The trip to the hotel was quite...
The trip to the hotel was quite long, advised it would take 2 hrs but infact it took 4 hrs!
Check in was fast and efficient but when asked for a map, any info on activities in hotel or out there was non except for two laminated maps but unable to take and browse through, as you would (and not much in them anyway)
Beautiful gardens, got lift to cottage in a oversized golf cart which was nice.
Room was nice but basic, no coffee/tea facility, no hotel info to check out. Advertised satelite tv but only got CNN, when we complained we suddenly got one movie channel. Why.... do you ask would we want tv anyway?.....well, there was nothing else entertainment wise.
Advertised 4 restaurants but they only had 1 + pool bar who's menu doesn't differ. No were to get snacks like crisps, nuts, ice creams etc.
The restaurant Starlight next door was the only one worth going to. Lovely food, lots of choice, the staff incredibly nice. I had my birthday while there and the Starlight staff had flowers on our table and had a surprise cake for me (my husband let them in on the secret). They have a 3 man band playing guitar, drum and a lovely singer.
On 2nd day there we went for a walk into the town but after about 15 mins walking through unbelivable mounds of rubbish we turned back and didn't venture out again.
The beach is practically non-existant and dirty, can't go for beach walks, cant sit on the beach for the local sellers doing their utmost to sell their wares.
We went on a dolphin trip but be prepared for 60+ other boats going at the same time so, enjoy the boat trip and watching the sunrise as you will be lucky to see any dolphins for all the boats blocking your view of them.
The other trip is snorkelling, we did that twice and was very, very nice. In places very shallow so was able to see lots while just floating.
Arranging a sightseeing trip with the hotel was worth it to see waterfall, swim in hot springs, visit temple on the lake, monkey forest (just a group of monkeys on the roadside), stopping at rice fields etc. but make sure you get a car with a/c, whose doors open and windows shut properly, thankfully we noticed all these things before we set off!!!
footnote.......
We are temporarily living in Jakarta and previously 3 years in Sri Lanka doing charity work so we are used to the asian life and asian ways including putting up with a certain amount of rubbish but Lovina streets were we where was awful to say the least!
I would not advise anyone to go to this hotel unless it's for one overnight stay en route to somewhere else.
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