24/05/2011 16:15

I took my teenagers (then aged 13 and 15) to Sensatori Crete last August. We all absolutely loved it!

We booked a Swim-up Family room, but were actually upgraded to a Swim-up family Suite. It was massive, with two bathrooms.... but not sure if all the Family Suites have two bathrooms.

The food was really good, entertainment excellent, and we spotted one or two minor slebs (actress from Waterloo Rd, ex-England rugby player, ex-England footballer and such like) staying there.

Yes, drinks are expensive, but beer and wine is very free-flowing at mealtimes, and if you're not big drinkers (like me), I wouldn't bother with the AI drinks package, personally.

A lot of people say the beach is not great, but I really liked it..... the water was lovely and clear, although quite high winds meant the Red flag was flying for much of the week when we stayed there.

I would definitely recommend Sensatori...... probably better suited to younger children, but your 14-year-old is bound to find plenty of others teens to hook up with, should they want to of course (my 15-year-old DS was happy to mess around in the swim-up pool a lot of the time, but my 13-year-old DD made lots of friends).

I'd go back like a shot, but I like trying different places as it's a big old world out there!

Docbunches · 24/05/2011 16:20

I would say 95% were Brits, but all very nice and friendly Smile.

frazzzled · 24/05/2011 17:36

no problem, very welcome, helped bring back memories. the village was i think Hersonissos we took one of those open trains from outside the hotel stops along the strip, kids loved the ride, we even got the buggy on board folded, its not far from the hotel, but the train took the scenic route to the village which was nice. village had a lovely marina, fab views and lots of boats so you could always take a boat tour? really lovely to wander around, we went in the morning when it wasn't too hot... but still hot!!

we took our own buggy, check with thomson if they rent them? your 3 year old might not need it though as mine was a good walker by then....

hope they still do it, but the morning we left, the airport staff came to our hotel to take our luggage and check us in so once we got to the airport it was pretty much straight through to departures. good thing really as the airport is small and the queues where all the way outside, mostly of teenage holiday makers coming back from the nearby Malia!! bit of an eye opener for me with what teenagers get up to on hols!!

yes at the resort mostly brits! very friendly and chilled.

we're like Docbunches had a great time, would go back, but big world out there! turkey lykiaworld in antalya this year! :)

CDMforever · 24/05/2011 19:43

Thanx Docbunches.
I thought the swim up rooms looked amazing but with 2 LOs couldn't do it.
Ooooh slebrities eh? It gets even more exciting!
Yes, I guess my one minor concern is what my 14 year old will do? Do I let him take his ipod or not? (bloody thingAngry)
He's not the sort for clubs (don't think Sensatori do clubs for this age?). He's really into birdwatching, wonder if the beach is good for this? He does love swimming though.
Thanx again frazzled, Font of all Knowledge. Had forgotten about Malia! Went there when I was about 22, blimey, I wonder if its still as debauched now?! Check in on return journey sounds good, the less time at the airport with the DCs the better I guess!
Glad to hear other guests were friendly, the Brits can be a bloody pain on holiday sometimes.............Grin

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Docbunches · 24/05/2011 20:34

Swim-up rooms were great, but a lottery as to what you get, some much better than others.... we were very lucky. I don't blame you for playing safe with your LOs, but FWIW, there is a safety gate that can be pulled across and locked if you have the patio doors open. Still risky though.

I admit that I let my DCs take a small laptop as I knew there was free Wi-fi in the Lobby (DD can't live without Facebook). It gave them something to do in the evenings.

But yes, admittedly not a lot for teens.... although they mostly just seem to like hanging out. I'm sure your DS will be fine!

CDMforever · 24/05/2011 22:20

Thanx Docbunches, so do I!! A sulky teen does not make for a great holiday!

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sailorsgal · 19/03/2012 20:01

Sorry to resurrect this thread but we booked to go this July. I thought it was very reasonable for the summer holidays especially compared to Mark Warner.

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