Forte Village Resort - le Palme

Guests appreciate the comfortable, well-maintained rooms and the extensive sports facilities. They also enjoy the unique location near the sea and the friendly, attentive staff. However, there are no disadvantages mentioned.

We expected a five star resort, relaxing but with plenty of activities, its expensive but we thought it would be value as we expected a high standard. Wedid not get this. The resort service fell short, activities were not value for money for what is an expensive holiday. (We were 2 adults and 1 teenager, there for a week.) Wish we had gone somewhere else! We had not appreciated that some hotels had their own pools which you cannot use, so at Le Palme you can only use the main pool or acqua pool. You are only allowed to use these two pool areas plus (if your hotel offers it) your hotel pool. There were insufficient sunloungers and shades/parasols at the pools. eg, If you didn't get a sunlounger within seconds of the main pool opening (and people queued and ran), you didn't get one. There is space though to add more - so this is frustrating. Fellow guests disliked having to leave breakfast to queue then run to secure somewhere to sit - not exactly five star. When customer service asked us for feedback and we said this, we were told we could sit at the pool bar all day (who wants to do that?! Plus there are 6 stools); also told, 'what do you expect, we are a large resort' (there must be, say, 30 sun loungers at the main pool for the whole resort of nine hotels) - that is not good enough. When I said other hotel resorts manage it, was met with a shrug. At the beach, there were loads of sun loungers and parasols (at a guess 400) but we didn't know when we booked it on checking in that you had to pre-book a sun lounger. Despite at least 75% being empty of towels or personal belongings when we were there in the afternoons, we were not allowed to sit on any unless we were allocated one (three attendants came up to me one day and asked me to move which felt quite intimidating) - there was v little choice of what sun loungers was available - third row back at the end of the beach, or underneath the kiosk by the entrance. Frustrating given hardly any being used. Staff told us people must be at lunch but given restaurants shut an hour earlier, that was simply not the case. Outside bar area with big TV screen was a great idea - particularly whilst Wimbledon on. However shade for only one sofa so not practical to be used during the daytime, particularly as astro pitch all around you absorbing the heat so particularly hot area. Lots of sports but some better value than others. 40 Euros for 12 minutes go karting seemed ok value as there was a great course, the go-kart equipment, staff etc. Shame they let people book out the whole track though - we waited 1.5 hours one evening whilst one family booked the whole track only to be used by their two sons. Other sports less good value - to play table tennis (free at most hotels), you had to pay 25 euros for 30 mins, 50 euros for an hour - not good value. They need more restaurant choice for lunches - we ended up in the pizza restaurant every day. Nice but a fixed menu so got boring. Also - Half Boa

Poor value and not relaxing. Would not recommend. Yes has kids activities (some better value than others. 40 euros for 12 mins go kart seemed ok but 25 euros for 30 mins table tennis poor). BUT - insufficient sunloungers. By main pool, all taken 30 seconds after opens. No shade or anywhere to sit if you are unsuccessful. - sunloungers on beach have to be prebooked or you are allocated one. Even if no one there, no stuff anywhere and no towels. - no aircon in sports area (table tennis, climbing etc) or bowling. Given its 39 degrees in daytime and 29 degrees at night, v uncomfortable. - breakfast only until 10am so early start every day. Though if you want a hope of getting a sunlounger in the 30 second window, you need to be up ready. One pool attendant told me to run. When we fed back to the customer service lady who asked for our opinion, she told us to sit in the pool bar (there are eight chairs max - and they are for people having a drink, not for a family to set up camp in for the day!). We’re also told what do you expect, we are a big resort. Really? There must be 30 loungers max by the main pool! - room ok. But insufficient water (they leave it for 2 people but we are 3). No duvet covers on duvets, just a sheet - which is unhygienic. Bathroom poorly finished. Outside the room looks tatty. - hotels within complex idea means when you walk around, you just come up to places you are not allowed in. So does not feel enjoyable taking a stroll. Partic when people whizzing past on bikes, staff taking laundry in electric vehicles etc - outside bar with big screen for sport. Great idea but hardly any shade - enough for, say, 4 people. So can’t use it 1-6pm. Do not recommend this for a holiday at all. Feels overpriced - 25 euros for 30 mins table tennis is poor value. Nothing relaxing about not being able to find a sunlounger with shade to base yourself by a pool. And being asked to move on the beach. 270 euros for 40 mins snorkelling. Very limited options for lunch with limited menus. Dinner better but menus again limited. I should imagine you get better value and more enjoyment ar a mark Warner or Nielsen. We haven’t been to them thinking this would be a high standard. It’s not. We are counting down the days to leave. All I ask is for a relaxed place where we can have a leisurely breakfast, sit on sunloungers and move about the resort when we want to, finding shade. Somewhere to sit and relax, eat etc. this fails to deliver that basic standard