Fiesta Castell Playa Hotel, Arenal DEn Castell, Spain
Hotel Information
Hotel Class:
Hotel Description:
The quality Fiesta Castell Playa is set high on a hill above the bay of Arenal d’en Castell and from the lounge there are impressive views of the bay. The hotel has been recently refurbished to very high standards. loading...
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Fiesta Castell Playa Hotel Reviews
" we have just returned from a weeks... "
Submitted By: Mr C Tulip
we have just returned from a weeks stay here and it was really nice staff were really friendly and helpful. The hotel is nice and is really clean pool was a good size and clean but was freezing.The food was really nice (pudding were lush) lots to choose from.The area is quite but has buses to travel around.the entertainment was good joe and jane were really good and kept everyone entertained all day and the acts on a night were good as well
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- Date of Holiday:Aug 2008
- Board Basis:Half Board
- Tour Operator:Thomson
" Just returned from 1 week at the... "
Submitted By: Mrs N Robertson
Just returned from 1 week at the Fiesta Hotel Castell Playa. First time at a Thomson Gold hotel and we loved it. We're a couple in our early 30s and were looking for a relaxing break and that's what we got. Resort itself is pretty but not much there, a couple of bars, restaurants, souvenir shops and a nice beach. Had terrible overpriced drinks at one of the bars on the 1st day, so opted to take the all-inclusive drinks package at the hotel. 14.95 euros p/person p/day gets you water, tea, local & national drinks between 1030-0000 but we opted for the deluxe package, 24.95 euros p/person p/day. This gave us water, soft drinks, a great choice of branded drinks, snacks at the pool and bar-b-q restaurant between 1-3 (food was great), crisps/peanuts, cakes from 5-6, bottles of wine with our dinner, room safe free-of-charge (normally 4 euros per day), bottled water in our room daily (there is a fridge and tea/coffee making) and we also got to choose from the pillow menu (very comfortable memory foam pillows, normally 6 euros p/pillow p/day - had to pay 25 euros p/pillow deposit but got this back on the last day along with the 10 euros deposit for the remote control and the 10 euros deposit for the Thomson beach towels, which you can change every couple of days). Satellite TV included news channels, BBC1 etc. Hotel itself is a little dated, but staff, food and cleanliness could not be faulted. Waiter service circulated the pool area throughout the day and night - special mention to Jesus and Paco who were terrific! Food was excellent and varied - something different to choose from every night. Be sure to try the carvery and show cooking. Thomson staff all worked incredibly hard - activities ran hourly from 11am and always started with some form of exercise - aquabox, aerobics, Tai Chi. This was the only activity we participated in, but the other activities were very popular too. Evening entertainment was pretty good, with the exception of the resident band who came on before and after the cabaret act. Their singing left a lot to be desired. During our stay we had an Elvis tribute act, ABBA Gold, Il Divo voices and 2 comedians/singers. The reps show was a bit hit-and-miss, but Jo Slow did well on her night. A local bus service runs from outside the hotel to neighbouring resorts and to Mahon, which was only 2.05 euros p/person each way and takes around 25 mins. Lots of little cobbled streets there with nice cafes and small shops. Overall, a great holday - would recommend it to anybody looking for a quiet week, who doesn't mind hills/steps if they want to go for a walk as the hotel is at the top of a hill.
