Hotel Silver Seas Beach Resort (Fort Lauderdale, USA)

With the beach directly opposite and all the shops, restaurants and entertainment you could possibly want, just a short walk away, this location ticks all the boxes for a perfect sunshine holiday.

The staff here are high on the list of advantages. They couldn't be more friendly, helpful or accommodating. It seems that they are the prime reason some folk come back year after year. Hardly surprising, really.

OK, some elements are a bit dated here, but that's all. Just hope they don't undertake massive capital improvements and hike up the prices ... because, currently, if you look around the local competition, prices here are some of the best in the neighborhood.

All the little things, when combined, lead you to think that all is not well here. The pool water level is low and not very clean, towels are cheap and nasty and the whole place seems to be on the decline. The pool, incidentally, is tiny.

Once these little devils start appearing, it leads you to think that cleaning standards need tightening up - and they do! Even entering the room as a new guest, it's quite clear that the room hasn't been cleaned properly.

Not only is it dated but items that were begging to be replaced now lie broken and ignored. Small rooms have been combined, not very well, to create a bigger one; but they aren't up to scratch and bathrooms in particular are very suspect.