We had a wonderful two weeks at the Gardenia Park. As stated on other reviews the hotel is very clean.

We had a taxi transfer from Malaga airport to the hotel so had no queue to get our room key. Our room was on ground 0 next to reception and was specially adapted for disabled with a walk in shower. We requested a specially adapted room as Peter has M.S and always struggles to get in a bath. We had a slight problem as the water never drained away after we had a shower so it was like a paddling pool when we went to the toilet. Our daughter had a nasty fall as it was very slippery.

Reception sent a maid to mop all the water up but would not leave us a mop and bucket to do it ourselves. In the end we mopped the water up with the towels we had used and left them on the floor to be changed. The shower itself was great, like a power shower and no problem with the water temperature. Could have done with a higher fitment to change the height of the showerhead though it was less than 5ft high. Surely they realise not all the family will be wheelchair users. Patricia showered sat on the seat. I decided to bend over to shower and I am less than 5ft 2in. For two weeks it was not a major problem.

Our room was spacious enough even with another bed put in for Patricia. We asked if we could hire a fridge before we arrived to put Peter's medication in but was told the room was too small (it wasn't) and we had to put Peter's medication behind the bar in their fridge. We were very concerned over this but had no problem. All the staff were great.

The safety deposit box cost 54euro for two weeks. 10euro you got back when returned this plastic thing you have to put in the door of the safe. You put it in press reset then pick your own four numbers. The safe is not that big and ours broke one day and a firm had to come from Malaga to open it. The rep told us the safes often play up so beware. The man who came to fix it did not speak English but managed to make us understand that the safe is only small and pushed the strap of our camcorder bag back. Must have got it caught in the door.

There are 10 floors also -1 and -2. Reception is on 0. It took time waiting for lifts. Especially when people were arriving and leaving. The lifts were not that big and everyone had their cases so you can imagine the time it took. People needed the lift everyday for buggies etc. After a few days Patricia and I walked up and down the two floors (four flights of stairs) putting Peter and folded wheelchair in the lift. We had to wait ages for him sometimes. More than once he stopped on every floor up then every floor down. Seems children press the button as they are walking down stairs. It was frustrating at the time. There are three lifts but the larger one does not go to -2. Handy for taking suitcases to rooms though. The larger one is not opposite reception it's opposite the stairs.

It was really good holiday. Breakfast 8am till 10am. Then snacks are available just help yourself till 1pm when dinner was 1pm till 3pm. Snacks available again till 6pm when dinner was 6pm till 9pm. You can order a packed meal if your going out for the day. Just order it at reception the day before then you pick it up from the restaurant before you go. If you go out for the morning and miss dinner you can always make a snack when you get back if you want to keep hunger at bay till teatime. Bowls of fruit always available even in reception.

We are glad we did not let our first All-inclusive holiday which was a disaster put us off trying All inclusive again. We are not big drinkers but all the drinks were not the cheap rubbish we had at our first All-inclusive. But top quality. You are allowed four drinks at a time to reduce queuing time.

All the children had a great time in the pool. Peter and I preferred to sit in the lovely gardens. There was a hotel run mini club for 4-8yr olds. A lovely lady called Laila looked after them. They did lots games and drawing. They got certificates. It was on Monday to Friday. 11am till 2pm and again at night 8.30pm mini disco then off to the club for games and a video, which was put on at 10.15pm so it was midnight before we could get Patricia to bed. Laila would not be responsible for under 4s but they could stay if a parent stayed with them. Patricia is twelve but has learning difficulties. Lailah had no problem with Patricia staying as she behaved herself. This was unexpected as we did not realise the hotel ran a kids club and it really made the holiday for Patricia and ourselves.

There are lots of organised trips. We went on a Gibraltar tour. It was a nice day. Take English money if you can seems that it is cheaper. We never thought to take English money. 200 cigs about £9 Bacardi £10 a litre.

