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Papagayo Arena Resort Hotel

4 out of 5 from 42 reviews
4 stars
c. / Las Acacias, 6, 35580 Yaiza (Lanzarote), Spain
This stunning new resort hotel occupies a superb beachfront location right next to the beautiful Papagayo nature reserve. Split into nine seperate buildings, which each offer their own special style and atmosphere.

42 Reviews

Traveller Rating

  • Excellent
    2
  • Very Good
    33
  • Good
    6
  • Average
    1
  • Poor
    0

Review Overview

  • Cleanliness
  • Entertainment
  • Food
  • Service
  • Location
Susie And Rob
19 years ago
We arrived back from the Papagayo Arena a few weeks ago, and vowed we would deffinately go back. It was raining when we arrived, which was a bit of a dissapointment but nevertheless we were determined we were going to have a good time.

The hotel as a whole was spotlessly clean. The pool area was pressure-washed every night. The resaurant was very clean. I'm a bit particular about eating in clean places, but I did not have any doubts about this hotel. The rooms was very spacious with huge balconys, we were in block G (I think!!) and had a view over the pools.

When we looked to the left we could see Fuerteventura and looked right we had a view over the mountains. It was lovely. We got up a bit late a few times, so the maids did clean our room very well, but I suppose thats fair enough....we should have got up earlier.

By the end of the week, the food got a bit samey, however the selection and choice of food was excellent. There is something for everyone. I loved the huge salad cart and the steak best.....not forgetting the fresh pizzas, o and the chips...they were always there. The food at the 24 hour bar was not bad either. You had a choice of burgers, hotdogs, salad or sandwiches. They also had cakes and gateauxs sometimes. All the fizzy drinks were there and so too was beer and wine. You couldn't go wrong...24 hour all inclusive!!

The location of the hotel was a bit 'out in the sticks'. There was not much in the immediate vicinity, we took a cab into PLaya Blanca, which cost about 3 euros, but theres not many shops there and a few of them are quite expensive. If you want a relaxing holiday by the pool then it is ideal here.

We could have stayed in the hotel all week, but we like to have a little look around. We got a cab to Central Playa Blanca a few miles down the road in order to get the bus into Puerto Del Carmen as we like the huge strip of shops, however getting home took a lot longer then we had first anticipated!! We waited 2 hours for a bus that never arrived. (the bus service is soooo unreliable!) We ended up getting a cab, which was a pricey 30 euros! The bus was only about 6 euros per person!!

The staff at the hotel was mostly friendly, the lady in the ice cream parlour by the pool was really sweet!!
One of the waiters in the resaurant took an instant dislike to me as I sat on a table for 4 people when there was only 2 of us! I wouldnt have minded but there were no 2 tables left for us to sit at! The barman in the restaurant was a gem...he got to know us and had our cocktails waiting for us in the disco after we had eaten dinner! what a diamond!!

The reception staff were fairly pleasant..and had an excellent vocabulary for all different languages.
The entertainment was the best I have seen at an All Inclusive hotel, it wasn't fantasic but it was bearable. When we 1st got there the entertainment was being held in the dico area, but as the week went on and the weather got better it moved outside where there was more seating and a bigger stage. The wooden seats they have got are really really really uncomfortable, the floor I found was more comfortable....how common am I!!

Overall though the holiday was absolutly brilliant! The hotel was really posh...compared to what I have been to before...and excellent value for money. It was horrible to be coming home, but we will hopefully be making our way back there in October! Im jelous of you all going on holiday there this summer!!! Have an excellent holiday! xxxxx
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Travel operator: First Choice

Recommended
Mark & Jackie
19 years 5 months ago
We all know how it is when you go somewhere new, the excitement, trepidation, the "I hope it's a decent place" etc.

We should never have worried!!

You arrive up a small hill to be greeted by a lovely frontage albeit that just says quality.

We arrived just after midnight and the reception staff were brilliant, the check in efficient and quick. The place is huge and a map was provided to try to orientate you as soon as you arrive (it worked a lot better in daylight!!)

We were worried that we would not be able to get any food or a drink until the morning, but again unfounded as we were directed to the pool restaurant that opens at midnight and stays open until 8 in the morning when the main area opens for breakfast. Having had all inclusives before this was really all inclusive. The beer was good too!!

