Papagayo Arena Hotel, Playa Blanca, Canary Islands
Hotel Information
Recent Price: £156
Hotel Class:
Hotel Description:
The Papagayo Arena Hotel is located on the beachfront at Las Coloradas with excellent views of the islands of Fuerteventura and Lobos and some of the most spectacular sunsets of the area can be viewed from the room terrace. The hotel provides 5 restaurants providing a variety of cuisine and 6 bars including a beach and pool bar. The hotel also offers some excellent leisure facilities for guests. loading...
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Papagayo Arena Hotel Reviews
" Beautiful Hotel! "
Submitted By: SiobhanDumfries
This hotel met its expectations, was in beautiful surroundings! Rooms were spacious and extremely clean! Staff were very friendly and helpful. Swimming pools nice and clean with plenty of space to sunbathe and relax. Being an all inclusive, there is more than plenty choice, having international, chinese and italian restautrants as part of AI and a French one that you pay extra for. Even plenty for the fussiest of eaters. Although AI ends at 11pm, beer and wine and snacks are served 24hrs in the poolside bar/diner!
Hotel complex very large so took a while to get bearings but nothing bad to say at all. would definitley recommend to anyone for a relaxin quiets break.
Not much nightlife etc local if you are looking for this but we just went to relax.
Hotel complex very large so took a while to get bearings but nothing bad to say at all. would definitley recommend to anyone for a relaxin quiets break.
Not much nightlife etc local if you are looking for this but we just went to relax.
Advice: Beautiful quaint upmarket place
Activities: submarine
Good for: Beach
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- Date of Holiday:May 2007
- Board Basis:All Inclusive
- Tour Operator:Thomas Cook
" Papagayo Arena - Great Hotel "
Submitted By: gill1106
I travelled to the Papagayo Arena on holiday with my family. Dont beleive half of the moaning people that write on here, its nonsense.This hotel is 4 stars and thats exactly what you get - 4 star! The hotel is gorgeous, has 4 pools and a kids pool lovely restaurant and plenty of variety in the food. The hotel was full on our second week and was a bit much but only because of british travellers im ashamed to say. We came out every morning of our second week to see people putting towels down on beds to save their space, on one occasion someone put out 9 towels and then left for the entire day and didnt return until after 4pm! Eventually the hotel took action and the attendant starting lifting all towels and moving them which we thought was hilarious !! One woman actually had the cheek to complain about it to reception.
The hotel entertainment was good most of time and varied for all ages, for anyone my age (26) there is the disco at 11pm every night as well. I have to say the pancakes at the snack bar were great!! every day @ 4pm and needless to say i put on a few pounds!!
The trips on offer seemed good but can be booked for cheaper if you venture into playa blanca town. The market at the Marina is on wednesdays and saturdays and i would highly recommend it.
I would definately recommend this hotel to anyone and be aware not to read into all that you hear people moaning about.
The hotel entertainment was good most of time and varied for all ages, for anyone my age (26) there is the disco at 11pm every night as well. I have to say the pancakes at the snack bar were great!! every day @ 4pm and needless to say i put on a few pounds!!
The trips on offer seemed good but can be booked for cheaper if you venture into playa blanca town. The market at the Marina is on wednesdays and saturdays and i would highly recommend it.
I would definately recommend this hotel to anyone and be aware not to read into all that you hear people moaning about.
Good for: Beach
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- Date of Holiday:Jun 2009
- Board Basis:All Inclusive
- Tour Operator:Thomas Cook
" Watch out for the Austrian Selling Boat Tours in Playa Blanca "
Submitted By: VCotter
Just back after a week at Papagaya Arena. Beautiful hotel but 1 week all inclusive sufficient. Just wanted to make people aware of lovely Austrian Gent on the pier at Playa Blanca who sold us a dodgy boat trip. We sat waiting at our hotel to be picked up - no show. Rang him to be told boat was in for repairs and apologies. Went and demanded my money back which he duly gave but was clear there was no boat trip planned at all. Left with 3 very disappointed children. Clearly a chancer but felt very left down - avoid at all costs. Book any trips through your hotel!!
Advice: Lanzarote is very windy and driving around the Island couldn
Activities: The Volcano tour was worth it - cheap and informative.
Good for: Beach
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- Date of Holiday:Mar 2009
- Board Basis:All Inclusive
- Tour Operator:Booked Independently
" Worth ALL 4 *'s in my opinion "
Submitted By: jasonmcleod
e have just returned from 7 days at the Papagayo Arena Hotel and it was just like the cuprinol advert in my humble opinion (exactly what it said on the tin...). It is by far the largest hotel we have stayed in , the beds were quite hard , 50% of the pools were very cold and the entertainment is geared towards families. HOWEVER , We took time to read all of the reviews and brouchures before we chose this hotel so we new EXACTLY what we were getting so many thanks to all of those who had posted reviews previously.