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- Date of Holiday:Aug 2008
- Board Basis:Half Board
- Tour Operator:Thomson
" We returned from our holiday having... "
Submitted By: Mrs S R Lloyd
We returned from our holiday having had a wonderful, relaxing time. We are a couple in our late 30s and found the hotel to be an ideal base from which to hire a car and enjoy this picturesque island. The rooms were fairly basic but extremely clean, with satellite TV. The food was quite amazing, considering the classification of the hotel; themed nights with chefs making a real effort. As with these types of hotels, they are not conducive to a romantic, "take your time" type of evening meal, but as far as quality of food and excellent value, you cannot beat it. The staff were very friendly, especially Jesus. The entertainment was good - if you like that sort of thing; it started at 11 every morning and went on almost all day. We didn't take part but many did and seemed to enjoy it. The evening entertainment seemed a bit tacky on some evenings but the comedian and Il Divo tribute group were pretty good. The Thomson Entertainment Reps worked extremely hard to try to please. The pool area was nice but it was rather crowded. The resort is reasonably quiet but we enjoyed the Irish Bar only a two minute walk away from the hotel - this was lively and seemed to try hard in relation to entertainment and ambience. The bar within the hotel was rather like Blackpool illuminations; it was so brightly lit, it almost gave me a headache; this spoiled what could have been a pleasant bar area. All in all, we would go back and would recommend this hotel; it offers relaxation, value for money and entertainment, if desired. It is an excellent location from which to explore and enjoy this beautiful Balearic island.
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- Date of Holiday:Aug 2008
- Board Basis:Half Board
- Tour Operator:Thomson
" Overall a good holiday. Hotel is very... "
Submitted By: Mr S DENTY
Overall a good holiday. Hotel is very clean and the staff are very friendly. Food was very good. If you like puddings you will love it. Pool very clean and and entertainment was good.
The local duo band had a guy who sang worse than me, which says something.
The price for a pint of either beer or lemon was 3.5 euros (1.2 euros to pound). I would advise you to get a wristband as soon as you arrive at 14 euros per person per day. They take it off you when you checkout at 12 o'clock. You pay for this on a weekly basis.
To book an extension to your room was 43 euros which we could not get, so was given a courtsey room to get changed in (15mins per COUPLE).
To get to the beach you need to be fit as you have to go down a steep hill. However, the beach is great. Not much going on in the resort .
Would deifintly go back again for a quiet holiday (10 days max).
The local duo band had a guy who sang worse than me, which says something.
The price for a pint of either beer or lemon was 3.5 euros (1.2 euros to pound). I would advise you to get a wristband as soon as you arrive at 14 euros per person per day. They take it off you when you checkout at 12 o'clock. You pay for this on a weekly basis.
To book an extension to your room was 43 euros which we could not get, so was given a courtsey room to get changed in (15mins per COUPLE).
To get to the beach you need to be fit as you have to go down a steep hill. However, the beach is great. Not much going on in the resort .
Would deifintly go back again for a quiet holiday (10 days max).
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- Date of Holiday:Aug 2008
- Board Basis:Half Board
- Tour Operator:Thomson
" all though a very nice hotel and... "
Submitted By: Mrs Mary Butterfield
all though a very nice hotel and pleasant staff thompsons staff worked very hard particully Jane with the entertainment staff it was not for us.As we are in our 70tys and allways use gold hotels this is the worst one we have used because of the location if you like to walk on an evening forget it there is simply nowhere to go there are no shops what soever and you need oxegen masks to climb up the hill we were also ripped off with the coach transfer so watch out it should,nt cost you more than £20 we enquired
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- Date of Holiday:Jul 2008
- Board Basis:Half Board
- Tour Operator:Thomson
" Visited castell playa for 14 nights... "
Submitted By: Dr S PARKER
Visited castell playa for 14 nights again after four years,I found the staff very good,the food,cleanliness etc.first class.Evening entertainment mostly very good with 3 poor shows over the fortnight.The resident group 20/20,were good as were the thomson entertainers/reps.Spenser,Jo and jane were good.On the downside the sound engineer Libby seemed to think most people were deaf,and tended to spoil a lot of the entertainment with the volume.The cost of safe hire was extorsion,as was the cost of drinks,snacks trips etc.purchased at the hotel,all at least 50% more expensive than outside.And the final insult,HAPPY HOUR 11.30pm-12.30am.I have recently visited the Tenerife Princess (thomson platinum) and the Sabinal at roquetas,both 4*and the Castell Playa is better than either.I was on the top floor room 608
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- Date of Holiday:Jul 2008
- Board Basis:Half Board
- Tour Operator:dave simpson travel bradford uk
" We have just returned from a two week... "
Submitted By: Mr A Rixon
We have just returned from a two week half board holiday at the Fiesta Hotel Castell Playa in Arenal Den Castell in Menorca and we were both thoroughly impressed. I am 33 and my girlfriend is 23 and we wanted a peaceful relaxing holiday and that is exactly what you will get at this hotel.
