Hesperia Bristol Playa

3 readers found this review helpful

We have just returned from a two week stay at the Hesperia Bristol Playa.
The accomodation was of a reasonable standard and a request for a more suitable apartment,the first was quite a walk,was met without complaint.
The complex was kept clean,but the standard did vary a bit over the two weeks.
The apartment was cleaned and towels changed as per the brochure.
The location was really good and, unless you are bothered by the fact that it catches all the wind,better than a lot of the accomodation in Corralejo being only a 10 min stroll to the main restaurant area and with the bonus of being only a few hundred yards for one of the best restaaurants, Avenida,and two good size supermarkets.
The taxi fare to/from town was between €2.65 and €3.10.
There are an amazing choice of restaurants but the quality does vary.
The ones that we liked were Gibsons,ElPatio,the Steakhouse opposite ElPatio- which has the added advantage of being by the beach and ElSombrero also by the beach.
As stated the food at Avenida is excellent and the portions are huge but say no to the garlic if asked if you want it with the main course unless you dont mind it totally overpowering the taste of the food.
A word of warning though in that you may have to wait for a table due to its popularity,on our last night,a Tuesday, we got in at 7.17pm and by 7.30 it was full with people waiting at the bar and a seemingly endless stream of taxis arriving!
However,if you want a treat then we would recommend Restaurant Dovela which is,if coming from the Bristol,the first place you will come to as you enter the pedestrian area.Out of Bristol turn left,at corner turn left,straight on till church on right,cross over and through coutyard in front of church,past astro turf soccer pitch and keep going!
The food was of a higher quaity than any other that we ate and while the wine was more expensive it was also of the same quality.The young owner, Jose Louis, deserves all the support that his cooking gets.
Just before you get to the Dovela,so handy for the return stroll, is the Cafe Blanco which is a cocktail bar. I would not have dreamed of going in a cocktail bar in the UK but it looked appealing and was very very nice, the drinks were stunning, and the staff lovely.
So what about Fuerte? We booked this holiday as we wanted to get some sun having been unable to take a break this year due to illness and, due to the time of year, choice is limited if you want to guarantee sunshine,so on the advice of a friend we booked Fuerte.
We can only say that we absolutely loved it,yes it is a bit less than 5 star and it can be a bit tacky in places but drive to Flag beach or to El Cotillo or in the mountains and it has a lot of appeal-it is certainly different!
The temp was around 26 allmost all the time with a lovely cooling breeze so it was very comfortable.
We hired a car from CICAR and the price was very good,€147 for a Astra Coupe for a week.It seems that the deals you can get in the resort are not available on the internet-I have checked since getting home!
Lastly,we looked at the apartments las marismas,a friend had stayed there, and when we go back,as we will,we will try them as they look very nice and of a different class.

1 reader found this review helpful

Having returned from the Hesperia playa on the 29th of oct from the 15 I will NEVER RETURN there again, firstly arrived on the 15th we entered our room to a fridge leaking all over the floor the fridge door was completely rusty so quickly went to reception to complain we were told we can change rooms tom because off the time it was to late to change fair enoth we spent all nite cleaning up the water.
Next day we were offered another room 200 all was ok until we noticed the ants they were every where every day we were shaking clothes etc we never ate in the apartment and kept it clean we weren’t going to spend our holiday complaining. So as the week went on we spent as little time there don’t get me wrong the location was nice walking round to harbour each day for breakfast it is much quicker to get from the back of the complex into the main street . A week to the day we decided to eat at the pool side bar there was four off us in our group all eating different foods unfortunately 24 hours later I was being violently sick and diorea put it down to eating there or to eating at the samiguel on the main as they were the only places id eaten for last 3 days. Anyway trying to get on and not let this affect the holiday for everyone we left the apartment number 200 stood on the top stairs outside and fell all the way down if your going take a look there next to the table tennis table very dangerous ok it had rained but as we discovered there is a drainage pipe directed on to them very dangerous so at this time I was not only sick but could hardly walk. Unbelievably I pushed on for the kids sake last day final came sat on the bus going to the airport still a bit unwell I got the most pain full cramps I have ever had in my life I couldn’t breath got off the bus collapsed on the floor outside no thanks to anyone who were to bothered in getting to the front of the que and were stepping over me not one person offered to help.
But I would like to thank the Thomas cook rep that turned up 3 busses later that got the doctor for me.
don’t get me wrong I love Fuerteventura been there many times before but this place is not 3 star far from it . Back home now four days latter am still very ill been to the doctors being tested for salmonella and ecoli what ever it is will determine where it was id eaten has made me so ill.
3 words don’t go there.