The 'On Tap' nature of the Inclusive package was great as it kept a thirsty and constantly hungry 4 year old quiet for 5 blissful minutes. The meals in the dining hall were more functional than fine-dining but the Italian section had some very tasty fresh pasta dishes and pizza which provided good meals when the dining hall was a little congested. The freshly-made pancakes in the Snack-grill bar are not to be missed and a sinful daily treat. We found the staff to be very helpful and always on hand to help.
We had a FANTASTIC holiday in a very clean and well run hotel that is trying very hard to please all types of holiday maker and my family and I had a superb 7 day stay there. We would highly recommend the hotel to anyone who has taken a bit of time to consider all the pro's and con's of the all-inclusive hotels and destinations out there as money is at a premium for many people in the current climate and the Papagayo Arena was worth EVERY penny.
The 'On Tap' nature of the Inclusive package was great as it kept a thirsty and constantly hungry 4 year old quiet for 5 blissful minutes. The meals in the dining hall were more functional than fine-dining but the Italian section had some very tasty fresh pasta dishes and pizza which provided good meals when the dining hall was a little congested. The freshly-made pancakes in the Snack-grill bar are not to be missed and a sinful daily treat. We found the staff to be very helpful and always on hand to help.
We had a FANTASTIC holiday in a very clean and well run hotel that is trying very hard to please all types of holiday maker and my family and I had a superb 7 day stay there. We would highly recommend the hotel to anyone who has taken a bit of time to consider all the pro's and con's of the all-inclusive hotels and destinations out there as money is at a premium for many people in the current climate and the Papagayo Arena was worth EVERY penny.
Advice: We will be returning to the Papagayo Arena Hotel in the near future
Activities: Papgayo Beach is a bit of a trek thru the rocky terrain but 20-30 mins well worth the effort.
Good for: Beach
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- Date of Holiday:Feb 2009
- Board Basis:All Inclusive
- Tour Operator:First Choice
" very disappointing "
Submitted By: carolctc@yahoo.com
We have just returned from two weeks, all inclusive, at the Papagayo Arena hotel.It is a very complicated hotel to find your way around with a series of blocks and different level lifts. We were very disappointed, having read the prior comments on this site, and certainly would not call this hotel a 4*. The food was only ever luke warm, the china was all chipped, and the beds were made of concrete!
There were many children running out of control (unfortunately mostly British) and the only safe haven for us of more mature years was the green bar - the only childfree area.This only opened between 8pm - 11pm and had only two nights of music. Having said that it was staffed by a superb barmaid by name of Theresa! The remainder of the staff (except reception) were disinterested and unsmiling. All of the other entertainment (disco etc) didn't begin until 11pm (not our style and certainly beyond our bedtime!)so we went back to our old haunt, the Lanzarote Princess, to listen to fantastic music in the piano bar by Kerr and Carlos.
We did understand from the brochure that this hotel was 3km from Playa Blanca but it was a complicated route with a car. There was a free bus into town, however. Of course, all of the above would have been improved had the sun shone! but we certainly would not entertain another visit to this hotel.
There were many children running out of control (unfortunately mostly British) and the only safe haven for us of more mature years was the green bar - the only childfree area.This only opened between 8pm - 11pm and had only two nights of music. Having said that it was staffed by a superb barmaid by name of Theresa! The remainder of the staff (except reception) were disinterested and unsmiling. All of the other entertainment (disco etc) didn't begin until 11pm (not our style and certainly beyond our bedtime!)so we went back to our old haunt, the Lanzarote Princess, to listen to fantastic music in the piano bar by Kerr and Carlos.
We did understand from the brochure that this hotel was 3km from Playa Blanca but it was a complicated route with a car. There was a free bus into town, however. Of course, all of the above would have been improved had the sun shone! but we certainly would not entertain another visit to this hotel.
Advice: old part of Playa Blanca is still charming, plenty of bars, restaurants to watch the world go by.
Activities: any in the old town, but excellent coffee in Restaurant Playa Blanca on the front
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- Date of Holiday:Jan 2009
- Board Basis:All Inclusive
- Tour Operator:First Choice
" Great Time had by All! "
Submitted By: y.knight@ymail.com
We have just returned from papagayo arena hotel, For anybody going in the near future, you won't be disappointed. The food and drinks were fantastic, the boys loved the ice creams throughout the day. Cleanliness of the hotel spotless, the staff were so friendly always saying hello, couldn't help enough.
Our two boys went to the hotel run kids club, brilliant for bit of peace throughout the day, and the staff were fantastic.
The entertainment wasn't brilliant, but the boys enjoyed it. Plus you've always got the bar to sit in which normally had something going on in the evening.
The Hotel is massive, you need to spend some time to look around, otherwise you could miss things.
You have to wear t-shirt and shoes when going to the bars throughout the day, otherwise they soon tell you to cover up. which is fine, thats not a problem.
