As a family we love to travel and we have definitely become more adventurous over the past few years. We have tried city breaks and ventured to other countries for our Summer holiday. Last year we all had an amazing time when we visited Estival El Dorado so we couldn't wait to check out Estival Islantilla. We headed straight to Jet2 Holidays who we had booked our previous holiday with and we were thrilled that Estival Islantilla was available for our dates.
Estival Islantilla is a 4star Superior all-inclusive holiday resort ideal for families. Located in Islantilla, in the Andalusian province of Huelva, a tourist reference point on the Costa de la Luz.
Getting To Islantilla
Getting to Islantilla wasn't as straightforward as other holiday destinations but we knew this when we booked it. We flew from Manchester airport to Faro airport, Portugal. This is the closest airport to Islantilla with a flight time of just under 3hrs. Flights with Jet2 were great as always. Our flight was on time and we were looked after throughout the flight and communication was really good. As John isn't a lover of flying he really does appreciate those updates from the flight deck.
Once we landed in Portugal I think it is important to note that the transfer time to Islantilla is approx 90 minutes. You do have to cross the border from Portugal to Spain however as our transfers were included we didn't have to do anything we just sat back and enjoyed the drive. I have to admit it was long, but it was worth it.
Estival Islantilla - Standard Master Suite, Room Review
I don't think anything could have prepared us for our room. It was huge. We were located in the corner suite so I'm not sure if that was why our room had so much space but we were very grateful as we are 3 adults and 1 child and we find that some rooms are quite a squeeze and booking two rooms really does bump up the cost.
As we entered the room we were greeted by a large kitchen area with fridge, tea making facilities and lots of storage. There was a table with benches that separated the kitchen area and the main living room. The living room had a sofa and TV and more storage. There were patio doors that led out to a large balcony area. This had a table and two chairs.
Off the kitchen was our double bedroom which also had lots of wardrobe storage and patio doors. The patio doors led out to another balcony area. It was amazing to have two balconies.
The bathroom was off the main living area and was quite spacious for the 4 of us, little did we know that we would also have large en suite next to the boys twin bedroom.
It had a large walk in shower, toilet and sink. Their bedroom was also huge with plenty of storage space. Honestly I never imagined a room to be so big, like I said it maybe that we were lucky and got the corner suite or maybe they are all that big!
It really did make our holiday having such a large living space. We all had room to chill when needed and didn't get under each others feet.
Dining & All-Inclusive Experience
I know all inclusive isn't for everyone but it suits us as a family and we will always try to book an all inclusive package if we can.
Albatros Buffet Restaurant
Albatros buffet restaurant offers a wide range of Mediterranean and international cuisine dishes with a specific theme each night. The TV screen in the restaurant will highlight what theme it is on which night such as American, French, Spanish.
Breakfast is served between 8am and 11am
Lunch is served from 1:30pm and 3:30pm
Dinner is served from 7:30pm and 10:30pm
We ate at the Albatros Buffet restaurant most mornings and dinner. We never had to wait for more than a few minutes for a table. The restaurant is quite big with the food duplicated on both sides of the main entrance with plenty of seating inside and out.
Having different themes for our evening meal really did help with variety and I never felt like I was eating the same thing over and over again. John and little J mainly stuck to the kids buffet options which was usually fries, pizza and chicken.
La Cantina Buffet
If you have half board or All Inclusive you can enjoy a Mexican buffet at La Cantina Buffet.
Dinner is served between 8pm and 11pm. You have to reserve your table before dining.
We ate at the La Cantina Buffet and it was my favourite out of all the food we enjoyed at Estival Islantilla. The La Cantina is smaller than the Albatros Restaurant but I preferred it. The food was delicious and we were even given tequila shots.
Galera Snack Bar
Galera Snack Bar overlooks the pool and serves a variety of hot and cold snacks and sweet treats as well as your all inclusive drinks which include pout your own beer, soft drinks and water.
Snacks are served between 11am and 6pm
Drinks are served between 10:30am and 11:30pm
The Galera Snack Bar is where we got most of our drinks from and ate lunch there every day. We were always full from our breakfast that we often just needed a light snack in the afternoons. There was always a wide variety of snacks including chicken, hot dogs, salad and our favourite make your own ice cream.
Ibiza Pool & Lounge Bar
The lounge bar is situated between the splash park and the main pool. It's perfect to grab a drink after time in the pool. The comfortable sofa's make it the perfect spot to chill and enjoy the sunshine.
Drinks served between 10:30am and 11:30pm
We grabbed a few drinks and cocktails as we were passing through but we didn't stop to use the sofas as we had a sun lounger close by.
Pools at Estival Islantilla
There are 3 pools at Estival Islantilla, Main Pool, Splash Park and The Baby Pool.
Main Pool
The main pool at Estival Islantilla is really pretty. It surrounds an island and is the perfect size to accommodate the guests wanting to use the main pool. It never felt to busy and we always had plenty of room to swim and play small ball games such as catch and piggy in the middle.