There are no kids which is a huge bonus and although we were told that this hotel tends to attract older guests we found it not to be the case. There are no lager louts and swimming pool terrorists and we made some great friends ranging from 25 to 55.
The hotel was immaculate and the food is absolutely superb. The chefs work very hard at presentation and quality and they have certainly got it right. There is a huge choice for both breakfast and evening meal so there is always something to suit everyone (there are always salads and chips etc every night if you don't fancy the main dishes). The waiting staff are above first class and are very efficient and friendly.
The bedrooms are kept immaculate, however I would recommend booking the sea view as opposed to the pool view as the entertainment stage is next to the pool and you would be able to hear the bands etc which could be a pain if you fancy an early night. However a lot of couples watched the entertainment from their balconies!
The pool is immaculate and cleaned daily and is a good size which makes the issue of sunbeds not a problem. You still get the towel squirrels reserving sunbeds in the morning but there are always enough for everyone and some of them are nicely under the trees if you fancy a bit of shade.
There are fun and games every hour if you want to join in (Bowls, Darts, Pool etc) but if you don't then no-one pesters you like other hotels. The entertainment is first class ... they put on about 4 tribute bands per week and 2 comedians and also on a Saturday night the reps do their own show which is very funny! The main host Andy Rhodes is an absolute legend is is a natural entertainer, his water aerobics wearing a pink bikini are hilarious, if we come back next year we hope he is still there!!
The drinks are reasonable (3 euros for a pint of soft drink) (3 euros for a vodka and orange juice) however you can buy a wrist band for all inclusive drinks for about 360 euros for a couple, for a fortnight which if you enjoy a few drinks in the evening and around the pool works out a lot cheaper than buying them individually.
The beach is beautiful and is only about 400 yds (downhill) from the hotel and is kept very clean and the sea is crystal clear (Pedlos, Canoes, Hovercrafts etc are available for hire). The uphill walk is not too bad but certainly works off your dinner!
Only drawback to the beach is the price of hiring a sunbed and parasol (15 euros per day) so if you intend to use the beach a lot then buy a parasol and a lilo from the supermarket for about 12 euros which will last you the whole holiday.
There a a handful of very nice cafes and restaurants around the hotel and a great Irish bar with live music every night, there is also an Auzzie bar with Sky Sports etc if you like your football.
I hope I have covered everything, I am a picky person and like everything perfect and have read the odd moan and groan about this hotel but I can assure you if you book this hotel you will not be disappointed and the bad reviews are a load of rubbish! See you there next year!
There are no kids which is a huge bonus and although we were told that this hotel tends to attract older guests we found it not to be the case. There are no lager louts and swimming pool terrorists and we made some great friends ranging from 25 to 55.
The hotel was immaculate and the food is absolutely superb. The chefs work very hard at presentation and quality and they have certainly got it right. There is a huge choice for both breakfast and evening meal so there is always something to suit everyone (there are always salads and chips etc every night if you don't fancy the main dishes). The waiting staff are above first class and are very efficient and friendly.
The bedrooms are kept immaculate, however I would recommend booking the sea view as opposed to the pool view as the entertainment stage is next to the pool and you would be able to hear the bands etc which could be a pain if you fancy an early night. However a lot of couples watched the entertainment from their balconies!
The pool is immaculate and cleaned daily and is a good size which makes the issue of sunbeds not a problem. You still get the towel squirrels reserving sunbeds in the morning but there are always enough for everyone and some of them are nicely under the trees if you fancy a bit of shade.
