Las Arenas Hotel

16 readers found this review helpful

I hope that this advice doesn't put anyone off going to this hotel as according to what I have been told the following is a huge problem in most of the resorts in Spain. I want to highlight and remind people about the pickpockets who are roaming the streets with flowers and asking for a very small donation in order to see where you are carrying money and while you are trying to figure out what a 5 cents is they pretend to place the flower as close to your pocket whilst stealing your money. Also another place to be very vigilant is when standing at bus stops, they will bump into you pretending to be sqeezing past and in the meantime dipping your bag or pockets. My husband was a victim of the flower sellers, two females one older than the other and they relieved him of 70E, just by a stroke of luck my friend caught one with 200E before she got away. Another elderly guest was robbed of 400E a few days later. So be warned and hire a safe and only take out with you what you need in your pocket or bag. I did suggest to the hotel on the review questionare that it would be a good idea to post a notice or put a flyer in the rooms to alert all guests of this problem. Unfortunately we were not aware of just how bad the problem had become and had we been told of it might have been on our guard. Forewarned is forearmed and I hope that in writing this review if it prevents someone else being in the same predicament as we were then it has been worth doing.
I have just returned from Las Arenas after one week and after reading quite a few reviews have to agree with the majority that this is a super small hotel. Cleaning was done on a daily basis and all areas were very clean. The food was superb and the variety was excellent. Our thanks to Mickie in the dining room for her cheerful conversation. I think the guys could take a leaf out of her book. There is a very busy road at the front of the hotel and if you are a light sleeper might find this a problem. We were allocated these rooms and after our first night had to request other rooms to which the reception staff were very obliging and moved us to rooms at the side of the hotel where it was very quiet. Drink is cheaper in the many bars along the promenade than in the hotel but there is a happy hour from 5pm to 6pm. Its worth staying in and buying a drink on certain nights as they have some really good entertainment. Look out for the free NHP blanket trips as they are worth doing. Sit for 45mins as they tell you about their products and you are under no obligation whatsoever to buy anything and then enjoy the rest of the trip whichever one you have chosen. These really are free. I hope that this honest review is of some help to anyone thinking of going to Las Arenas as I would definately recommend it to couples and mature couples.

2 readers found this review helpful

Just returned from 10 days at this hotel. We thoroughly enjoyed our visit. Good food, excellent, helpful, friendly staff. The cleanliness was second to none, cannot fault the hotel in any way and will definitely be returning for another holiday. Also the entertainment at night was very good. The views from the balconys across the bay are amazing.

4 readers found this review helpful

This was our second visit to Las Arenas with a large group.
Staff on reception very polite and helpful.
The girl remembered us all from last year.
I had sent the rooming ,list via Low Cost Holiday's who we booked the hotel through , telling them what time our group would be arriving.
Hotel rooms ready for all 27 of us at 11:30am.
Same rooms as last year...Great so far
Sitting outside in the sun with a drink at 12:00...Superb
Bar staff very friendly and attentive
Restaurant spotless.
Food excellent..Plenty of choice
Bedrooms very comfortable and clean
Staff looking after the rooms very friendly and polite
Great holiday had by all 27 of us ( all male mixed ages )
Recommend this hotel

2 readers found this review helpful

very good hotel lovely and clean restuarnt staff and cleaners excellent but bar staff leave lot to be desired but on the up side disc jockey was really friendly,food was very good

2 readers found this review helpful

My Husband & I have just returned from 2weeks at the Hotel Las Arenas Benalmadena, 14th July-28th July 2010, superb hotel, all staff very friendly & helpfull in every way, nothing too much trouble, rooms very good, good cleaning staff, food also very good, in all I would say 12 out of 10 for the hotel, staff, & location. will definately be returning at the earliest possible time this year, should be classed as 5 star not 4. Recomend to all, singles, couples, families.
Dawn & David Cowin. (retired)

11 readers found this review helpful

Booked up a late deal for 3 nights. Just myself and my wife no kids.
For a place to go and relax and for the value you get you can only give it 10 out of 10 for what you pay.
Room was nice and very clean better than many hotels over here. There was entertainment although we did not utilise it.
It is right next to the beach and about 1km walk along the promenade to the Marina.
Food had great choice and also lots of fresh bead pastries and meets at both breakfast and dinner. A large range of hot and freshly cooked food
this is an excellent choice for a few days break and on looking at other reviews has consistently high standards.
I would go back no trouble in particular for the value for money.

