Welcome to the review archive. Every hotel and resort below is one I’ve personally stayed at, paid for myself, and filmed a full walkthrough of for the YouTube channel. There are no press trips, no comped stays, and no pre-arranged angles. Each review ends with the same straight answer: would I stay again, or stay away?
Reviews cover the things that actually matter on a holiday. Arrival and check-in, the rooms, the pools, dining, kids’ clubs and family facilities where relevant, plus any specific gotchas worth knowing about before you book. Each review also includes a “who is this hotel for?” section so you can quickly tell whether somewhere is right for the trip you’re planning, whether that’s a family week with children, a couples-only break, or something in between.
Use the destination links below to browse reviews by location, or scroll down for the most recent reviews on the site.
Browse reviews by destination
Spain
The biggest cluster on the site so far. Family resorts in Mallorca, luxury and family stays in Tenerife, and theme park hotels at PortAventura on the Costa Daurada.
Turkey
All-inclusive resort reviews from the Turkish Riviera, starting with Antalya. More destinations coming as I cover them.
Dubai and Abu Dhabi
Reviews from across the United Arab Emirates, covering family-friendly luxury resorts, all-inclusive options for the Middle East, and the more polished, slower-paced side of Abu Dhabi compared to Dubai.
Orlando
Theme park hotels for Universal Studios and Walt Disney World holidays. The right hotel can completely change a Florida theme park trip, both for time saved and for value for money.
Lapland
Reviews of the Santa Claus and family Christmas resorts in Finnish Lapland. A short trip, very specific use case, and getting the right hotel makes a big difference.
Latest reviews
- Norwegian Aqua Review: Should You Cruise on NCL’s Newest Ship?
The short version: Stay (or in cruise terms, sail). The Norwegian Aqua is Norwegian Cruise Line’s newest ship and it is a genuinely impressive one: a beautiful vessel with thoughtful… Read more: Norwegian Aqua Review: Should You Cruise on NCL’s Newest Ship? - FIVE Jumeirah Village Dubai Review: Should You Stay at This Adult-Focused Luxury Hotel in JVC?
The short version: Stay. FIVE Jumeirah Village is a cylindrical 350-room luxury lifestyle hotel in Dubai’s Jumeirah Village Circle that knows exactly what it is: an adults-focused party property with… Read more: FIVE Jumeirah Village Dubai Review: Should You Stay at This Adult-Focused Luxury Hotel in JVC? - Le Méridien Abu Dhabi Resort Review: Should You Stay at This Marriott Beach Property in the UAE?
The short version: Stay. Le Méridien Abu Dhabi is a Marriott beach property with a genuinely good central location, two well-kept pools (one with a swim-up bar and in-water beds),… Read more: Le Méridien Abu Dhabi Resort Review: Should You Stay at This Marriott Beach Property in the UAE? - Santa Claus Holiday Village Rovaniemi Review: Should You Stay at the Home of Father Christmas in Lapland?
The short version: Stay for the day, stay somewhere else overnight. Santa Claus Holiday Village in Rovaniemi, Lapland, is built around the home of the official Father Christmas, sits right… Read more: Santa Claus Holiday Village Rovaniemi Review: Should You Stay at the Home of Father Christmas in Lapland? - Iberostar Waves Alcudia Park Review: Is This Four-Star Mallorca Family Resort Worth Staying At?
The short version: Stay. Iberostar Waves Alcudia Park is a four-star family resort on the south end of Alcudia beach, Mallorca, with exclusive gated access straight onto the sand, four… Read more: Iberostar Waves Alcudia Park Review: Is This Four-Star Mallorca Family Resort Worth Staying At? - Iberostar Waves Ciudad Blanca Review: Is This Alcudia Beachfront Four-Star Worth Staying At?
The short version: Stay. Iberostar Waves Ciudad Blanca is a beachfront four-star on the north coast of Mallorca, with a keyed gate that opens straight onto Alcudia beach (one of… Read more: Iberostar Waves Ciudad Blanca Review: Is This Alcudia Beachfront Four-Star Worth Staying At? - Sol Katmandu Park & Resort Mallorca Review: Is This Magaluf Four-Star Worth Staying At?
The short version: Stay. Sol Katmandu Park & Resort is a four-star Meliá property in Magaluf, Mallorca, with a steampunk theme running through everything from the lobby to the bedhead,… Read more: Sol Katmandu Park & Resort Mallorca Review: Is This Magaluf Four-Star Worth Staying At? - Club Mac Alcudia Review: Is This Mallorca Three-Star Worth the Price?
The short version: Stay. Club Mac is a three-star, all-inclusive family resort on the north coast of Mallorca, a few minutes from Alcudia beach, with one really big trick up… Read more: Club Mac Alcudia Review: Is This Mallorca Three-Star Worth the Price? - La Plantación del Sur Vincci Review: Is This Tenerife Five-Star Really a Four?
The short version: Conditional stay. La Plantación del Sur is a Vincci-branded resort on the south of Tenerife with serious architectural charm, a wonderful colonial-Moroccan look, and a properly good… Read more: La Plantación del Sur Vincci Review: Is This Tenerife Five-Star Really a Four?