There are fun and games every hour if you want to join in (Bowls, Darts, Pool etc) but if you don't then no-one pesters you like other hotels. The entertainment is first class ... they put on about 4 tribute bands per week and 2 comedians and also on a Saturday night the reps do their own show which is very funny! The main host Andy Rhodes is an absolute legend is is a natural entertainer, his water aerobics wearing a pink bikini are hilarious, if we come back next year we hope he is still there!!
The drinks are reasonable (3 euros for a pint of soft drink) (3 euros for a vodka and orange juice) however you can buy a wrist band for all inclusive drinks for about 360 euros for a couple, for a fortnight which if you enjoy a few drinks in the evening and around the pool works out a lot cheaper than buying them individually.
The beach is beautiful and is only about 400 yds (downhill) from the hotel and is kept very clean and the sea is crystal clear (Pedlos, Canoes, Hovercrafts etc are available for hire). The uphill walk is not too bad but certainly works off your dinner!
Only drawback to the beach is the price of hiring a sunbed and parasol (15 euros per day) so if you intend to use the beach a lot then buy a parasol and a lilo from the supermarket for about 12 euros which will last you the whole holiday.
There a a handful of very nice cafes and restaurants around the hotel and a great Irish bar with live music every night, there is also an Auzzie bar with Sky Sports etc if you like your football.
I hope I have covered everything, I am a picky person and like everything perfect and have read the odd moan and groan about this hotel but I can assure you if you book this hotel you will not be disappointed and the bad reviews are a load of rubbish! See you there next year!
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- Date of Holiday:Jul 2007
- Board Basis:Half Board
- Tour Operator:Thomson
" Usually love Gold hotels but this was... "
Submitted By: Mrs R Plant
Usually love Gold hotels but this was short of the mark really. Lovely sea views, good food, pleasant staff, cleanliness were all plus points. Minus points - rooms pretty shabby, stained carpet and scratched furniture. Maid did her best and cleaned it thoroughly but it looked "tired".
Expensive trips pushed by the Thomson reps but good local bus service to do it yourself. Plenty of places to hire cars too.
No smoking in public areas - bars, reception, dining room etc which was pleasant. Smokers had to do so outside. Lots of people seemed to be wearing wristbands to get the cheap drinks option but no way would I ever wear one of those. We don't spend every waking moment in the hotel either!!
Evening entertainment was poor, so we went out most evenings. Didn't like seeing the waiting staff scraping all the leftovers off plates while you are still eating. That really does need addressing.
Expensive trips pushed by the Thomson reps but good local bus service to do it yourself. Plenty of places to hire cars too.
No smoking in public areas - bars, reception, dining room etc which was pleasant. Smokers had to do so outside. Lots of people seemed to be wearing wristbands to get the cheap drinks option but no way would I ever wear one of those. We don't spend every waking moment in the hotel either!!
Evening entertainment was poor, so we went out most evenings. Didn't like seeing the waiting staff scraping all the leftovers off plates while you are still eating. That really does need addressing.
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- Date of Holiday:Jul 2007
- Board Basis:Half Board
- Tour Operator:Thomson
" We have just returned from a two week... "
Submitted By: Mrs J McEvoy
We have just returned from a two week stay at the Castell Playa and had a thoroughly enjoyable and relaxing holiday.
The lack of kids was a bonus for us, but there were still some silly games to join in with if you were young at heart.
The rooms did leave something to be desired, but were comfortable and adequate for purpose.
But the thing that was most annoying were the lifts, there were only three for the whole hotel and each was very small (supposedly fitting 6 people!! at a very tight squeeze) and for about three days one was out of order, often leading to there being queues for the lifts especially at meal times and at the end of the night when lots of people were leaving places together.
The food was good with lots of choice each night, and the waiters were excellent providing drinks service in the restaurant, entertainment room at night and round the pool during the day.
The entertainment was excellent mostly; there was only one dodgy night during the whole two weeks we were there.