The entertainment started their day with aqua gym in the main pool as well as other activities throughout the day.
Splash Park
This is where we spent most of our time. When I saw that it was called a splash park I assumed it would be shallow with just enough water to cover your feet however it was deep enough for us to just about stand up in.
We all loved the Splash Park and we were lucky to grab sun loungers in this area every day. The splash park has three large slides and lily pads. The slides were brilliant and none of us ever got bored. They are perfect for thrill seekers.
The lily pads were so much fun and brought many smiles as guests tried to make it all the way across without falling in. We never thought we would master it but with lots of practice we got there in the end.
Baby Pool
The baby pool is perfect for little ones. Shallow enough and covered at all times. It was very popular and it was nice that there are sun loungers dotted around so parents don't have to walk far.
There is a small slide in the baby pool which is a perfect size for little ones.
Entertainment & Activities for Families
There is always plenty going on Estival Islantilla. There is an activities board where you can check out what's on that day and throughout your stay. You would also know when an activity was about to start when you heard the song 'fireball' playing throughout the resort.
Pool Entertainment
As I mentioned earlier there was daily entertainment in the main pool area starting with aqua gym. The entertainment team worked hard throughout the day organising activities such as water polo, the water mat and other games.
Evening Entertainment
I felt like the entertainment and the entertainment venue really lets Estival Islantilla down. The Amphitheatre is home to the evening entertainment and its an enclosed venue with tiered seating. This wasn't for us. It always seemed really crowded and looked hot and sweaty so we never went in. This was our personal opinion and as I said it was busy so other guests must have enjoyed it. We preferred to go for evening walks, play card games or pool.
Theme Nights
During our stay there were two themed nights which were lots of fun.
Fairground On The Lawn
Just before Dinner Estival Islantilla hosted a fairground on the lawn night for all guests. We had so much fun on the Buckin' Bronco, played fairground games and sampled some of the resorts food that was cooked BBQ style by the chefs.
Pool Party at Night
The Entertainment team and a local DJ hosted a pool party late one evening which was brilliant. Lots of guests got in to the water including us whilst others gathered round the sides and watched. We danced all night and it was great that the party was suitable for children too.
Additional Hotel Amenities & Useful Information
There are a few other things I would like to mention about the hotel that don't fit in above so will note them here.
Estival Islantilla is located right on the beach. It's the perfect location and ideal for guests who want to enjoy beach days and a swim in the ocean.
There was a french entertainment team working in the resort and they organised their own activities throughout the day and evening. We didn't realise this and went to play darts however it was for french guests only. The rep did let us stay but I don't think he was too keen on us joining in.
There is a land train that stops outside the hotel and takes you on a circular ride of the resort. It takes about 40 minutes and we really enjoyed it.
There is a shopping centre with restaurants and arcade just a 10 minute stroll along the promenade.
If you carry on walking for a further 10 / 15 minutes you will come to a more public spot on the beach with beach bars and an inflatable in the ocean. You reach Ocean Sea Park Islantilla by boat as it's too far out in the ocean to swim and once you have finished the boat brings you back. The boys did this and they absolutely loved it although it was tough on the legs.
Why You Should Book This Hotel
Spacious Accommodation
The Standard Master Suite is incredibly spacious, with a kitchen, living area, two balconies, and two bathrooms, making it ideal for families who need extra room.
Perfect for larger families who often struggle with tight hotel rooms.
Family-Friendly All-Inclusive Dining
Multiple dining options, including the Albatros Buffet with themed nights, the Mexican buffet at La Cantina, and the Galera Snack Bar for poolside bites.
Kid-friendly options (pizza, fries, chicken) ensure picky eaters won’t go hungry.
Make-your-own ice cream is a fun treat for kids.
Great Pool Options for All Ages
Main Pool – Spacious, never too crowded.
Splash Park – Thrilling slides and lily pads for endless fun.
Baby Pool – Shallow, shaded, and designed for little ones.
Entertainment & Activities
Daytime activities like water polo and aqua gym keep the whole family engaged.
Theme nights (fairground night, pool party) add extra excitement.
Evening entertainment venue might not suit everyone, but alternatives like walks and games provide family bonding time.
Prime Location & Extras
Beachfront hotel – Easy access for beach days.
Shopping centre & arcade nearby – Ideal for family outings.
Land train tour – A relaxing way to explore the area.
Ocean Sea Park inflatable adventure – A unique experience for older kids.
Hassle-Free Booking with Jet2
Smooth flight experience with excellent communication from the flight crew.
Transfers included, making the 90-minute journey stress-free.
Our Thoughts On Estival Islantilla
I think our review speaks for itself when I say we had the best time at Estival Islantilla. Travelling with 2 boys aged 22 and 11 can be tough trying to find accommodation and entertainment that they will both enjoy. Estival Islantilla ticked all the boxes for us and despite the evening entertainment being not to our liking, it didn't make much difference to our overall stay. I think if you are happy to recommend to others and you would visit again then that's when you know you've found a great holiday.
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