The coastal path was a great walk along to playa blanca.
There is no coffee/tea in the room but you can hire a kettle from reception,and we personally thought it would be nice if they could put a folder or some sort of info in your rooms, to let you know whats going on. however, you just have to ask and the staff will point you in the right direction.
Our opinion, Great Hotel, can't go far wrong. Possibly would be a bit manic in the peak season, and I wouldn't want to be there then.
We would go back again, and around the same time.
Our two boys went to the hotel run kids club, brilliant for bit of peace throughout the day, and the staff were fantastic.
The entertainment wasn't brilliant, but the boys enjoyed it. Plus you've always got the bar to sit in which normally had something going on in the evening.
The Hotel is massive, you need to spend some time to look around, otherwise you could miss things.
You have to wear t-shirt and shoes when going to the bars throughout the day, otherwise they soon tell you to cover up. which is fine, thats not a problem.
The coastal path was a great walk along to playa blanca.
There is no coffee/tea in the room but you can hire a kettle from reception,and we personally thought it would be nice if they could put a folder or some sort of info in your rooms, to let you know whats going on. however, you just have to ask and the staff will point you in the right direction.
Our opinion, Great Hotel, can't go far wrong. Possibly would be a bit manic in the peak season, and I wouldn't want to be there then.
We would go back again, and around the same time.
Advice: very clean and modern
Activities: we were all inclusive, so didn't go to any
Good for: Beach
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- Date of Holiday:Jan 2009
- Board Basis:All Inclusive
- Tour Operator:Booked Independently
" My boyfriend and I have just got back... "
Submitted By: Miss V L Bache
My boyfriend and I have just got back from the Papagayo Arena Hotel in Lanzorote. I have say the hotel was excellent and couldn't complain one bit about the food, service, how clean it was and the lovely swimming pools but we did feel that the hotel was starting to look a bit worn in places but with a bit of tender loving care it could be a excellent hotel. As in other reviews the beds were a bit hard and lumpy but I have to say the bathroom was fantastic we even had a jacuzzi!! We thought the hotel was in a fantastic location and the views were amazing and was only a short taxi ride to Playa Blanco or about a 30 minute walk (the walk if you are up to it is really nice). The only down side to the hotel is the evening entertainment for adults or should I say lack of it and the fact that you have to pay for drinks after 11.00pm which is annoying when we have paid for all inclusive. We would definately visit the Papgayo Arena Hotel again and we both have come back 2 stone heavier!!
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- Date of Holiday:Sep 2008
- Board Basis:All Inclusive
- Tour Operator:Freedom Direct
" Brill holiday. As my wife an i have... "
Submitted By: Mr S J BROWN
Brill holiday. As my wife an i have been to benidorm 4* ALL INCLUSIVE about 11 times now same hotel we wanted a change so we picked the papagayo arena i would have given it a 10 out of 10 but we were given a low floor when we arrived but on the booking form we had asked for a high other reports are right the beds are on the hard side and our view was blocked by a tree but its still one of the best holidays we have had and are heading back in sept 25th and can,t wait.
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- Date of Holiday:Mar 2008
- Board Basis:All Inclusive
- Tour Operator:Thomas Cook
" I was the organiser of a family group... "
Submitted By: Ms C Chaplin
I was the organiser of a family group of 15 people travelling to this hotel. The hotel was a recommendation by our tour operator (Jane at Kwik Travel is the nicest and most helpful person I have ever spoken to! I found her through the internet).
The age range was 2 yrs to 62 yrs and covered five children (brothers and sisters) plus their partners, children and our Mum. We spent a week there between 3rd-10th July 2008 on an All Inclusive basis.
I avidly watched these reviews in the build up to our holiday and they provided very useful peace of mind as to what we could expect when we travelled and used this hotel.
The hotel is set up on a cliff overlooking the sea, with steps down to the beach, although the hotel also has lifts that went from the very top level right down to sea level too for those that have difficulty. We all had pool views on the bottom floor and the rooms were clean and well equipped with fresh towels as often as you wanted them. Pool towels were also collected from the Spa area - but look after them as the charge for missing ones on checkout is 20 euros per towel.
The hotel is lovely inside with quality finishing touches such as the very beautiful ornate wooden chairs and tables in the communal areas, the sofa's on the lower level and the card tables on another level. There is internet access via slot machine computers at 1 euro for ten minutes so that amused my teenagers and kept them in touch with their friends via MSN. The hotel has a very spacious and quality feel to it.
There are very secure keypad operated safes in each room with a 21 euro price for the week plus a 20 euro deposit. We had one between three rooms and there was plenty of room for passports, money, Nintendo DS's etc. There is a sign in all the rooms asking you not to leave any valuables out of the safe. One of our party even put her straighteners in there!