We got the bus outside the hotel to Benalmadena then a taxi 7euro (it was to hilly to push Peter in his wheelchair) to the cable cars next to Tivoli world. It was really great. Nervous but excited on the way up and back down. Lovely views and a horse show and Falconry display the best I have ever seen. You can have a free ride on a donkey as well. You can leave a donation if you want. We got the train back as it is easier and nearer to Tivoli world and the cable cars. We were very impressed. Forgot which way to walk back to the hotel and did a u-turn. Pity I could not remember the way we went as we managed to get back with no steep hill which was great.

We got the bus opposite the hotel to the fuengirola zoo. The zoo was compacted but nice had some different animals than were used to seeing. Personally I thought it over priced for what it was. 12euro and you pay adult price at 12 yrs.

Selwo marina in Benalmadena was great although you're an adult at 7yrs. Not much more entrance fee than the small zoo and there was sea lion shows, dolphin shows, parrot shows, penguin feeding time. The penguins were in a sort of big man made igloo. Lovely and cool in there. It was nice to see the young penguins swimming around. We got there by bus outside the hotel to the windmill roundabout then it is not far to walk and sign posted. Not easy to push the wheelchair as it is a bit steep going. Got the bus back. Public transport very good and stops and right outside the hotel.

We went on the beach just two minutes walk through the gardens. Patricia loved trying to jump the waves. I was not keen on swimming in the sea though did not think it seemed clean. We also walked to the port. Forty-five minutes walk my slow pace. Walk along the sea front till you see Linikers bar. We took some bread and fed the fish. Patricia found this very exciting as they were huge and jumped out of the water for the bread, loads of them.

If you fancy Horse trekking ring Freddy 619966012 He has a riging school Torremolinos. He will pick you up from the hotel and bring you back.

At the reps presentation we booked to go and see another way of taking holidays with club sunterra. You get a lift to a resort in Benalmadena, your dinner, voucher for 30euro off an organised trip and voucher for a taxi home after you have spent time looking around Benalmadena. You can use this taxi voucher up to midnight on that day.

The rooms they show you are really nice and we decided to join. It was ok as you have fourteen days cooling off period. I told the sales rep whom made it all seem so wonderful I would be looking up Sunterra on the internet when we got home. It seems there is a problem for disabled members so we cancelled. It was over £9,000 for 7000 points then £500 a year fees which seem to rise every year. Then you had your flights to pay and electricity and other charges when your on holiday. If you have no intention of buying points please don't be tempted by the lift into Benalmadena 30euro voucher, dinner and taxi back to hotel. You could waste a day of your holiday. If you want details of Sunterra before you go I would recommend you look it up on yahoo groups to see if it is right for you. We were very keen to join before we got more info.

It was mainly English holiday makers at the Gardenia when we were there. Everyone was very nice. From toddlers to pensioners everyone seemed to be having a good time. We met a Belgium family who spoke so good English we thought they were. Three Spanish couples. Pensioners I think. They did not speak English and we do not speak Spanish but we always waved and smiled when we saw them. The day they went home one of the ladies made it clear to me she was going home and kissed me on each cheek. That was nice after all the bad reviews on Spanish pensioners.

Only major problem was people were getting robbed in the grounds of the hotel as well as out. I got stopped just outside the hotel on the sea front by gypsies who wanted to sell me a carnation. I could not get passed them and decided to give them a few coppers like she was showing me in her hand just to get passed. Bad mistake she tried to steal the notes from my wallet but I saw her and knocked her away. Others were not so lucky. One family had 250euro taken that they had drawn out to go to Marbella. The gypsies tried to sell her a carnation at the railway station. They are so good she did not even realise they had taken the money from her purse which was in her hand all the time.

Another holidaymaker who needed a walking stick was bumped into as it walked through Fuengirola and while checking if he was ok the person who bumped into him stole his wallet from his pocket.

A family told us to watch our bag, which I left hanging on Peter's wheelchair as their bag had been stolen from under their sun bed. He had gone to the toilet but his wife and toddler were still on the sun beds when a bloke ran off with their bag. Three hours they were at the police station getting a crime report for their insurance.

Can't think of anything else that has not been said on other reviews. We had a great holiday and hope you do to.

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Hotel Gardenia Park - Fuengirola

Operator and Date: hotelbeds.com march2005