We have holidayed at the Friendly numerous times over the past 10years - this is our first time back since 2019. A lot has changed, or maybe they are marketing the place differently now…for sure they want the “young” clients, not us older ones that have come for years, thus the Name change “Friendly Fun”. The staff is great, some of the same old faces like Double Double, Hugo, Allan, Gladys, Single Single, but lots of new ones too. It is kept clean, except the washrooms at the pools. I know they try to keep up, but half the time they were not the best to use with all the bused in young folks and kids. The food was ok/good- breakfast is great , omelette cooked every day at either restaurants, so that was our prime meal. lunch and dinner are very repetitive for sure, however some of the hot choices are only warm and always seemed to have a sauce or something on it. No pasta station like they use to have, meals were just very simple. Pizza is still my fav. I sure made sure to fill up on this. They use to have a burger/fries/hot dog station on the end of the restaurant by main pool. Sign is still there but only ice cream is served…too bad as that was a good little snack bar. The view is amazing from our 11th floor room, and new mattresses. The bar in the lobby has a few higher type tables, but all the chairs or loungers are gone, no sitting and visiting really. The lobby was usually full of young folks later in the evening and they stand and mingle vs sit. Coffee area is still in lobby. We didn’t enjoy the exceptionally loud music all afternoon at the pools and beach - and we enjoy music but not the repetitive dance beat played continuously. They use to play a wide variety of old rock, country etc., variety of music would be easier to relax to in the earlier day. It appears the focus is on weddings and functions/celebrations for the locals. We were so looking forward to have the Mexican fiesta and vendor shops set up to buy local or entertainment like they use to have.. but no …no night entertainment, just weddings every evening so the same loud dance music is played in the centre of the resort until 11 pm. Not just weddings, young girl turned 15 big celebration, and some sort of graduation was going on another day. Out of 10 days, 2 nights were no functions, but lots of young folks having a good time in the adult only pool till 9…I mean packed! No exaggeration. And the new chairs and plastic loungers at the pools and beach area are very very uncomfortable. The cushioned day beds, well yikes i really don’t want to lay on them, but each to their own. They have removed most of the loungers and put these beds around, and mostly in the adults only area. The adults only pool is not heated anymore, and this is where all the bused in young folks hang out at about 2pm -9pm. Depends when the 3 buses leave and new fresh bunch arrive around 2-3pm. All in all we don’t think we will be back to the Friendly, which is sad because it was our favourite. The vibe is just not there, and one doesn’t feel management is putting the effort in to make the experience memorable for travellers, as it has in past years! Again, the staff are awesome.
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