The pools are large and cleaned most days. They are closed between 7pm and 10am. They are cold but warmed up nicely during the afternoon, although even my 2 year old niece was happy to go in there first thing in the morning. Do have dry towels ready as the almost constant cool breeze (to gusts) provides a welcome respite from the heat for the sunbathers, but is quite chilly when you first get out of the pool.
Stock up on sun cream, we used at least 8-10 bottles of 50+ between us all, as it is expensive at between 10-18 euros per bottle with the local town shops being the cheapest and the hotel shop being among the most expensive. This added quite a chunk onto our holiday cost but was essential so as not to burn. If you have young children then I would recommend the all-in-one sunsuits for the pool as they were definitely 'fun-savers' and meant that more time could be spent splashing around. The suits are not available locally as far as we could see so you will have to bring them with you.
The beds are hard. We made the mistake of putting two young children (6 & 9) into the single beds whilst we took the double sofabed. It was extremely uncomfortable and resulted in me seeing a Chiropractor on my return to the UK. With hindsight we should have taken the singles and the lighter children would have had no problems at all on the sofabed. The bedding was lovely and crisp and clean with the daily maid service to make them up neatly each day.
The food is lovely and plentiful. My partner is a Chef and our expectations are high. There is a hot plate at which meats and fish are cooked every lunch and dinner, omelette's and eggs are cooked fresh each morning. Breakfast consists of continental meats, cheeses and breads, fresh fruit, yogurts, dried fruits, bread and pastries including croissants, jams, toast, bacon, eggs (fried and omelettes), tomatoes, sausages, lovely fried choux pastry twists with lashings of chocolate sauce, fruit juices, coffee, tea, milk and cava. All these things were available every day.
Lunch consists of a salad bar with various made up salads, individual salad items, breads, paella, fresh fruit, meats, potatoes, chips, pasta dishes, freshly cooked meats and fish, joints of meat freshly carved, puddings, jelly, ice cream, wine, beer, fruit juices, water. All were lovely and nicely presented and checked regularly to ensure nothing went past it's best. Dinner was similar too.
There are also other restaurants with the Italian being a firm favourite with pasta dishes made to your order and pizza's freshly made too. We also went to the chinese restaurant for which you have to book (but still no charge if you are All Inclusive) however we were a bit disappointed with the selection of choices available and some of our party returned to the main restaurant during the meal to eat.
The service at meal times is busy. It is canteen style and there can be quite a bit of hustle and bustle but no shortages of food on any of the days we were there, even when we were within 15 mins of the restaurant closing when we entered. There are numerous staff who whisk away your used plates and drinks so make sure you have finished before leaving the table or you will lose whatever was left on your plate! The waiting staff were never obtrusive or impatient for us to finish and we always found tables to sit at whether we went in as a party of 8 or as a party of 2. The drinks are all self-serve and there is only one choice of red wine, rose wine or (medium) white wine or beer in the restaurants. I didn't see anyone whose behaviour was loutish at all despite the self-serve drinks, nor were we disturbed at night time through shouting or other unsavoury behaviour.
The entertainment is typical holiday style and as long as you do not base the success of your holiday purely on the entertainment alone then you will not be disappointed. We saw magicians, singers, groups, acrobats, contortionists, etc for the adults (9.30pm ish onwards) and an earlier 'show' for the children with party games and face painting from around 8pm to 9.00pm ish. The children loved it although the teenagers didn't have so much to do unless they tagged along to the adult show. The bar on the same level as reception has cocktails and cava as well as the usual range of drinks all free at most times. It was a little disappointing not to have a choice of wines as I prefer dry, but as we were only there for a week it wasn't a problem.
As you can tell I could probably go on for a while yet.....
All in all this was a very enjoyable holiday and we would certainly consider going back again either for a quiet holiday for two or with the family en-masse as we did this year!
The age range was 2 yrs to 62 yrs and covered five children (brothers and sisters) plus their partners, children and our Mum. We spent a week there between 3rd-10th July 2008 on an All Inclusive basis.
I avidly watched these reviews in the build up to our holiday and they provided very useful peace of mind as to what we could expect when we travelled and used this hotel.
The hotel is set up on a cliff overlooking the sea, with steps down to the beach, although the hotel also has lifts that went from the very top level right down to sea level too for those that have difficulty. We all had pool views on the bottom floor and the rooms were clean and well equipped with fresh towels as often as you wanted them. Pool towels were also collected from the Spa area - but look after them as the charge for missing ones on checkout is 20 euros per towel.
The hotel is lovely inside with quality finishing touches such as the very beautiful ornate wooden chairs and tables in the communal areas, the sofa's on the lower level and the card tables on another level. There is internet access via slot machine computers at 1 euro for ten minutes so that amused my teenagers and kept them in touch with their friends via MSN. The hotel has a very spacious and quality feel to it.
There are very secure keypad operated safes in each room with a 21 euro price for the week plus a 20 euro deposit. We had one between three rooms and there was plenty of room for passports, money, Nintendo DS's etc. There is a sign in all the rooms asking you not to leave any valuables out of the safe. One of our party even put her straighteners in there!
