El Faro Apartments

2 readers found this review helpful

after staying at el faro in 2002 and 2005 with my children,when i remarried in 2008 we decided to spend our honeymoon there. once again it was absolutely brilliant and the staff were very nice. yes they only had twin beds but we just pushed them together.my new husband loved it and keeps asking me to go back again!so we are going to book a week next year for our 3rd wedding aniversary. cant wait to walk on the beach at night its so lovely and romantic!

We arrived at El Faro on the 18th we were there until the 25th. The room was very very basic. There was a disgusting smell from the bathroom it made my children feel sick also windows were very dirty, there was a chair in the apartment that was practically broke. The sleeping facilities were so uncomfortable, didnt sleep for a week. We found hundreds of ants in the apartment. No clean towels for a week. The shower was broken, We asked for a balcony and never got 1 then we asked again and we got 1. (But tiny).
No maids ever came. The bedroom light didnt work then a few days later the lounge light didnt work. The electricity went off everytime we had the cooker and the tv on. The tv had no english channels. The staff were very unfriendly. They better start having a positive attitude or they will never get holiday makers staying. The good thing was when we went out to the many bars around us. I dont reccomend this hotel for anyone.

I love this hotel what a lovely friendly place to stay. Maggie at the bar needs a medal for putting up with us all. The rooms where lovely and clean and the view was amazing.So close to the beach and 10 euros to the New town.
Cant wait to go back it was the best stay ever.

i stayed at el faro with my daughter for 3 days in march we ask for a room higher up as we wanted a nice see view, on arriving we went to the 19th floor the room was clean and tidy and spacious. when we went to look at the see view we were stunned by the beautiful view it was breath taking to say the least. we had a lovely time there and definately going back for the views, the weather was lovely and warm it is so easy to get around on buses, at the top of the hill by the bali hotel there is plenty of places to go by the buses, the hotel was only 1 minute walk to the beach. we had breakfast and dinner in a lovely restuarant called the olive tree which is by the roundabout where ur dropped off by the transfers as its one way roads.the people who run the restuarant are lovely english family who took the time to make sure our visit there was good, the food is first class the best breakfast i have eaten in spain the dinner was delicious and nicely presented it cost us each about 12 euros for both meals. this will be the only place i would now eat in and cant wait to go back for some more lovely meals.

We stayed for a week in El Faro. Maggie and Paul were both great and the other staff courteous and helpful. We had the apt cleaned twice and it was a nice apt with everything for a self catering stay. Benidorm is a bus ride away but the average person could walk the pleasant seafront path and get to the centre in around 26mins (we timed ourselves). It appears to attract the older visitor and family type, we never saw any boisterous groups but accept that others had a different experience.

The best thing about El Faro was the reception and bar staff. They were always very helpful and attentive. On arrival we were given a room on the second floor with a twin bedroom, cot and two single sofa beds in the living room. With three children age 10, 7 and 3 months, it just wasn't big enough. We asked for a bigger room and were given a two bed apartment on the 18th floor. The size of the apartment was suitable, views nice and we were happy with the way the staff dealt with our concerns. However the apartment itself was still not very good, it was advertised as having a fully equiped kitchen, the utensils looked like something from the 1960's. There was no kettle or microwave. We had to boil water in a pan to make our coffee in the morning. There was also a storm and the windows were not tight, rattling about, we were kept up all night with the shutters banging about, water came in the windows in the terrace. We didn't bother complaining because it was structural problem, nothing the staff could really do about it. The furniture in the apartment was also very old. I didn't sleep for a fortnight, it was the worst and most uncomfortable bed I have ever slept in.
The room wasn't all that clean. The cleaner was supposed to come every three days with clean towels, bed linen and toilet roll. She came on the fourth day and then didn't show up again. Eventually we had to ask reception for clean towels and she came the next morning. We bought toilet roll to avoid running out. The pool area was not kept very clean either and the loungers were often dirty and used ashtrays lay about for a couple of days.
The place was advertised as having a restaurant and entertainment, there was neither. There was nothing to do except play pool or drink at the 24hr bar if thats the kind of thing you like. It was also advertised as being three star, it definately is two star. It is not close to the resort centre at all, it is at the very end of Poniente beach, you have to go by bus or taxi to get to the centre of Benidorm. The bus is a ten minute walk away outside the Gran Hotel Bali. We were ripped off by the taxi drivers a few times because they took longer routes than necessary and one didn't even bother to put on his meter.
The supermarket is also a ten minute walk at the top of a hill. It was generally very expensive to eat out if you want something decent. Eolo and Faluco were top notch but so are the prices. If you ever come accross El Corner in Centro avoid it, it has the worst food and rudest staff you could ever get, expensive too. Another restaurant in the old town beside the castle told us that we could only order pizza off the menu because we were British, the waiter wouldn't let us order Spanish food, we just left.
On a positive note we had a brilliant meal and night out at Benidorm Palace. It seems expensive at first but by the end of the meal and show you will realise it is value for money. The kids also had a brilliant day out at Mundomar, the dolphin park. It costs 13E to have your photo taken with a dolphin, well worth the money. Terra Mitica is also good value for money and suitable for children of all ages, the carnival rides are well maintained and there is plenty of them. We were there for 5 hours until closing time and we still didn't manage to do all the rides. There is also a lovely baby shop in the old town called Marisol.
I wouldn't recommend El Faro to anyone I know. I was glad to get home to my own bed and kitchen!