3 readers found this review helpful

Had a really good 10 night stay at the Bristol Playa. The staff were very helpful and friendly and the apartment clean and well equipped. Having stayed at plenty of apartments in the Canaries we were pleased to find that there was a kettle (very unusual), there was also a toaster, coffee maker and microwave. As my husband is a vegan I do the catering and this equipment made it much easier than past holidays. There were no cereal dishes or can opener but a quick word at reception solved that very quickly. The television is on a pay for 24 hours at a time basis, when you only want to watch a film in the evening, the usual coin in the slot set would be preferable.
The fact that the apartments are in the area where the locals live-perhaps a little remote for some hliday makers- mean that it is nice and quiet, perhaps too quiet for younger guests. It also means that you are close to where the locals shop. Hiper Dino is great and has some brilliant offers on everyday goods. Not far to carry the shopping either.
There is a small sandy area opposite the apartments which we found ideal, with plenty of rock pools for the kids. The only fault is that given the location at the north tip of the island, it is very windy. A 15 minute walk takes you to a much calmer, golden beach though you will never escape some degree of wind.
Should you prefer to stay near the pool, the sunbeds are a little "well used" and not the most comfy, but the pools are very clean, not to mention very cold.
We would definitely go back again, something I would say about very few places we have stayed. Give it a try!

3 readers found this review helpful

Just back from fuerteventura stayed in the hesperia bristol playa myself/boyfried and another couple all in our 20s! we all had a brilliant holiday! The hotel was very clean, our appartment was very nice and spacious. Our room window looked over the pool and balcony view out over the sea were we could see lanazorte. The room was regulary cleaned with plenty of clean towels and the staff were very friendly and helpful. The location was app 5min walk to the harbour and app 10 min to the main town, it was a very quiet location and you have to walk through local housing to get up the town, this i perfered as the hotel was more private and i did not mind the walk.
We were self catering, there was a shop on site with everything you may need but cheaper to go to eurospar which is a 5min walk around the corner or the dino supermarket. Breakfast in the hotel cost 8euro and was lovely, eat as much as u like!
night entertaiment is not very good in the hotel, the snake show is the only thing worth watching. up the town there is plenty of bars, resturants. Flicks caroke bar we found a good night out with a choice of other lively bars around it, mostly were the younger crowd will be. This is were we had our bar crawl with the holiday reps!!
During the day use the bus service to the beautiful beaches or a taxi will cost 5 euro between 4 of us which was cheap!! Def reccomend the waterpark it was brilliant which also has a animal/marine park, it was that good we went twice. There are plenty of day excursions to go on only advice i have is find out all the information on trips and things to do and see on your 1st few days there and get them booked asap, plan your week!!
if you enjoy water sports there are plenty to do, snorkling at lobas island very good!!
We had a brilliant hoilday def reccomend this hotel apart from the night entertaiment and would def go back!!

1 reader found this review helpful

Arived at bristol playa late at night. thought i was in a ghost town! requested a top floor room with tour opperater but then i got a bottom floor which i didnt like. no privacy and a problem with cockroches. did eventually got move after 2 days.
appartment very clean, overlooking pool, nice clean views. Hotel staff and maids very friendly even though maid didnt speak english.
The italian receptionist was very helpful and friendly. No good entertainment at this hotel. had to go out every night because i couldnt put up with no entertainment. Eventually found some good places to eat and drink. Castaways which is on the harbour, San miguel in the town, 5th avenue which was in the back streets was the best place too eat. did very good sunday dinners for a cheap price.
some good nights out at the corner house pub. which had friendly people there and all the sports on.
found some really great beaches in el colletta. which had white sands and lovely green lagoons, was very peaceful and quiet. Ralaxing (=
Overall the holiday was great, probly go there again but not very good for teenagers and children

Brilliant holiday, great apartments, would definately recommend them. The kitchen was basic and the fridge is not good for storing milk, but apart from that can't fault them. Lots of great restuarants in the town,- go off the main streets for real food and great value. Visit the dino supermarket for value and hire a car - we got 3 days for 99 euros with europhire.