You could quite literally eat and drink 24 hours a day. If you have a lie in don't worry because the pool restaurant opens at 11 and they do their version of bacon rolls amongst other things.

There are a number of bars that work in the same fashion as the restaurants opening as on closes.

The Green Bar is relaxed and friendly with lots of cocktails included in the AI. Theresa tended this bar and was superbly attentive and quick seeing our faces and depositing drinks for us whilst serving others. What a memory she had!!

The Canarian bar is very spacious but lacks atmosphere, however the terraced area had magnificent views of Fuerteventura. It was hard to get a seat here!!

In the main rotunda below the reception area is another bar again very light and airy but due to it's location gives a plush feel to the place.

On the ground floor is the nightclub which we only went in once, as after midnight the AI stops in there and EURO's kick in and we thought that this should have been included seeing as it was free in other places on site. This really did not make sense.

There is also the pool bar with a great area to hide from the sun and get some shade in the hottest parts of the day

There was plenty of entertainment if you wanted it!!

The food served was excellent with a huge choice, buffet syle or book for a meal in the Chinese, albeit a bit limited in choice but nice all the same.

There are three pool areas on three levels, the top two being a little windy. All kept spotlessly clean with the SOS staff constantly patrolling picking up rubbish and wind driven paper cups. The wind sounds bad but it is warm and welcoming at times.

Follow off your day by the pool with a luxurious spa next to the gym. Three pools at varying temps, the top small one is cold!!

The room from a couples perspective where excellent and the air conditiong a boon. The room had a fridge, hairdryer, but no facilities to make a drink. Bathrooms are all marble tiling and spacious. The bath looked like it could take a football team!! There is a safety deposit box in the room that has to be paid for extra.

The hotel is situated a good distance from the centre of Playa Blanca and we would suggest getting a Taxi ordered from reception and paying the 3 euros....peanuts!!

We left the complex just once during our whole stay, and never felt like we had to leave the place again.

The beach is long but not sandy, the usual Canarian black shingle, however 15 minutes walk around the back of the hotel is the Papagayo beach which is.

In summary, we didn't want to come home .....enough said!!
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Travel operator: Airtours

Recommended
Sarah Moore
19 years 5 months ago
We have just returned from the Papgayo Arena and after only 1 day vowed we would go back. This is the ideal hotel for familes. We had 2 babies in our party aged 4 and 7 months and the staff were brilliant with them. It especially helped having the fridge in the room. Also if you are travelling with babies be aware don't do what we did which was load up with sterilising solution etc as you can hire all of this equipment there.

I have never been to a hotel before where everything was cleaned so regularly. The pool was scrubed every morning even the steps into the pool where taken off to scrub behind them!

Food was excellent always something for everyone Chinese could have been better not in quality but in choice of dishes. The main international restaurant was quite large and sometimes felt like a dining hall but the Italian restuarant was adjacent and much more intimate and you could eat food from either the Italian or International selection so we tended to eat in there most nights as it had more atmosphere. Drinks were all excellent including alcoholic. We stayed at an all inclusive in Barbados last Novemeber and it was not a patch on this hotel in any area. Would deffinately recommend to anyone.


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Travel operator: Thomas Cook

Recommended
Linda & Stuart
19 years 5 months ago
We stayed all inclusive which was a new experience, Meal time was a feeding frenzie and often you could not get a table at breakfast or for your evening meal.

The dinning room sat around 2000 people or more and the noise was undescribable.
There was no provision for adults to sit away from familys with screaming kids, dont get me wrong iv'e been there and had both my grown up kids with me but it would be nice to have a conversaton with out kids crying late at night way past there bed time while the parents tried to have a jolly old time.

The food was awful but plenty of it, I have never seen people make such pigs of themselves, it was all a disgusting feeding fenzie with as much cheap wine and local beer that you could consume while you eat.

The french restraunt, you pay for this, it was terrible, the chinese was the same as was the main restraunt but with chinese sause on ever thing, but an all together better eating experience being smaller and more controlled, the italian was just taged on the end of the main restraunt so total mayhem as the main restraunt.

You could not buy a decent bottle of wine to have with your meal even if you wanted to get off the rough old stuff they provide.

The pool areas where clean but the pools where vry cold only one was heated.

