Don Paco Castilla Apartments

1 reader found this review helpful

Just come back after a week’s stay at the Don Paco, to be honest was a little worried after reading some bad feedback on the hotel, but actually had a great time.
On arrival at the airport we went to the Jumbo Canarias tours office where the staff were friendly and they immediately got us into a taxi and straight off to our hotel which is only 10 mins away from the airport.
On arrival at the hotel the staff were friendly and attentive, the hotel was spotless and immaculate, we had a 1 bedroom apartment which was spacious and clean with all equipment we needed.
The choice of food in the evening was excellent at least 3 meats/poultry plus fish and vegetarian plus a great salad bar, breakfast too had a good choice of continental and Spanish/English food, couldn’t really complain, plenty to drink, local brands but absolutely fine. snack food during the day was plentiful and an average variety.
The pools were a little cold but fine once you were in, although there was a heated pool too that was lovely. The animation team for the kids were great and friendly.
Location - really in the los Pocillos/Matagorda area which is quieter than the main Playa del Carmen strip, so if you want family, good beach, a few shops and bars/restaurants this is great, if you want bars/discos and shopping daily then it’s about 20-30mins walk in the centre. We hired a car for 3 days which was great we managed to see most of the island. For the money we paid - well worth it!

1 reader found this review helpful

We landed in Lanzarote with the sun shining. We waited over an hour on our transfer taking us from the airport to our apartments, only to find out that it was 10 euro on a taxi. Bit of a waste... Plus the transfer never turned up to take us back to the airport at the end of our holiday.
The apartments were clean, suitable and I think that's all you need. The maids were in alot with clean sheets, towels etc.
The location is not really near the centre but you can walk about half an hour to get there. The centre is great and lively. We were in there most nights.
We sat at the pools once and it seemed ok, but did not dare step in the water as this time of year it was a bit cold. We spent all our time at the beach which is just a walk down the road from the apartments. And there is a McDonald's across the road.
Staff are friendly and helpful. Although we did have a night with no water at all and that's a bit of a nightmare especially if you want to go out for a drink that night.
Overall good stay, but a bit too far away from nightlife as we are only 18.

2 readers found this review helpful

We have just come back from Christmas and New Year at the Don Paco.
We were rather put off at the last minute after reading some of the reviews but we were def surprised as it was lovely! We arrived after getting on our transfer bus (which incidentally don't bother with as it is 5 mins from the airport and not worth it! Also our transfer did not turn up to pick us up on the way home and we had to get a cab anyway)
Our apt was situated in a great area just by the supermarket and restaurant! The apartment was very clean and tidy, the weather gorgeous and not a cat in sight!! (We only saw one cockroach on the whole holiday which was NOT in the apartment!) Yes the pools are freezing so if you like swimming in the pool then I wouldn’t recommend this hotel, however there is one heated pool (only tepid) but we have 3 young children and they loved it!
I cannot comment on the food in the hotel as we were self catering.
Everything is so nearby when you come out of the hotel, the beach is perfect for young children and there are lots of restaurants. Dreamers does the best breakfast and we went to a gorgeous Mexican called El Mexican and next to there is a great spot for kids which has outdoor trampolines!
The staff were very friendly and very honest! My husband lost his wallet with all our money in it as he had left it in the bar, the staff there had kept it to one side for him which we thought was incredibly honest.
We did go to the kids entertainment one night! The kids entertainer was great but then when the adult entertainment came on and it was hilarious!!! It consisted of a man on a keyboard playing some awful Spanish music. We did end up walking out but I am sure we just caught it on a bad night. However there is so much to do outside the hotel that you will spoiled for choice.
Overall I thought the complex was lovely and so well situated that there is something for everyone. We had a great time and I would not hesitate staying at this hotel again.

1 reader found this review helpful

We went to this complex 7 years ago so we knew what to expect. The staff were excellent, polite and helpful at all times. The rooms are basic but spotlessly clean. We had a room overlooking the pool and bar area but were never disturbed by noise. The gates to the complex were locked every night and security was very good. The whole complex was spotlessly clean and immaculately kept with tasteful planting and well tended public areas. The swimming pools were cleaned every day and were spotless.
There were many different nationalities, Dutch, German, Spanish and English but everyone was treated in the same courteous manner. The pools were cold with the exception of one which was heated but the weather was great so we were grateful to be able to cool off in the water.
I would recommend La Marisma restaurant which is on the front towards Puerto del Carmen, we ate here twice and the service was second to none. I would also recommend the quad bike safari, my 12 year old son and husband had the time of their lives on the three hour excursion. The day time activities for the children were good and varied but the night time activities were not as good.
Overall I would recommend Don Paco to families but maybe not to couples who would probably find it too quiet.

