Forte Village Resort - le Palme

I've lost track of the number of times I have visited Forte Village; perhaps 16 or 17 now and my children 10 times. It feels like a 'home from home' and one is always assured of * Stellar service from Gianni Calledda and his team * Great football and other sports from Maurizio Iovieno and sports colleagues * Outstanding dining choices * Beautiful weather A perfect family holiday. I can't wait to return next year !

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

Where to start?! There is so much to unpack when it comes to Forte Village. I’ll start with the best bits! - Spacious rooms (Le Palme) - Amazing pool (Oasis pool) - Gorgeous beach - So many options of clubs and sports for kids - Lots of other children around which is fantastic for kids - BRILLIANT evening entertainment (The Queen cover band and the Forte Village band are incredible!) - Many choices of restaurant to eat at - The Fish Market - incredible seafood!!! - The pizzeria lunch restaurant - BEST PIZZA EVER - Go Karting - so much fun! The things that (For me) make it overpriced for what it is: - Every single sport/activity costs extra (even playing table tennis) - so it’s like a VERY expensive Center Parcs - The Buffet restaurants (particularly breakfast) aren’t kept clean and tidy. If you get to breakfast near the end, you’ll find lots of messy empty tables - not what you expect from a 5 star resort - The food isn’t clearly labelled at the buffet restaurants and the lighting at Pineta is a nightmare - you can’t actually see what you’re putting on your plate when it’s dark as the buffet area isn’t lit up - Toilets - you have to walk out of restaurants and round the resort to locate toilets. These aren’t always kept clean and aren’t always easy to find with kids Look - we had a FANTASTIC time. But that was mainly because as a family, we always have a fantastic time together. Our kids love hanging out with us so we didn’t use any of the “academies” which is good as that would have set us back a good £500-£800 if we’d signed the kids up to try them!!! If you have kids that are crazy sporty and have money to burn - it’s a brilliant place to come and we would come back. For us, there are better, cleaner and cheaper luxury resorts. It’s not somewhere I’d be happy to drop £10k which is essentially what you need to do.

We travelled as a family group . There were a few technical problems with various items which were expertly resolved by Giovanni Calledda the Hotel Manager. His staff were immensely helpful under his direction. Our small grandsons had a wonderful time playing football,fencing,swimming with expert tuition. Weather was perfect and beds most comfortable.

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

Huge resort with plenty to do, full of 'luxuries' (pop up Louis Vuitton etc) but shabby around the edges. Sub check in desks at each hotel on resort were confusing... Accomodation is expensive but lacks facilities and is tired. Restaurant food is only ok. Brealfast is inm a shabby room and lacks attentiom, finese etc... Great activities for kids, and the freebie ice creams from the young lads at the sports/beach bar area were a nice touch, but overall expensive and lacking..

Great to return to Forte Village after two years away. It was as perfect as ever: beautiful resort, perfect weather, great sports and dining facilities and excellent customer service. Particular mention to Gianni Colladda and Maurizio Iovieno, who are wonderful ambassadors for Forte Village.

It was a great experience !! Five-star welcome, all employees are well trained and very kind. Inside the resort there are many services available to the guest and many activities that you can do with your children or as a couple. You can take lessons in any sport and also spend time relaxing in the Spa. Within the resort, there is a wide choice of excellent restaurants located in different locations with either a sea view or a pool view. In the evening there is always a different show in the square, you can dance, laugh and have fun, it’s easy to make friendship. Experience to make again for sure next year. Thanks to the FV team for the extraordinary experience that made us live, especially Giuanni!! Xoxo

This resort is overpriced.. the accomodation very very average. When I complained about the room I was shown a family bungalow.. in incredibly bad condition. Hygiene in the rooms and general resort is very poor. The wasps swarming around the buffet terrifying my young children and sitting on food is really unappealing.. Don’t waste your money