The pools are large and cleaned most days. They are closed between 7pm and 10am. They are cold but warmed up nicely during the afternoon, although even my 2 year old niece was happy to go in there first thing in the morning. Do have dry towels ready as the almost constant cool breeze (to gusts) provides a welcome respite from the heat for the sunbathers, but is quite chilly when you first get out of the pool.
Stock up on sun cream, we used at least 8-10 bottles of 50+ between us all, as it is expensive at between 10-18 euros per bottle with the local town shops being the cheapest and the hotel shop being among the most expensive. This added quite a chunk onto our holiday cost but was essential so as not to burn. If you have young children then I would recommend the all-in-one sunsuits for the pool as they were definitely 'fun-savers' and meant that more time could be spent splashing around. The suits are not available locally as far as we could see so you will have to bring them with you.
The beds are hard. We made the mistake of putting two young children (6 & 9) into the single beds whilst we took the double sofabed. It was extremely uncomfortable and resulted in me seeing a Chiropractor on my return to the UK. With hindsight we should have taken the singles and the lighter children would have had no problems at all on the sofabed. The bedding was lovely and crisp and clean with the daily maid service to make them up neatly each day.
The food is lovely and plentiful. My partner is a Chef and our expectations are high. There is a hot plate at which meats and fish are cooked every lunch and dinner, omelette's and eggs are cooked fresh each morning. Breakfast consists of continental meats, cheeses and breads, fresh fruit, yogurts, dried fruits, bread and pastries including croissants, jams, toast, bacon, eggs (fried and omelettes), tomatoes, sausages, lovely fried choux pastry twists with lashings of chocolate sauce, fruit juices, coffee, tea, milk and cava. All these things were available every day.
Lunch consists of a salad bar with various made up salads, individual salad items, breads, paella, fresh fruit, meats, potatoes, chips, pasta dishes, freshly cooked meats and fish, joints of meat freshly carved, puddings, jelly, ice cream, wine, beer, fruit juices, water. All were lovely and nicely presented and checked regularly to ensure nothing went past it's best. Dinner was similar too.
There are also other restaurants with the Italian being a firm favourite with pasta dishes made to your order and pizza's freshly made too. We also went to the chinese restaurant for which you have to book (but still no charge if you are All Inclusive) however we were a bit disappointed with the selection of choices available and some of our party returned to the main restaurant during the meal to eat.
The service at meal times is busy. It is canteen style and there can be quite a bit of hustle and bustle but no shortages of food on any of the days we were there, even when we were within 15 mins of the restaurant closing when we entered. There are numerous staff who whisk away your used plates and drinks so make sure you have finished before leaving the table or you will lose whatever was left on your plate! The waiting staff were never obtrusive or impatient for us to finish and we always found tables to sit at whether we went in as a party of 8 or as a party of 2. The drinks are all self-serve and there is only one choice of red wine, rose wine or (medium) white wine or beer in the restaurants. I didn't see anyone whose behaviour was loutish at all despite the self-serve drinks, nor were we disturbed at night time through shouting or other unsavoury behaviour.
The entertainment is typical holiday style and as long as you do not base the success of your holiday purely on the entertainment alone then you will not be disappointed. We saw magicians, singers, groups, acrobats, contortionists, etc for the adults (9.30pm ish onwards) and an earlier 'show' for the children with party games and face painting from around 8pm to 9.00pm ish. The children loved it although the teenagers didn't have so much to do unless they tagged along to the adult show. The bar on the same level as reception has cocktails and cava as well as the usual range of drinks all free at most times. It was a little disappointing not to have a choice of wines as I prefer dry, but as we were only there for a week it wasn't a problem.
As you can tell I could probably go on for a while yet.....
All in all this was a very enjoyable holiday and we would certainly consider going back again either for a quiet holiday for two or with the family en-masse as we did this year!
-
- Date of Holiday:Jul 2008
- Board Basis:All Inclusive
- Tour Operator:Kwik Travel
" I have just returned from a week at... "
Submitted By: luthien
I have just returned from a week at the Papagayo Arena hotel with my boyfriend and I honestly cannot wait to return!!
There is very little to complain about!! The only thing that would have been better is that the wind could have been less forceful on occasion!
The more negative comments I have read about this hotel are about the beds. Yes, they are hard, but we didn't mind that at all! The sofa beds are softer if you are really uncomfortable.
The all inclusive was great, and while it was mildly irritating for a couple in our 20s that the free drinks finished at 11, the grill opens at 11, and has wine, beer and soft drinks, as well as snacks. So we got by! There was a great variety of food in the 3 all-inclusive restaurants. A lot of it was fish based, and as a non-seafood eater I thought this would be a problem, but there was plenty of variety for me. The chinese was very nice, but think you only have to book in advance as the seating area is small. The food isn't that amazing. The italian was much much nicer! Yet the main buffet restaurant has the most variety and was never disappointing.
