rated the Alexis Hotel H Top as follows:| Cleanliness |  | | Location | | | Staff | | | Food | | |
| Entertainment |  |
| said: Sitting comfortably? …..Good….I’ll begin…..
We booked a ‘Secret Hotel’ – AOA by any other name – through the Htop website for a week AI on the Costa Brava for the last week in August. This cost around £30 pp per night. Flights with Monarch into Barcelona (BCN) and car hire from Europcar through Carhire3000. A few days before we left, Htop confirmed that we would be staying in the Alexis in Lloret. A scan of the reviews confirmed that this was not one of their better hotels!
Getting There – Flights a few minutes late and a 20 min queue at Europcar but nothing to really moan about. Easy 1 hour trip around Barcelona and down the motorway (around 5 Euro in tolls) saw us in Lloret within an hour. A lot quicker and easier than some of the shared shuttle transfers we heard about – up to 3 hours!
Parking on the street – forget it! Lloret was packed to the rafters and parking was a nightmare. In the end we opted for a weekly ticket at the municipal car park that was two minutes walk from the hotel and came in at 45Euro for the week. Meant we could come and go as we pleased without any parking hassle – well worth it.
Check In/Rooms – Well….before I had found a parking space after dropping the others at the hotel, I was phoned to be told that the ladies in our party refused to stay at the hotel – good start. They were told there wasn’t any other hotel available (later confirmed on t’internet) so we ended up driving to the other 3 Htop hotels in Lloret. Nothing. We had no choice but to book in at The Alexis.
It was pretty much as I expected from other reviews – a small urban hotel that was in need of refurbishment – definitely the ‘Life On Mars’ look. Having said that, it was kept very clean. After rejecting a couple of rooms (luckily this was mid afternoon and most of that days arrivals had not arrived yet) we plumped for 116 (family room with 3 singles) and 413 (double). Not exactly adjacent rooms as we had requested. The rooms are all pretty much the same as far as décor and furniture goes but the location within the hotel makes a drastic difference. Those at the back of the hotel will have balconies facing a boarded up hotel or the other wing of the hotel. Those at the front over the street are much better – in fact 116 had a huge corner balcony and a sea view (one of 3 rooms in the hotel that have). Slightly noisy given that you are over the street and there is no double glazing. Had quiet neighbours in the next room and it was on the corner so no problems with the thin walls (seems to be a theme with a lot of Spanish hotels built in the 60’s/70’s??)
Location – The Alexis is set on the corner of a reasonably busy road, on a moderate hill, at the quieter northern end of Lloret. Main shopping areas about 10 mins walk and the bars and clubs 15 mins away. L2 circular bus stops opposite the hotel and you can go anywhere in Lloret for 1.15Euro.
Facilities – One bar on the roof and one bar downstairs. Only one open at any given time – roof bar (solarium as they like to call it) 10.00(ish) to 5.30pm and main bar from 5.30pm to midnight. To access the roof bar you can use the lift to 4th floor then 2 flights of stairs to the roof. Main bar has no natural light so a bit gloomy and can get a bit smoky even though there is a smokers area, it is within the bar. Pool table, old video game and air hockey in main bar. Dining room Ok, if a little cramped. ‘Main’ pool – very small and shaded, no room for tables and chairs around it. On the roof there are two Jacuzzis and a kids pool that’s maybe 18” deep and 12ft across – Ok for cooling off. Around 50 sun beds on the roof with a few tables and chairs as well. You could always get a sunbed if you wanted one. Reception open 24 hours with a security guard as well overnight. Internet machine in Reception but not working at all during our stay.
A.I. – It wasn’t Haute Cuisine but none of us went hungry. Variety of dishes for lunch and Dinner that changed daily – not repeated within our week stay. This is Spain – wish they would stick to Spanish food rather than attempt to make dishes for other nationalities! Food could be a bit cold – think this is down to the fact that they only have 111 rooms and have the dining room open for nearly 2 hours – there is not a good turnover of food after the first 30 odd minutes. Not a Chicken Nugget or Fish Finger to be seen.
Breakfast – Fried eggs, streaky smoked bacon and hot dogs sausages. Toast and various breads, cereals, and fruit.
Generally for Lunch/Dinner – one fish dish, couple of meat dishes, boiled potatoes and veg, chips, and a pasta dish. Selection of salads, bread, and soup. Deserts included cakes, jelly, blamange, fruit and ice cream.
Snacks – Burgers, hot dogs, chips, bacon. Salads, cheese, ham and bread rolls. Never very hot – always had to use the microwave but managed to construct a classic double bacon cheeseburger!