1 reader found this review helpful

Arrived 19th september for 1 week, it was a week from hell, drunken stags and hens everywhere, no restaurant could not even get a cup of tea at the bar.
gangs of young men shouting around the pool.
had to ask for clean towels only to be told that we had not been there long enough to need new towels even though i offered to pay for them.
bed linen never changed during our stay, just sheets straightened.
felt really sorry for the families with young children that would have liked to go into the pool if it had not been full of drunken young men.
would NOT recommend this accomodation unless you want to drink at the bar 24hours a day.
would have liked to rate this propety -5 but don't have that option.
all in all not a property to visit as a family or a respectable couple.

there for 2 weeks in 16th sept 08 had to ask for clean towels and bedding ,nothing for the kids todo and ohh yes fitness center of whitch everyone goes to from benidorm looks onto the pool as the kids are playing , who wants to see men and woman flexing there pecs while kids swim and there is no entertainment attall no play area,but the best has yet to come thursdays to monday there are stag and hen parties it very loud so your kids cant go anywhere near the pool and the bar is opened 24 hrs aday 7 days aweek these apartments are not for famillies , just drunken yobs and ladies who run a complete riot in hallways and down by the poolside and not one of the tour operators tell the customer of theses parties and one last thing if you want a bite inyour room well just forget there no cafe

4 families 15 people (Adults & Children, ages from 15months to 62 years) 4 Apartments
Rooms clean. Linen & Towels changed twice a week. Mop & bucket Brush & pan available in room if needed before cleaners came. Pool cleaned daily. Staff great.We had a broken drawer & bed in our apartment when we arrived but within the hour they were mended. Staff great extremely helpful. Beach 2 minutes walk from El Faro. Shops, Supermarkets,Chemist Cafes. etc close by.Try the Beer Academy just up the road for good English food at reasonable prices. If you walk on the beach between 12 & 4 keep your shoes on as the sand is HOT. Water lovely & warm.
Transport to New Benidorm close by. Had a great time would go back to El Faro tomorrow if it was possible

Nice quiet base. Apartments suitable for two weeks holiday, but balconies vary in size. We were on the 13th floor and had a fantastic view.
Maid service was twice a week which was more than we anticipated with the reviews we had read. The kids loved it as the pool was the ideal base during the day, although the beach is only across the road this is the first time we have spent the majority of the time round the pool. All the staff were friendly. If you want to book any tickets to the theme parks ask at the reception as we got a great deal for Terra Metica at only 26 euros instead of the gate price of 35 euros, you can either catch the 41 bus at the restaurant falcoln just 200 yards away or even ask reception to book a taxi for you. Dont forget the bus is the same price whatever your distance so at 1euro 20 its not bad. You can catch the bus 41 on the sea front to the old town and then easily a taxi from the port side on your return for approx 6euros.
If you turn left at the bottom of the driveway you will find a small spanish supermarket about 100 metres away and if you turn right approx 50 meters is a paper shop. There are various restaurants in the vacinity and just over to the left hand side of the beach, a small walk away is another bay Cala de Finestrat which has a selection of shops and restaurants.
These apartments are a really nice place for those who want a little bit of everthing out of Benidorm. It has a nice relaxed atmosphere and the noise level is just about non existant. Fantastic place for family holiday.
The only downside what no airconditioning. But, heh, se la vie.