The pools are a little chilly when you first get in them (although the way the kids were jumping in, you would hardly guess!) yet if you can stand it, you get used to it and they are rather pleasant!
We took a stroll to the Papagayo beaches (notoriously nudist beaches, just to warn you) but if you can cope with naked people, they are quite beautiful. We also took a walk to the Marina (also lovely), had drinks in Cafe Del Mar (poor service), walked round the market which was full of novelty items and some fantastic wine sold by a lovely old man and then walked to Playa Dorada, which has all the touristy shops in it. Takes about 40 minutes to get to Playa Dorada when walking on the coast road, and it is quite a nice way to go we think. Very peaceful.
If you want a relaxing holiday, with as much food and drink as you can enjoy, entertainment for adults and children alike, in a hotel that has the highest assortment of chairs that I have ever seen (why has no-one else mentioned this??!! Our favourites are on the terrace outside the Canary bar) then we fully recommend the Papagayo Arena! It is large, so you can escape, but if you need something, you can always find someone to help you.
There is very little to complain about!! The only thing that would have been better is that the wind could have been less forceful on occasion!
The more negative comments I have read about this hotel are about the beds. Yes, they are hard, but we didn't mind that at all! The sofa beds are softer if you are really uncomfortable.
The all inclusive was great, and while it was mildly irritating for a couple in our 20s that the free drinks finished at 11, the grill opens at 11, and has wine, beer and soft drinks, as well as snacks. So we got by! There was a great variety of food in the 3 all-inclusive restaurants. A lot of it was fish based, and as a non-seafood eater I thought this would be a problem, but there was plenty of variety for me. The chinese was very nice, but think you only have to book in advance as the seating area is small. The food isn't that amazing. The italian was much much nicer! Yet the main buffet restaurant has the most variety and was never disappointing.
The pools are a little chilly when you first get in them (although the way the kids were jumping in, you would hardly guess!) yet if you can stand it, you get used to it and they are rather pleasant!
We took a stroll to the Papagayo beaches (notoriously nudist beaches, just to warn you) but if you can cope with naked people, they are quite beautiful. We also took a walk to the Marina (also lovely), had drinks in Cafe Del Mar (poor service), walked round the market which was full of novelty items and some fantastic wine sold by a lovely old man and then walked to Playa Dorada, which has all the touristy shops in it. Takes about 40 minutes to get to Playa Dorada when walking on the coast road, and it is quite a nice way to go we think. Very peaceful.
If you want a relaxing holiday, with as much food and drink as you can enjoy, entertainment for adults and children alike, in a hotel that has the highest assortment of chairs that I have ever seen (why has no-one else mentioned this??!! Our favourites are on the terrace outside the Canary bar) then we fully recommend the Papagayo Arena! It is large, so you can escape, but if you need something, you can always find someone to help you.
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- Date of Holiday:Jun 2008
- Board Basis:All Inclusive
- Tour Operator:First Choice
" What a fantastic holiday. This was... "
Submitted By: Mrs M Ford
What a fantastic holiday. This was the first time our 5yr old son had been abroad, and he was certainly not disappointed! The transfer from the airport was very simple, and check-in at the hotel was very quick. We were in block G, and it was very easy to find. There are plenty of lifts to get you to where you need to go - so no need to worry about stairs. The room was clean and the bathroom was good too. Our view was over the pools out towards Playa Blanca and also Fuerteventura.
The whole hotel is immaculately clean, and the staff are friendly and helpful. The food is wonderful - even the most fussiest of eaters could find plenty to eat. The Chinese restaurant is good - just make sure you book the day before! The snack bar is good for pancakes in the afternoon, or a burger or hot dog for the kids - keeps you going until dinner as they don't start serving until 7.30pm. Our son loved the kids club - it runs twice a day and when we didn't go out on a trip our son went there twice a day! They also have a mini disco every night, which the kids love.
The trips organised by the Thomas Cook reps were great - I'd recommend the Island tour and the Catamaran trip. Whilst they may be a little expensive, they are definitely worth it!
The only downside was that the pools were a little cold in April, although when the days were reaching 25+ then the pools did start to warm up - some locals told us that these pools will warm up throughout the summer!!
The island is well known for being one of the more windy Canary Islands, and it does get a little windy, but this helps to keep you nice and cool. Just make sure you have something appropriate to wear if it does happen to be a windy day.
Overall, we had a great time and are going to book to go back again next year!
The whole hotel is immaculately clean, and the staff are friendly and helpful. The food is wonderful - even the most fussiest of eaters could find plenty to eat. The Chinese restaurant is good - just make sure you book the day before! The snack bar is good for pancakes in the afternoon, or a burger or hot dog for the kids - keeps you going until dinner as they don't start serving until 7.30pm. Our son loved the kids club - it runs twice a day and when we didn't go out on a trip our son went there twice a day! They also have a mini disco every night, which the kids love.