12 readers found this review helpful

We go to the Spain Costa's about 3 times a year, normally to hotels we know and return to, however we decided to try the Las Arenas as somewhere different and Thomson had it on offer. We were certainly not disappointed.
The food is overall some of the best we have had in Spanish hotels. We don't bother with British cooked breakfast although it did looked good, we had continental everyday which was bread, cheese, cereal etc and that was also super. The evening meal was buffet style with lots of choices and for us was brilliant. Once each week there was a roast beef sirloin joint which looked and tasted fabulous. Every other night the hotplate was always in use with something like chicken, pork or beef. We could not fault the food at all it was great. We also have to mention the staff in the restaurant, they were brilliant especially Micky who gets special thanks.
We had two different rooms over the two weeks, our choice, starting with a top floor room at the side overlooking the pool for the first week and then a 1st floor one at the front right over reception facing the road. The top floor room was very quite and nice but did lack a bit of sun after about 09:00 in the morning, maybe better in summer. The room over reception had a good view although you are level with the road so had to go careful when coming out of shower for instance. Some road noise but we soon got used to it and the nice balcony which went right around the corner and had the sun until about 16:00. Out of the two rooms we preferred the front one owing to the sun all day and nice balcony. If we could chose any room in the hotel we would have a top floor at the front corner over reception. Both rooms were superbly clean and looked after by the maids very well, every day.
We cannot comment on the hotel entertainment or Thomson trips as we do our own thing knowing the area and public transport quite well.
Unfortunately the last weekend in the hotel was spoilt by a Spanish Junior School Hockey team that arrived from Santandar about 04:00 on the Friday morning and left Monday morning. Most of the hotel knew they had arrived as the noise was terrible and continued all the time they were in the hotel. The staff did all they could to make it more bearable including not letting them into the dining room until everyone else had finished, moving rooms of anybody that wanted to move and putting them all in one place in the hotel. All credit to the Hotel staff they were superb, Santandar hockey team disgusting.
A couple of local bars to mention on the Torremolinos front. Whelan's an Irish bar, super people and value, great coffee, brandies on the large size proved by a few days walking back a bit slower and wobbling somewhat. The Cosy Nook a bit farther down also had good coffee and had a nice flat screen TV with UK channels, staff good as well. A thing with both of theses bars is the coffee which was Italian and very good.
So to conclude a super hotel, food, staff and great value, we would return no problem.

4 readers found this review helpful

second visit sice may coming back again for new year this will be the 12th year for nuevo ano this hotel has to be the best in spain bar none staff are execellent food is to die for prices for a 4 star hotel are very good cannot and will not fault this hotel i have visited spain since 1972 and i have never been in a better hotel and all you sad people out there that that complain about things that are not like wot we get at home dont come to this beautiful country with beautiful people eat the country drink the country and enjoy the country if u want tea like mama makes and fish and chips and muck in good old england dont visit this most gorgeous of countries if u do decide to visit this hotel of hotels u will not be duped oh by the way i have been round the world done the best of them and this is up there with the best no doubt
from
big cut in durham

4 readers found this review helpful

We have just come back from las Arenas hotel, we just went from Friday to Tuesday, we found the hotel very clean, the rooms were lovely you could see they had just been refurbished. The maids came in 3 times over the period we were there. We found the staff very friendly and helpful. When you went in the dining room you were greeted by the waiter then shown to a table . for breakfast you were served tea or coffee at your table which was nice (definetly have the coffee its lovely) meals were lovely and plenty but could do with a bit more selection for evening meal. It was our 1st time to benalmadena we would definetly go back. Visit the marina it is a must and you can walk along the beach up to torremolinos. There is also a lovely park where you can go fo a stroll. There is a cafe next to the hotel called havana the staff are friendly ,the meals are nice and the happy hour is from 3 to 6 what more could you ask for. There are buses running up and down the resorts all the time and taxis. Only thing we would do different is get a taxi from the airport because it takes to long on the bus

5 readers found this review helpful

We are a retired couple and go to spain every winter long stay. we firststayed at hotel las arenas 6 years ago.It was going to be a one off holliday, but because of the friendliness of the staff, the clenlenees of the hotel, ie rooms grounds etc , we decided to go back. The area is so close to many nice places like Marbella Nerja And Malaga. The local transportie busses, and trains are really good The only downside we find is THE FOOD because we can not resist it it is so good that we always have to come home and go on a diet. Another big plus is the Xmas Festivites. Well it must be good if you find the hotel owners and there families there joining in all the fun. Weknow class the Las Arenas as our second home , and so do alot of other guests, because every year its like visiting old friends