The beach was nice and the walk not too taxing, but we hired a car and got out and saw other parts of the island which was good too.
On the whole this holiday had everything we needed and we went not really knowing what to expect from Thomson Gold and were very pleasantly surprised.
We would definitely go again.
The lack of kids was a bonus for us, but there were still some silly games to join in with if you were young at heart.
The rooms did leave something to be desired, but were comfortable and adequate for purpose.
But the thing that was most annoying were the lifts, there were only three for the whole hotel and each was very small (supposedly fitting 6 people!! at a very tight squeeze) and for about three days one was out of order, often leading to there being queues for the lifts especially at meal times and at the end of the night when lots of people were leaving places together.
The food was good with lots of choice each night, and the waiters were excellent providing drinks service in the restaurant, entertainment room at night and round the pool during the day.
The entertainment was excellent mostly; there was only one dodgy night during the whole two weeks we were there.
The beach was nice and the walk not too taxing, but we hired a car and got out and saw other parts of the island which was good too.
On the whole this holiday had everything we needed and we went not really knowing what to expect from Thomson Gold and were very pleasantly surprised.
We would definitely go again.
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- Date of Holiday:May 2007
- Board Basis:Half Board
- Tour Operator:Thomson
" There is a no smoking in this hotel -... "
Submitted By: Mr M Hogg
There is a no smoking in this hotel - great. Hotel bedrooms were acceptable but rather dated - needs a major refurbishment to bring up to 2007 standards (our carpet needed a good vacuum and clean).
Food choice was good but the buffet was at times was like a 'bull rush'. In the restaurant we found Angus for Poland to be a gem (we liked her wave?).
If you like Butlins Holiday camps you will love the pool area and the nightly entertainment, however we did think the 'four tops' from South Africa were excellent.
There is a hill down to the beach but we are both 67 and found it to be no problem walking back. Try Katie’s bar (see saying of the day) also see her sailors both back and front.
Car hire is recommended as there is lots to see on the island with little traffic - easy driving.
Would we recommend this hotel and resort? Answer Yes.
Food choice was good but the buffet was at times was like a 'bull rush'. In the restaurant we found Angus for Poland to be a gem (we liked her wave?).
If you like Butlins Holiday camps you will love the pool area and the nightly entertainment, however we did think the 'four tops' from South Africa were excellent.
There is a hill down to the beach but we are both 67 and found it to be no problem walking back. Try Katie’s bar (see saying of the day) also see her sailors both back and front.
Car hire is recommended as there is lots to see on the island with little traffic - easy driving.
Would we recommend this hotel and resort? Answer Yes.
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- Date of Holiday:May 2007
- Board Basis:Half Board
- Tour Operator:Thomson
" Wonderful hotel great staff in every... "
Submitted By: Mr B Harrison
Wonderful hotel great staff in every department. But not a lot to do in Arenal, unless you just want to sit around the pool or go to the beach. The buses are few and far between to Mahon, but once there you can get to most places. Don't listen to the Thomson rep as we did who told us it's not practical to get to certain places from Arenal.
It is easy once you get to Mahon. This hotel is perfect if you like hi de hi.(those reps again ), and I would like to know who told them they had talent enough to go on the stage ( well one of them did have a decent voice), but spoiled it by producing a child’s toy chicken for pass the parcel type game. I was told this hotel (a Thomson gold) did not have any kids well this proved everybody wrong.
If this is a Thomson exercise in cost cutting it did not work for us and would think twice before booking again with Thomson gold. My rating would have been higher but for reps so called entertainment which was poor by any standard.
It is easy once you get to Mahon. This hotel is perfect if you like hi de hi.(those reps again ), and I would like to know who told them they had talent enough to go on the stage ( well one of them did have a decent voice), but spoiled it by producing a child’s toy chicken for pass the parcel type game. I was told this hotel (a Thomson gold) did not have any kids well this proved everybody wrong.