The trips organised by the Thomas Cook reps were great - I'd recommend the Island tour and the Catamaran trip. Whilst they may be a little expensive, they are definitely worth it!
The only downside was that the pools were a little cold in April, although when the days were reaching 25+ then the pools did start to warm up - some locals told us that these pools will warm up throughout the summer!!
The island is well known for being one of the more windy Canary Islands, and it does get a little windy, but this helps to keep you nice and cool. Just make sure you have something appropriate to wear if it does happen to be a windy day.
Overall, we had a great time and are going to book to go back again next year!
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- Date of Holiday:Apr 2008
- Board Basis:All Inclusive
- Tour Operator:Thomas Cook
" Travelled to Papagayo Arena for a two... "
Submitted By: Mrs LM Cook
Travelled to Papagayo Arena for a two week stay over Easter, 4 adults and 2 children aged 2 and 5.
Following a fantastic All Inclusive holiday in Barbados we were keen to try All Inclusive again, as it suited the children to have a wide selection of food. We were a little nervous about what it would be like, it was different, but it did not disappoint. The food was very good, and catered for all tastes. The staff were extremely helpful and did everything to make our stay pleasurable. Our daughter celebrated her 2nd birthday whilst there and they made her a large cake, for no extra cost.
The rooms were a good size and clean. We had booked to rooms of 3 but there was enough room for both children to stay with us. We had not paid for a view so looked out onto the cliff walk to Papagayo Beach, very unattractive but we were not there for the room view.
The 'beach' in front of the hotel is great for looking for crabs but nothing else, but take a walk to the left and you can see the splendid Papagayo Beaches. Be warned we took a normal buggy which was manageable but tough going, use a carrier or a three wheel buggy if you can. The hotel offers a picnic lunch if you are going out for the day which included a variety of things to suit adults and children.
There is a bus that takes people to Playa Blanca beach, it is good but gets very busy, and so make sure you get there early.
The pools were nice, but the big ones were cold. There are good sized children’s pools and this kept them entertained for most of the day.
Playa Blanca is a good walk, but good for burning off all of the calories following breakfast, lunch, pancakes, and then dinner!! About half an hour away is a lovely Marina, a good place to stop for a coffee or beer and just watch the world go by.
I would definitely recommend for Adults with Children (and grandparents).
Following a fantastic All Inclusive holiday in Barbados we were keen to try All Inclusive again, as it suited the children to have a wide selection of food. We were a little nervous about what it would be like, it was different, but it did not disappoint. The food was very good, and catered for all tastes. The staff were extremely helpful and did everything to make our stay pleasurable. Our daughter celebrated her 2nd birthday whilst there and they made her a large cake, for no extra cost.
The rooms were a good size and clean. We had booked to rooms of 3 but there was enough room for both children to stay with us. We had not paid for a view so looked out onto the cliff walk to Papagayo Beach, very unattractive but we were not there for the room view.
The 'beach' in front of the hotel is great for looking for crabs but nothing else, but take a walk to the left and you can see the splendid Papagayo Beaches. Be warned we took a normal buggy which was manageable but tough going, use a carrier or a three wheel buggy if you can. The hotel offers a picnic lunch if you are going out for the day which included a variety of things to suit adults and children.
There is a bus that takes people to Playa Blanca beach, it is good but gets very busy, and so make sure you get there early.
The pools were nice, but the big ones were cold. There are good sized children’s pools and this kept them entertained for most of the day.
Playa Blanca is a good walk, but good for burning off all of the calories following breakfast, lunch, pancakes, and then dinner!! About half an hour away is a lovely Marina, a good place to stop for a coffee or beer and just watch the world go by.
I would definitely recommend for Adults with Children (and grandparents).
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- Date of Holiday:Mar 2007
- Board Basis:All Inclusive
- Tour Operator:Hays Travel
" Stunning hotel. Found it took awhile... "
Submitted By: Mrs J Farrent
Stunning hotel. Found it took awhile to get our bearings as complex quite large with lots of various levels. Glass lifts everywhere so no need to climb any stairs!
Room was quite impressive with king size bed which was a bit on the hard side. We found the view from our balcony was great as we had mountains on one side and the sea on the other.
It was very quiet and peaceful. The only part I found a little disappointing was the pools were rather cold. The restaurants were wonderful.
You just could not fault the choice and quantity of each and every meal. The staff were really helpful. We had an excellent week. Would certainly recommend the Papagayo Arena!
Room was quite impressive with king size bed which was a bit on the hard side. We found the view from our balcony was great as we had mountains on one side and the sea on the other.
It was very quiet and peaceful. The only part I found a little disappointing was the pools were rather cold. The restaurants were wonderful.
