Sunrise Monica Beach Hotel

Looking at the other reviews I’m afraid I would have to agree with the bad attitude of the reception staff, they haven't got a clue about customer service! The bar/restaurant staff were excellent though. Fab with kids and always smiling.
The food in the complex wasn't all that to be honest unless you eat Bread and Pasta every day there wasn't much more choice!
The rooms were ok, but basic, no kettle, cups, plates etc! We were moved when we 1st arrived due to the state of the room we had been given, (it was dirty and falling apart) although when we changed straight away the room we were giving was much better and the maids were Fab!
The entertainment wasn't all that. Yes they have to say everything in 3 or 4 different languages but they say it so fast you can't understand them when they do say it in English!
Loads of Germans! Yes, they were rude, and up about 4 am in the morning putting their towels out which meant you had to pay for sun beds down at the beach!
No room for luggage! - On the day of our departure we had to be out of our room by 11am. Our taxi wasn't picking us up until 6.10 that evening so this meant we had our luggage until this time! I have never been on holiday were you can't put your cases etc in a locked up room! This resulted in many peoples bags/cases getting stolen! We had to sit with ours all day in reception!
Not a lot around outside the complex. A couple of years ago we went to the top of the island and that was much more British and there were a lot more around. Even a couple of nice pubs! There is nothing in Costa Calma. It's like someone has built a load of hotels but no town to go with it! Costa Calma is a nice place for the beaches but that’s about it. It's also much hotter down that end of the island.
Overall we made the most of our holiday and it was a break, but we will not be going back to Cost Calma and we certainly won't be staying in a sunrise hotel again!
PS - Just a hint. There is a huge jump up from 3* to a 4* so I would definitely try and get the extra! For us we would have definitely paid the extra for a 4*. It's like doing a jump from a 1* to a 5*! Something to think about anyway!

After I booked the holiday I read the reviews from a couple of sites and they were a mixed lot. However I can only say that I thought it was absolutely brilliant. The hotel was clean, the staff were friendly, the food was varied and tried to cater for everyone, there was always something you would eat. The people that moan about the food I can only think were looking for a Costa Brava type holiday, all Heinz baked beans and pints of bitter! I personally enjoyed the different types of food on offer.
The pools are fabulous (get up early though to secure sun beds as the Germans will start leaving towels from 07:00am). In the afternoon the hot dogs and bacon and cheese rolls served round the pool bar are delicious if you missed lunch (all free).
The beach is out of this world, just like the Caribbean and only a short stroll and no probs getting sun beds or parasols although you do have to pay for them. The hotel entertainment is typical "hotel", some is pretty good, some is awful (so you tend to enjoy it as it is funny because it is so awful).
If you want a really good value holiday to relax, eat and drink with fab beaches and facilities and don't mind a lot of different nationalities then this is the one for you. If you want a raving, exciting "English but abroad" holiday then don't bother as this place will appeal to people that like a quieter time. There is not really anywhere to go to or see so you tend to stay on the resort, however we did get a bus to Jandia which was a bit busier (more shops)but all the shops sell the same stuff so I wouldn't bother.
This is the perfect holiday for relaxation either by the beach or pool, the weather is perfect and I, my husband and my 14yo daughter would all definitely come again.

