Elba Carlota Beach

Just got back from 6 days and genuinely had a lovely stay very good location and your right next to the beach. The negative is the hotel is definitely not a 4 star hotel as the food was very bland and salty and not very warm also was very disappointed in the snack bar sweatys Sandwiches and sweaty burgers. It felt like they was very short staffed and there was only one person serving at the bar at the pool area. Was very slippery a lady fell over and sprained her ankle as for the swimming pool this really really need so major attention as tiles all coming off and there was visible black mould area the jacuzzi. The tiles in the pool surface need and good cleaning as massive build up of dirt. The poor pool guy was run ragged to try and keep the levels of chlorine good. It was the food and the pool that let it down so won’t be returning sadly as for the sun beds good luck getting one as everyone goes down at 6 am . The room was cleaned at good standard which was a good but def won’t be returning

Overall, our stay fell below expectations for a 4-star all-inclusive hotel, particularly in relation to safety, maintenance, cleanliness, and food and beverage operations. While the animation team was outstanding, the wider standards of the hotel were inconsistent and often poor.

1. Pool Area:

The pool area had significant maintenance issues, including many broken tiles within the pool. On several occasions we almost sustained injuries, and we even found ourselves picking up broken tiles while in the pool. The PR team gave us a goodwill gesture as a result of once of these incidents.

There were also many broken floor tiles around the pool, and slippery surfaces, creating clear safety hazards. We also witnessed several guests slip or sustain an injury.

The poolside bathroom wasn't regularly cleaned or maintained during the day. It was not consistently drained or refreshed, resulting in a high floor water level, broken soap dispensers and roll holders, and unhygienic conditions in a heavily used communal facility.

2. Room Facilities:

The standard of room cleanliness also fell below expectations. Areas that are not immediately visible, such as underneath the beds and around bedside lamps, had not been cleaned properly and contained a significant amount of dust.

Midway through our holiday, the used towels we had placed on the floor for replacement were not replenished, requiring us to request fresh towels. After these were provided, one towel was consistently removed during daily housekeeping without being replaced.

I do appreciate that the housekeeping team works extremely hard. However, the overall standard of cleanliness and room servicing did not meet the level expected.

In addition, the bath was extremely slippery and presented a safety hazard. One of us slipped while using it. The design of the bath, combined with the absence of basic safety measures such as a non-slip mat or higher grab handles, was a significant shortcoming and detracted from the overall experience.Some facilities in the room were outdated, including a broken fridge door and a rusty towel rail.

WiFi was also very poor and largely unusable during our stay.

3. Food & Beverage:

The food and beverage experience was, unfortunately, one of the weakest aspects of our stay and fell well below the standard expected from an all-inclusive resort.

Throughout our stay, buffet items were often slow to be replenished and, on several occasions, were not replaced at all. Plates, cups, and cutlery frequently ran out, leaving guests waiting. When clean items were eventually restocked, they were often still dirty, with visible food residue remaining, particularly on children’s utensils. This raised serious concerns regarding hygiene and the effectiveness of cleaning processes.

It was evident that the restaurant staff were working extremely hard under difficult conditions. However, they appeared significantly understaffed, constantly rushing around the restaurant and often manoeuvring trolleys through busy dining areas, which did not always feel safe. Tables were also not consistently cleaned to an acceptable standard between guests. These issues appeared to stem from insufficient staffing levels rather than a lack of effort from the team.

The all-inclusive offering itself was also disappointing. Rather than multiple food and beverage outlets being available throughout the day, only one venue was typically open at any time, reinforcing the impression of limited staffing. For example, during breakfast, all other coffee stations across the hotel were closed or covered, making it impossible to obtain coffee elsewhere or take one away in a disposable cup while breakfast service was still ongoing.Food availability outside standard meal times was also inadequate, particularly for families. After dinner, only drinks were available, with no snacks provided. Additionally, between approximately 5:00 pm and 6:30 pm, there was no food available anywhere in the resort. As parents, we often had to keep food aside or purchase additional snacks to ensure our child had something to eat. This undermines the value and convenience expected from an all-inclusive stay.

We also had concerns regarding food quality and safety. Fresh fruit was occasionally left out for extended periods in hot weather, and some buffet dishes, particularly those containing sauces or soups, appeared to have been repeatedly reheated and had deteriorated in quality. On several occasions, these dishes developed an unpleasant smell and should have been removed sooner.

Beverage service was also inefficient due to limited serving points and staffing levels. Beer and soft drinks were generally served by a single member of staff, resulting in queues of 10–15 minutes, particularly in the evenings. The only exception was the pool area, where soft drinks were self-service. Increasing staffing levels and introducing additional self-service stations would significantly improve the experience.

Overall, the food and beverage operation requires a thorough review. While staff were courteous and worked extremely hard, the current service model clearly struggles under demand. The combination of inadequate staffing, poor replenishment, hygiene concerns, limited availability, and long waiting times resulted in an experience that fell well below expectations.

4. Entertainment & General Impressions:

The animation team, however, were outstanding. They worked tirelessly to keep guests entertained and were clearly very talented and enthusiastic. That said, this should not detract from the need to address wider issues across the hotel, particularly pool maintenance, food and beverage operations, and the general condition of the property.

There were also tip boxes placed throughout the hotel, including for the animation team. This felt unusual, as we have never seen dedicated tip boxes for animation staff elsewhere. It raises the question of why such reliance on guest tips is expected if staff are being appropriately compensated.

5. Final Verdict:

If I am paying for a 4-star hotel, I would choose elsewhere in future. It was my first time in Fuerteventura (so not sure if this is the acceptable standard there), and I have experienced significantly better standards in other destinations. Ultimately, a hotel cannot rely solely on a strong animation team; the core infrastructure, safety, cleanliness, and service standards must also meet expectations.

Stayed for one week with 3 sisters. We had the best time.. rooms were great and cleaned daily. Pool area is always clean and heated pool was a bonus. Food and entertainment were really good . Bar staff worked so hard , could possibly do with more staff available for busy times. Would love to visit again .