You just could not fault the choice and quantity of each and every meal. The staff were really helpful. We had an excellent week. Would certainly recommend the Papagayo Arena!
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- Date of Holiday:Nov 2007
- Board Basis:All Inclusive
- Tour Operator:MyTravel
" Good points: The food is fantastic,... "
Submitted By: gone2golf
Good points: The food is fantastic, plentiful and varied breakfast was full English with fried eggs and omelettes cooked fresh in front of you. Yoghurts, chesses, fruit and cakes are also available. 10/10
Lunch and dinner was the best I have had in an all inclusive, tasty, warm and varied. There was a carvery including roast turkey, chicken, duck and beef. A grill including beef steaks, pork or lamb chops and grilled fish. There was also the usual hot plate meals and fresh paella each day. 10/10
There is an outside small restaurant which serves burgers and chips etc, this was ok. It also serves fresh pancakes from 16:00 which were excellent. This restaurant also has beer and cokes which are self serve. 6/10
Beer and spirits are fine. There not a great choice but enough to satisfy. There is also some queuing in the evening. There are slush puppies available during the day which the kids will love. 7/10
Ok points: The pools are safe and clean. The water is from the sea and seems to take longer to warm up than the chloride type also as the water tastes salty this might not suit everybody but this did not bother my kids. There are 3 big pools and 2 splash pools. The pool areas have plenty of sun beds available. The only negative is the pools are quite shallow so there are no parts for diving. 7/10
The airport is clean and only 40 minutes away. 7/10
The hotel is modern, clean and well maintained. The bars are ok but need more seating areas. The hotel is also no smoking but is done with common sense (which is lacking in England). There is also a large Spanish guest list which I liked, not many 'all I bring is my football shirt on holiday' types. The hotel is big and takes a couple of days to figure out. 6/10
The beach outside the hotel is rocky and visually unappealing. There is however a very nice sandy beach 10 minutes away. 6/10
The on-site teams were active and visible during the day. 6/10
Evening entertainment is ok. There was a magic act which was very good; there were also tribute bands and a parrot show which were ok. In-between there is not much else. 5/10
Bad points: The rooms are small but clean. I liked the bathroom which actually had a shower which worked well. But there are no separate sleeping areas for the kids so you end up all in the same room. 4/10
The hotel is isolated. There is a marina about a 20 minute walk away which is clean and safe it has a supermarket complex and a couple of bars. There is also a market which the girls will like. 3/10
We all had a great time at the Papagayo Arena Resort and are glad we booked. I would recommend to anyone where food and pools is a priority and location and size of room is not.
Lunch and dinner was the best I have had in an all inclusive, tasty, warm and varied. There was a carvery including roast turkey, chicken, duck and beef. A grill including beef steaks, pork or lamb chops and grilled fish. There was also the usual hot plate meals and fresh paella each day. 10/10
There is an outside small restaurant which serves burgers and chips etc, this was ok. It also serves fresh pancakes from 16:00 which were excellent. This restaurant also has beer and cokes which are self serve. 6/10
Beer and spirits are fine. There not a great choice but enough to satisfy. There is also some queuing in the evening. There are slush puppies available during the day which the kids will love. 7/10
Ok points: The pools are safe and clean. The water is from the sea and seems to take longer to warm up than the chloride type also as the water tastes salty this might not suit everybody but this did not bother my kids. There are 3 big pools and 2 splash pools. The pool areas have plenty of sun beds available. The only negative is the pools are quite shallow so there are no parts for diving. 7/10
The airport is clean and only 40 minutes away. 7/10
The hotel is modern, clean and well maintained. The bars are ok but need more seating areas. The hotel is also no smoking but is done with common sense (which is lacking in England). There is also a large Spanish guest list which I liked, not many 'all I bring is my football shirt on holiday' types. The hotel is big and takes a couple of days to figure out. 6/10
The beach outside the hotel is rocky and visually unappealing. There is however a very nice sandy beach 10 minutes away. 6/10
The on-site teams were active and visible during the day. 6/10
Evening entertainment is ok. There was a magic act which was very good; there were also tribute bands and a parrot show which were ok. In-between there is not much else. 5/10
Bad points: The rooms are small but clean. I liked the bathroom which actually had a shower which worked well. But there are no separate sleeping areas for the kids so you end up all in the same room. 4/10
The hotel is isolated. There is a marina about a 20 minute walk away which is clean and safe it has a supermarket complex and a couple of bars. There is also a market which the girls will like. 3/10
We all had a great time at the Papagayo Arena Resort and are glad we booked. I would recommend to anyone where food and pools is a priority and location and size of room is not.
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- Date of Holiday:Aug 2007
- Board Basis:All Inclusive
- Tour Operator:Direct Holidays
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Advice: Good market on a wednesday, the beach is nice, 2 beds and a parasol is approx 10 euro's !!!
Activities: submarine trip is supposed to be great for kids!!
Good for: Beach