If this is a Thomson exercise in cost cutting it did not work for us and would think twice before booking again with Thomson gold. My rating would have been higher but for reps so called entertainment which was poor by any standard.
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- Date of Holiday:Sep 2006
- Board Basis:Half Board
- Tour Operator:Thomson
" Having visited this hotel 3 years ago... "
Submitted By: Mr T J Foster
Having visited this hotel 3 years ago when it first became a Thomson Gold, and been very impressed, we decided to pay it a second visit. Unfortunately standards seemed to have declined since then. 1st problem we encountered was lots of ants in the bedroom wardrobe on the first night. As we were on the 5th floor this was rather surprising. We also had problems with the plumbing. Both these matters were dealt with the following day. The maid paid scant regard to cleaning, for instance the room was not hovered in the two weeks we were there, nor was the bathroom cleaned properly.
Our main complaint concerns the large number of flies that were present in the restaurant at all times. These invaded the cold buffet. Cheeses and cold meats in particular had flies crawling all over them to which the staff paid no regard what so ever. There was not an instructor anywhere to be seen. This was very off putting if you wanted cheese or cold meat and quite a number of guests commented on this. The food was not as good as on our previous visit and there was an over abundance of pork. Some of the dishes were very cool. The drinks machines are disaster, always going wrong and adding a splash of coffee to hot water meant for tea. The restaurant becomes chaotically crowded with long queues forming. It also becomes very hot.
There was also a strong "sewerage" type smell for the last few days which was very unpleasant.
On a plus side we found all the staff pleasant and hard working (excluding the room maid). Thomson staff try hard with their entertainment programmes but again the standard of these has dropped since our first visit.
Having been keen to return we were very disappointed at what we found on our second visit. The hotel generally needs some attention to bring it up to the standard of other Gold hotels we have visited.
Our main complaint concerns the large number of flies that were present in the restaurant at all times. These invaded the cold buffet. Cheeses and cold meats in particular had flies crawling all over them to which the staff paid no regard what so ever. There was not an instructor anywhere to be seen. This was very off putting if you wanted cheese or cold meat and quite a number of guests commented on this. The food was not as good as on our previous visit and there was an over abundance of pork. Some of the dishes were very cool. The drinks machines are disaster, always going wrong and adding a splash of coffee to hot water meant for tea. The restaurant becomes chaotically crowded with long queues forming. It also becomes very hot.
There was also a strong "sewerage" type smell for the last few days which was very unpleasant.
On a plus side we found all the staff pleasant and hard working (excluding the room maid). Thomson staff try hard with their entertainment programmes but again the standard of these has dropped since our first visit.
Having been keen to return we were very disappointed at what we found on our second visit. The hotel generally needs some attention to bring it up to the standard of other Gold hotels we have visited.
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- Date of Holiday:Sep 2006
- Board Basis:Half Board
- Tour Operator:Thomson
" Well what can I say? Fantastic! My... "
Submitted By: Mr C R Hogg
Well what can I say? Fantastic! My wife and I (late 30s) have just returned after a week’s holiday at the Fiesta Castell Playa. This was the first time on a package type holiday. In the past we’ve booked flights and hotels separately.
Hotel Room – Our room was on the third floor and we paid extra for a sea view. All rooms have a balcony. Rooms with a sea view benefit from having a nice breeze and the sun (in August) shines onto the balconies from sunrise to about 9.30am – good for getting that early morning base tan. Our room was cleaned by Cecilia, a very pleasant lady who was thorough with her cleaning.
The rest of the hotel was also well maintained and the public areas were kept very clean – despite hotel guests walking in from the beach with shoes caked in sand.
Pool – The pool area is a good size with a large number of sun beds for use during the day. One thing I must point out though is that the British seem to have become more like the Germans. There was a nasty habit amongst some hotel guests of putting towels on sun beds at 7am as a means of ‘reserving’ them. Information in the hotel rooms states that this is simply not cricket, but it would seem that selective sight comes into play in this instance. However I found one solution which worked for me – you simply remove the towels. If more people do this we can perhaps reintroduce some British etiquette to the sun bed area.