Going there this year! Can't wait read all the comments about the hotel but I'm really confused about it all! Some people rating 10 where as other people rating 1?? Huh?
Well going there on the 23rd July 2008. Going with family and friends so that will be cool! I shall keep you updated when I get back on the 6th August! Finding/Trying to find all the infomation I need, it's pretty hard. Anyway I shall rate the hotel 10 at this moment because I don't really know what the hotel is like.

Stayed in this hotel last year with my boyfriend and we were really disappointed with the location. We couldn't believe how quiet it was, it is literally in a residential area amongst the locals houses.
We arrived at about midnight and took an eerie walk down to the harbour and were astonished to find that everywhere had shut for the night!!!!It was like a ghost town!
The next day we took a walk down to the centre which consisted of one long main strip with mainly just loads and loads of souvenir shops. There is literally no nightlife atmosphere at all its really boring and we only discovered that there was a late night bar there when we came home, noone seemed to be promoting it or anything.
The main bars are set in a square up some steps - average to say the least. Most of them were empty!
The wind is unbearable on a night, during the day it is a nice relief from the heat, but I was actually shivering walking home on a night, not good when you are so far out.
On the plus side, wherever you eat order steak, it is amazing here. And the Rock Cafe has some good live entertainment.
The hotel was fine, it was clean, in fact the maid comes TOO much, she got us out of bed nearly every day, which was really annoying, we felt pressured to leave early so she could come in.
Would never go again, think the resort is aimed more at families.

We've just got back from a week in Fuerteventura and have had a great holiday. The weather was good, 27-30 degrees, but we did also have strong winds - be careful of sunburn! We stayed at the Hesperia Bristol Playa Apartments, staff friendly and helpful. Definately one of the best places to stay.
Location great, 10 min walk to harbour, main centre, shops and beaches. The apartment itself was a good size with balcony. They cleaned just about every day. The kitchen was basic and ok, 2 electric rings, microwave, fridge. No cereal bowls or tin opener provided, but there was bottle opener/cork skrew, coffee maker and juicer! - Be careful if you buy fresh milk, as the fridge doesn't chill it and it goes off after 1 day, we bought UHT.
There is an on-site shop which is ok for basic bits, but go to one of the many supermarkets to save money. There are a few, the cheapest is DinoSupermarket and Euro Spar is also ok. (head up the main road and in one block to find these).
We didn't use the onsite bar, restaurant or entertainment, so can't comment on these. If you want TV, you have to pay an extra 3 Euros a day (for all channels). When you first use TV you get about 5 mins of all channels. Othewise you only get 2 English speaking news channels.
We hired a car from Europcar, 99 Euros for 3 days.
The best places to eat are off the harbour and away from main tourist street. Cafe Latino for lunch, Bar BuenAonda is a funky place to chill out and they also do great cocktails. Mediterraneo is the best Italian with homemade pasta - up road near the garage. Pancho Villa is the best mexican restuarant and is almost opposite the apartments.
Our Thomson rep was rubbish and gave us no information. We only had access to a telephone number and had to go to another hotel for the welcome chat. We didn't buy any trips. Our journey home was awful. The rep didn't turn up, an empty bus arrived and took us to the next hotel pick ups. The bus broke down and we only just got our flight home.

The hotel was very clean, and well looked after, for entertainment we went into the town and found the best English restaurant called Picassos.
The staff were really friendly and the food was amazing. There was a very wide choice on the menu which suited all in our group.
The bar across the road from our hotel, is called the jive bunny and was a very friendly family place to use.