Arenas del Mar Beach & Spa Hotel

Outside appearance of hotel looks like something from the goulags. Inside is pleasant and clean with friendly polite staff. For an all inclusive stay the Hotel was let down by the following: Nowhere to get a tea / coffee or soft drink between 10am and 12:30pm apart from the small poolside bar which gave you a small paper cup. Having to pay 1 euro for a plastic beaker when drinking near the pool. Charge for in room safe which was key operated. No free bottled water and told you can get refills from the drinks machines which were only available in the breakfast room during opening times. Room cleaning was poor cups were left dirty. We arrived back to our room after lunch only to find the door wide open and two maintenance guys fixing a balcony light that wasn't broken and that we hadn't reported. Restuarant partially closed off with only one drinks machine operational. On a positive the food was generally fair to good. If you like to go all inclusive I would avoid this hotel as it is not value for money. Needless to say we won't be returning. Suggest the hotel owners / managers sit down and take a good look their vision for the future.

Location is very quiet which we knew. No atmosphere. We had a junior suite 9/10 looked over the ocean. Value 5/10 Hotel was clean all over. Noise level was fine. Front desk staff were fantastic. Food.... was terrible, warm at best, we ate out quite a lot which detracted from being all inclusive. We will never stay here again. Room cleaning was hit and miss Very windy around pool (understandable), sand gets everywhere, nearest beach is quite rocky in the water, take towel pegs so they don't blow away. Paid trips will be cancelled if not enough people want to go, hard to plan if this happens.

Overall it was good, staff were lovely, good location and the facilities are nice. Despite that for what we paid the food was average and often cold. The drinks weren’t great either, all beer was poorly poured, Amstel & Heineken. Drinks after 11pm were paid for, despite all inclusive. €1 charge for a plastic cup to use by the pool that was your responsibility for the rest of your stay. All the loungers by the pool were in bits and uncomfortable. One pool table, €1 a game. Music by the pool was the same 8/9 songs on repeat all week frequently interrupted. The food and beer really let this place down unfortunately. The receptionists were exceptionally helpful and pleasant as were the bar and pool staff. It wasn’t for me, hope things improve, great potential.