Food – Originally we only wanted B&B as we enjoy eating out. Half board was the only option we could find when booking (we booked online at www.thomson.co.uk - it was about £300 cheaper than the same holiday through a travel agent) As it happened we ate at the hotel on two evenings. The selection of food (bearing in mind the budget is usually set by the tour operator) was excellent. The only way you wouldn’t find anything to your liking would be if you’re a fussy eater.
Entertainment – not usually our cup of tea but we saw most of the night shows in part. What we saw was good and pitched at the right level for the audience. The entertainment staff worked hard and on some occasions it must have been hard work as the hotel guests were a bit miserable to say the least.
Arenal D’en Castell – The beach is clean with golden sand. Although it gets busy there is enough space for all. The walk from the Hotel to the beach keeps you fit – especially the return journey!
There are very few places to eat in Arenal D’en Castell unless you like English Breakfasts and everything with Chips. For excellent seafood it’s worth venturing to Fornells (Quayside restaurants). The bars in A D’en C are typical of what you would find in a resort in Ibiza or Majorca – there’s an Irish Pub (Yippee-do) and an Australian bar that’s about as Australian as the Dalai Lama. If you want to watch all the premiership footy (and annoy the Mrs) these are the places to go.
Things to do around the island – It’s worth hiring a car for 3 days or so and going to Fornells (evening is best), Ciutadella – lovely narrow streets. Son Parc is a 40-minute cliff top walk (or 10 minute drive) from the Hotel (ask reception for walking directions) and has a lovely beach with crystal clear water, which is shallow for around 100metres from the shore. Son Parc is an upmarket ‘holiday village’ built around a Golf course so you tend to find a lot of families there.
Mahon is good for shopping but shouldn’t take up more than half a day. There are lots of beautiful beaches (Cala Macarella, Macarelleta (nudist), Cala Mitjana to name but a few) There is usually parking not far from these beaches and a short walk to get to them – well worth it, but make sure you are there by 10am as once the car park is full the road is closed by officials. I could go on an on, but I won’t – it’s worth getting a guidebook and planning what you want to do.
Hotel Room – Our room was on the third floor and we paid extra for a sea view. All rooms have a balcony. Rooms with a sea view benefit from having a nice breeze and the sun (in August) shines onto the balconies from sunrise to about 9.30am – good for getting that early morning base tan. Our room was cleaned by Cecilia, a very pleasant lady who was thorough with her cleaning.
The rest of the hotel was also well maintained and the public areas were kept very clean – despite hotel guests walking in from the beach with shoes caked in sand.
Pool – The pool area is a good size with a large number of sun beds for use during the day. One thing I must point out though is that the British seem to have become more like the Germans. There was a nasty habit amongst some hotel guests of putting towels on sun beds at 7am as a means of ‘reserving’ them. Information in the hotel rooms states that this is simply not cricket, but it would seem that selective sight comes into play in this instance. However I found one solution which worked for me – you simply remove the towels. If more people do this we can perhaps reintroduce some British etiquette to the sun bed area.
Food – Originally we only wanted B&B as we enjoy eating out. Half board was the only option we could find when booking (we booked online at www.thomson.co.uk - it was about £300 cheaper than the same holiday through a travel agent) As it happened we ate at the hotel on two evenings. The selection of food (bearing in mind the budget is usually set by the tour operator) was excellent. The only way you wouldn’t find anything to your liking would be if you’re a fussy eater.
Entertainment – not usually our cup of tea but we saw most of the night shows in part. What we saw was good and pitched at the right level for the audience. The entertainment staff worked hard and on some occasions it must have been hard work as the hotel guests were a bit miserable to say the least.
Arenal D’en Castell – The beach is clean with golden sand. Although it gets busy there is enough space for all. The walk from the Hotel to the beach keeps you fit – especially the return journey!