We booked this holiday 2 weeks before we went, then read the reviews. I did go back to the travel agent and try to cancel, but we would have lost too much money, so we just went with an open mind and hoped for the best!
To my surprise the apartments were very nice, clean and had regular maid service. The maids had Thursdays and Sundays off, but came in 3 times out of the other 5 days.
There was a telly in the room but it only had 1 English channel (CNN). The beach was too nice to be inside watching telly!
There was no kettle in the room, so I would advise taking a travel kettle, we had to boil water in a pan to make a cup of tea, the tap water was too disgusting to drink even though it was safe to.
There were also no bowls for cereal, because the Germans don't eat cereal, they have bread etc. We had to go to the spar shop to buy some, as the hotel told us they didn't have any to give us.
There were ceiling fans instead of proper air con, but it did come a bit chilly about 9 pm, so that was fine. There were a few cockroaches, but I packed my fly swatter and I was so pleased I did!
We would have been over run with them by the end of the week, but as we got rid of them everyday, it wasn't too much of a problem. They were only really small, not like how I imagined them to be. Just make sure you pick all clothes, towels etc. up off the floor. There were no problems with mozzy bites etc.
The safe is payable at reception, there was a rumour around the complex that maids had stolen from someone’s room, but they didn't have stuff in the safe, so weren't insured. Highly recommend hiring the safe!
The resort itself was 90% German and 89% of those were very rude and ignorant. Some of the hotel staff were pleasant, but some had the attitude that we were putting them out!! We asked for some travelers cheques changing, you would have thought we'd asked for the world! All the bar staff and restaurant staff were polite and helpful.
If you are going on a self catering basis, the bars and restaurants on the complex don't accept cash, you have to buy tickets from reception and pay at the bar with those, it was a complete nightmare! But once you did get your snack or drink, it was nice.
There weren't that many restaurants in the surrounding area, but if you are on an all inclusive deal, that really wouldn't be a problem. (We went self catering). We didn't find any bars or tavernas at all. I would definitely recommend the Chinese restaurant about a 10 minute walk away, it was the best sweet and sour pork I've ever had! (Can't remember what it was called, it was near Nettos supermarket).
The staff in the spar supermarket next to the complex were even more rude than the Germans and that’s saying something!
The pool was really nice and clean. It's true what they say about Germans getting up at the crack of dawn to put their towels on the beds! But saying that, there was always a few spare here and there.
The beach was superb. It was only a 2-3 minute walk through the complex. The sun beds were 3 euros each, but lots of people laid their towel on the sand.
We went on a trip to the water park which was good, but, they are very strict on children wearing armbands, even if they can swim, to use the slides! We went to try and buy 2 pairs at 3.50 euros each and were told they'd sold out, so my kids couldn't enjoy any of the slides at all. We met a couple there who were staying near the water park and they said the north of the island is a lot friendlier and more English, with English bars etc. and less Germans.
We went with Thomas Cook and the JMC tour rep was really good, except when he gave us the wrong time to catch a bus to go on a trip we'd booked. Our money was refunded in full and we were given a gift voucher to use on our next holiday.
Apart from that, he was really good.
All in all, we had a good holiday, the weather was perfect, the pool was nice and the beach was superb, but I wouldn't go back. To Fuerteventura, yes, Monica Beach or Costa Calma, No!

We were self catering and were pleased that we didn't go all inclusive as the food in the restaurant wasn't all that great!
But saying that we had a really great holiday, even though it is a quiet resort and not the place to go if you are after hectic nightlife but for us (a couple in our mid twenties) it was relaxing and we had a fantastic time. Staff were very helpful, beaches lovely and we would recommend hiring a car and heading to Jandia - bit more lively with shops and restaurants and beautiful beaches again!
Only takes about 15-20 mins in the car and nice new roads so no dirt tracks! Would also recommend a visit to Oasis Park, loads to do including a camel ride!

We stayed for 2 weeks at the Monica Beach. To be honest its not a place to go if you are self catering. 90% of the guests are all inclusive and the hotel looks after them very well.
We had problems getting the vouchers which we had bought at the hotel reception accepted by the staff who seemed to think that there were no self catering guests at the hotel. This led to an embarrassing situation where I was refused drinks which I had the correct vouchers to buy. When I complained about this the receptionist seemed more bothered about disciplining the member of staff than anything else.
For people who are self catering there are hardly any shops to go to get basic provisions. The shop on the hotel complex was shut for a lot of the day and was expensive. It also had quite a small range. The best shop is a Netto about half a mile away.
There are also hardly any restaurants in the resort as most people do not have to leave their complexes. We found the best thing to is to get the bus to Jandia which a larger resort with a lot more to do. This is a few miles down the coast
Although we knew Costa Calma was going to be quiet we didn't realise until we got there just how quiet it was. We would not return.

Just returned from a week at the Monica beach, all inclusive. Out of the 7 days 5 were excellent weather. The hotel staff and entertainment team were fantastic could not do enough.
New years eve day they put on a BBQ around the pool, gala dinner in the evening then fire works at midnight with entertainment going on until 3.00am. The all inclusive was very good value for money.
Overall an excellent holiday only downfall having to come home!!!

Fantastic hotel deserves more than 3 star I would say 4 star.
Food not to bad considering it has to cater for all tastes.
Daytime entertainment is sometimes a little bit scarce but evening entertainment is brill!!!!
Would definitely visit this hotel again.