Went here for my honeymoon, 14 nights of sun, sea, sand and salmonella. Well, a very dodgy stomach to say the least.
Reception resembled the inside of a half finished concrete brick. On site shop, minimal, no frills. Accommodation had a fair few 'roaches and on inspecting the top of the extractor fan found a lovely 'roach graveyard.
Entertainment, erm, none to speak of. A 'gym' with 2 pieces of dilapidated equipment. A 'disco' that was tiny and smelled of desperation. Crazy golf that must have been 80 years old judging by the state of the paint.
Food, we only ate once in the place, but where lucky enough to be seated in such a way that meant I was staring in to the back kitchen while the surly plate washer stared back. Horrible, horrible, horrible.
Hired a car from the on site car hire comedians. Hierd for 3 days, on second day, went down, and the car was gone. Oh dear. Rushed up to reception, all a-quiver, and explained the situation. 'Don’t worry' she said, 'we came and took the car as we were one short, but we will give you a free days hire, next week'. I could barely suppress my disbelief. They took my car to give to someone else, oh my. Leaving me with none, so what if I had a lovely day planned? Tough....
Lanzarote is a nice place; Arrecife however was a bit grim, shady and dirty. Not recommended.
Overall a sickly miserable place that provides just enough and no more to enable a semi holiday. An allocation on arrival black hole with the cheap, bargain obsessed customers getting exactly what they deserve.
Misery!!

1 reader found this review helpful

I have just returned from staying a week at Don Paco with my boyfriend on his first holiday abroad. When I read the other reports I thought oh my god where the hell have we booked, so we were really surprised when we got there and it was lovely.
There are four large swimming pools, with plenty of sun beds. Though there were freezing cold!!!!
The staff were friendly and helpful with any queries we had. The only thing is the bar in the hotel closes at 11pm which isn’t brilliant. The rooms were basic but clean and tidy.
Taxi and buses are really cheap to everywhere
Recommendations where to eat, Seaview bar - just 5 min walk from the hotel which serves great breakfasts and Sunday Lunches. Think we had breakfast there 5 out of 7 mornings. Doesn’t open though to about 10 - 10.30
Dreamers again about 5 min walk - lovely breakfasts
Route 66 bar in Port Del Carmen - Good for drinks and cocktails with good music
The only bad thing we have to say about the holiday was that we had booked it through Travel Republic including our taxis to and from the airport. From the airport to the hotel was grand but when we rang to get our taxi back again they were going to pick us up at 9.50 for check in for our flight at 10.10. Far too late, so we ended up booking a taxi our selves, which I would recommend to anyone as it is far cheaper.
Also booking it through Travel Republic we never seen our rep when they were suppose to be at the Hotel

2 readers found this review helpful

When we arrived we got our key and a map, it wasn’t that hard to find. We were by the main pool which was great.
The staff was very friendly and the entertainer's were excellent with the kids (day and night).
The food was great (wide range of selection). I didn’t believe about the cats when I was reading the reviews until I went, but they wouldn’t harm you, they just sit around.
It was my first time in Lanzarote and 28 of us went as a family holiday it is mainly for the kids but we all had a fantastic time.
I was just reading about security... the gates were locked every night at 9pm and was opened the next morning at 9am so it was a very secure place. The cleaners were very nice cleaned every 2nd day.
We all enjoyed our holiday and will be all going back over in Christmas time.
Would recommend it to anybody.

2 readers found this review helpful

We have just come back today (29/06/07) after spending two weeks at these apartments it was the worst two weeks we have ever spent away.
We have been to Lanzarote several times previously twice so far this year. We arrived for our two week stay after the usual 4 hour flight on time at the accommodation, there was around 40-50 Spanish people in reception.
We were took aside made to fill in a form and then told we would have to wait 1 1/2 hours till our accom would be ready. We were not offered any kind of refreshment or food. When we eventually did get to our room it was two hours later.
When we went to dinner that evening the food was not very selective. When we went to the bar we were offered our drinks in plastic cups and the staff was really rude
For the whole two weeks this went on and the food got worse.
The accom was full of over 100 old age pensioners (Spanish) who was rude and ignorant pushing in the dinner queue and anti British the staff was giving proffered treatment to the Spanish guests.
On one occasion our room after cleaning was left with the door open, so anyone could get in.
We will not ever recommend or return.

I stayed at Don Paco in July of last year for 2 weeks, we had 15 family members and we all stayed in Don Paco.
I found that the entertainment was great for kids, when you have kids on holidays you do all you can to keep them happy. This resort is a great example as there was lots to do for them mini golf and water polo etc.
There were 4 pools and they were all spotless, the cleaners came in every weekday except for Monday and Friday as it was there day off, they really deserved it as they did their best to make everybody happy and did a great job.
I found the food was the downfall for us as it wasn’t really that warm. But was a good price.
I would def stay here again and it’s well worth the visit, top marks.

1 reader found this review helpful

We found this complex, complex. It’s like a maze, and the map does not correspond to the layout.
There were four freezing pools, one of which is heated only in the winter.
It really needs maintenance; a lot of the rooms have loose fittings.
It was full of noisy, elderly Spanish that appeared mannerless, i.e. pushing in corridors and queues, and staring. The staff had poor English.
Our studio was 100 yds from the nightly disco and we had to pay to be moved for the rest of the 2 weeks. They said no-one else had EVER complained.
We had a few cockroaches but more cats. Plates left on outside tables were attacked by cats fighting for the scraps. I hope the plates were sanitized before re-use!
Maid service was good, and friendly.
The rear gates were open night & day and I saw people arrive to sit by the pool that were not residents. I consider this a security issue.
We are 54 and we go to the Canaries twice a year, but the standard of this complex puts it at the bottom of our list.