There are very few places to eat in Arenal D’en Castell unless you like English Breakfasts and everything with Chips. For excellent seafood it’s worth venturing to Fornells (Quayside restaurants). The bars in A D’en C are typical of what you would find in a resort in Ibiza or Majorca – there’s an Irish Pub (Yippee-do) and an Australian bar that’s about as Australian as the Dalai Lama. If you want to watch all the premiership footy (and annoy the Mrs) these are the places to go.
Things to do around the island – It’s worth hiring a car for 3 days or so and going to Fornells (evening is best), Ciutadella – lovely narrow streets. Son Parc is a 40-minute cliff top walk (or 10 minute drive) from the Hotel (ask reception for walking directions) and has a lovely beach with crystal clear water, which is shallow for around 100metres from the shore. Son Parc is an upmarket ‘holiday village’ built around a Golf course so you tend to find a lot of families there.
Mahon is good for shopping but shouldn’t take up more than half a day. There are lots of beautiful beaches (Cala Macarella, Macarelleta (nudist), Cala Mitjana to name but a few) There is usually parking not far from these beaches and a short walk to get to them – well worth it, but make sure you are there by 10am as once the car park is full the road is closed by officials. I could go on an on, but I won’t – it’s worth getting a guidebook and planning what you want to do.
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- Date of Holiday:Aug 2006
- Board Basis:Half Board
- Tour Operator:Thomson
" Just returned from a fantastic... "
Submitted By: Mrs S Mackie
Just returned from a fantastic holiday in Fiesta Casta Playa Hotel, Menorca. The hotel is furnished to a very high standard with cleanliness I have never seen in a holiday hotel! All the hotel staff were extremely helpful, all Spanish but eager to try out their English. Great position in the resort with stunning views.
The Thomson Gold entertainment staff are great. Dave is the most energetic and entertaining rep I have met. He is definitely in the right job!
There is an extensive range of day-time and night-time activities if you want to participate. I would recommend the aqua fit every morning, not for the exercise but for the entertainment factor!
Some night-time entertainment can be positioned for an older crowd. We are both 30 and sometimes found the entertainment not for our age range, this was not a problem though as there are nearby bars in walking distance.
Breakfast and Dinner are served buffet style and I challenge anyone to not find something to their taste. There are extensive hot and cold choices together with 'show cooking' which the chef will cook something to your individual requirements. My only slight criticism is that as a vegetarian, some nights offered limited vegetarian options-although there is a fabulous salad bar and plenty of fish dishes if you eat fish.
The resort is perfect if you are looking for a relaxing holiday in a beautiful setting. It is quiet but that is one of the attractions! Definitely recommend and would return without a doubt!
The Thomson Gold entertainment staff are great. Dave is the most energetic and entertaining rep I have met. He is definitely in the right job!
There is an extensive range of day-time and night-time activities if you want to participate. I would recommend the aqua fit every morning, not for the exercise but for the entertainment factor!
Some night-time entertainment can be positioned for an older crowd. We are both 30 and sometimes found the entertainment not for our age range, this was not a problem though as there are nearby bars in walking distance.
Breakfast and Dinner are served buffet style and I challenge anyone to not find something to their taste. There are extensive hot and cold choices together with 'show cooking' which the chef will cook something to your individual requirements. My only slight criticism is that as a vegetarian, some nights offered limited vegetarian options-although there is a fabulous salad bar and plenty of fish dishes if you eat fish.
The resort is perfect if you are looking for a relaxing holiday in a beautiful setting. It is quiet but that is one of the attractions! Definitely recommend and would return without a doubt!
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- Date of Holiday:Aug 2006
- Board Basis:Half Board
- Tour Operator:Thomson
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Everything considered we would recommend this hotel.
Advice: Lovely, large, sandy beach.
Activities: Had some good evenings in the Irish Bar in Arenal D'en Castell.
Good for: Beach