No food allowed out of the dining room at any time (unless you were very sneaky)
Drinks – served in half pint plastic containers that were not too bad. Estrella was the beer and all the spirits were local brands, which were fine. Certainly not watered down! Local versions of coke etc. Tea, coffee and hot chocolate from machines available all day.
One family was found to be giving AI drinks to non AI guests and had their cards taken off them after shouting at the staff. Stick to the rules and there wouldn’t be a problem.
Staff – The majority were friendly and helpful with the odd exception. Compared to the other hotels we visited, the Alexis is very small so after a couple of days they knew your name and your drink :o) This also means there are virtually no queues for drinks, even at 11.45pm for the last orders rush. 2 drinks per CARD enforced most of the time.
Htop Group – with your AI card, you can visit other hotels for drinks and snacks anytime up to 7pm (with the exception of the Amaika in Calella). You must pre book lunch and transport to the other hotels at reception AT LEAST the day before. There are also cheap trips out available with Htop – we tried the medieval night for 12Euro per person. Good night out with food and drinks (wine, water, fizzy orange) supplied until you leave the jousting arena then you have about 90 minutes of dancing/shows with an expensive bar – smuggling out your drinks might be an idea…….
We found some of the other hotels very busy and sun beds (in the sun) hard to find – we tended to head back to the Alexis roof where sun was guaranteed (without clouds) and the bar was quiet and very close!
Entertainment – or lack of it…Virtually non existent, Chris with his karaoke twice, comedy dance show from Htop (wasn’t supposed to be funny) and a Disco which was basically the same CDs played every night. Only saw daytime activities twice during the week. With the lack of a decent pool – kids are going to get bored. We tended to have a walk after Dinner then sit outside the hotel chatting to other guests and taking advantage of the AI bar.
In Summary – Small and friendly. Clean but in need of refurbishment. Lack of entertainment. Quiet location. Need to get a good room. Simple food. Would go back.
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rated the Alexis Hotel H Top as follows:| Cleanliness |  | | Location | | | Staff | | | Food | | |
| Entertainment | |
| said: Just got back from Alexis. Had read many reviews but thought would be ok since A.I
We could use other hotels but they will only serve you up till 7pm then you have to pay, cannot book an evening meal as that start 7pm also, so only got lunches at others as the food at Alexis was poor & cold even if you went in at opening of doors. It was also repeated over & over so you just get sick of it.
Bar staff the best as they are up for a laugh
no entertainment only had cd music 6nts & 1 game of bingo... our last nite had best as had a singer on that was good
Long walk to other hotels but go via shops and thats ok can call in for free drink ( before 7pm).
Hotel will not allow you to get any breakfast on your morning departures. We had to book night before to get a cup of coffee and a biscuit (even when all the food was out ready for breakfast) and then they said it was for 2 people only when were were a family of 3 in same room! They were very verbal on this !
The noise ! no contol over guests on a night. Wallpaper was thin and bathroom vents facing onto each other so you could hear every thing. People running along hallways shouting sometimes fighting also ( Im talking 1-3am ) Arrived home ready to catch up on some sleep.
Not recomending this at all.
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rated the Alexis Hotel H Top as follows:| Cleanliness | | | Location | | | Staff |  | | Food | | |
| Entertainment | |
| said: This is an old hotel in need of updating although kept very clean. Room service daily with fresh towels and friendly maids that if you need anything it's not a problem.
The food was repetitive although you could always find something no matter how fussy you are (Iam very fussy) you must try the soups.
There are snacks avaiable in the evenings, burgers, frankfurt sausages chips and sometimes chicken. The location is a bit out of town although a very pleasant walk into the centre of Lloret de mar.
A bonus of staying all-inclusive at this hotel is that it is part of the H.Top group, when you get your all-inclusive card you can use any of these hotels. You can walk into town of an evening and just call in for a drink and just show your card.
If you want to eat at any of the other hotels just book your meal at the Alexis reception the day before I thought this was fab. The hotel staff were absolutly fab, very pleasant and instantly your friends expecting nothing in return.
When you go to the bar to get your drinks they thank you and address you by your name. It freaked me out at first that they knew my name but my name was on my card!!!! i felt so silly. Being all-inclusive they don't make much on tips but when you do tip the staff are really grateful.
There is NO POOL although you sunbath on the roof top there are two jacuzzi's but while we were there they were hogged by a lot of drunken youths. We probably won't be back at this hotel simply because there isn't a lot to do in the resort (been there done that).
We made some really lovely friends there and would only go back if I knew they were there.
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Tweedie Tours from Oldham travelled to Alexis Hotel H Top with
DIY
on a friends holiday.