The accomadation was clean and nice but the hardest beds you have ever slept on in your life, I did not sleep for the first 2 nights and could hardly move for back pain, we took the mattress off the bed, settie which was soft and put it on our bed to make it bearable, this came up in reports I read before I went and I thought they would not be that bad but belive me they were worse than sleeping on the floor.

The beach was not all that but I did not use it as prefer the pool.
Staff great as long as you dont want anything.
Entertainmaent was ridiculous a bit like my spelling.
This should not be a 4 star hotel its over rated by our standards.
Oh I nearly forgot you all get arm bands when you arrive and must keep them on at all times to get served, it was just so naff.

Unless you get a rock bottom price on this avoid it or maybe you like butlins type holidays in the sun.
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Jacquie
19 years 7 months ago
I visited the hotel with my family including a 4 yr old and a 10mnth old. For our circumstances this was an excellent choice of hotel. When we arrived at reception we were armed with a map of the hotel, info regarding the opening and closing time of each or the bars and restaurants and general info regarding the room and hotel

The rooms were fairly spacious but when at full capacity like us. i.e.sofa bed in use and travel cot, there wasn't too much spare room in. (there again i'm used to aparthotels). The bathrooms are really spacious and ideal for a family getting ready in the evenings. We were in block H which was ideally located for access to (and overlooks) reception and the pools. There does seem to be a problem with the drains in blocks G & H, especially in the early evening when everyone is getting ready for dinner. One morning we flushed to toilet to find that the waste came up the bath. When we reported it to reception it was it was dealt with within minutes. I also know of another family who asked to be moved because of a smell in there room. They were moved immediately and without quibble.

The food was much the same choice as other hotels but beatifully cooked. The Italian is actually a pizzeria but you can choose food from here when dining in the main restaurant, which gives you additional choice. The chinese must be booked 24hr in advance. The food was nice but not exactly the same choice as your local takeaway (approx 4-5 main dishes on offer) It is seperate from the other dining rooms so cannot be combined if there is nothing to suit someone. Jars of baby food are even available if you ask the waiting staff! The dining rooms do not open until 7.30pm for dinner which was rather late for kids. The hotel has a mainly spanish clientel who dine later in the evening by about 0900 hrs you have to queue to get into the restaurant. Altho this is the only place they queue. Do not do the British thing and joining the end of the line. To get served (especially at the busy reception desk and bars) you walk straight into the middle and use your vocal cords!

The kids etertainment was very good from 4yrs up there are 2x 2.30hrs sessions per day and a mini disco at approx 2030hrs, they are very good with the kids. My daughter only went to the miniclub twice in the fortnight (because she wouldn't get out of the pool) but still they remembered her name every time they passed us. I also liked the fact thay they weren't pushy with the kids if you have shy kids like mine then they didn't put pressure on them to speak or join in.

The adult enterainment was also very good usually professional shows e.g. dancers acrobats magicians. However the venue wasn't the most comfortable, rows of wooden chairs and warm white wine...yuk!! We tended to stick to the canary bar. Here you could get anything from coffee to cocktails (even non alcoholic ones for the kids) and twice a week the pianist performed. This bar also has an long balcony where about 12 sets of cane furniture were situated and the glass barrier allowed you to enjoy the views and drink you drinks in the peaceful warm night air....heaven. but it was hard to get a seat out here as it was very popular.

The staff at the hotel were great and nothing was too much bother. The hotel is quite isolated, but if you need anything which they don't have they will do what they can to get it for you i.e. they arranged for us to hire a kettle and steam sterilizer for making the baby bottles. Which we were able to collect and pay for at the reception desk.

A very very small number of staff seem to have an attitude towards the British who were a minority race at the hotel. One particular barman who also stands at the dining room door each evening managed not to serve me for approx 10days by serving the spanish guests or disappearing from the bar to avoid me!! I also spoke to other british guest who experienced the same thing. However, the majority of the staff are really helpful and friendly

The building works were still ongoing when we were there. There was no noise or any other disturbances from this.

Overall this was a really good hotel especially for young kids but for couple etc the location has to be a big downside. ie. no nice walks after dinner.



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Travel operator: DIY

Recommended
Two Of Us
19 years 9 months ago
visited this hotel, with my partner arrived home today 18/6/2004, we are both in our late thirties,the one thing not good was the bell boy was quick with the trolly, then dissapeared, so had to take luggage to the room, not good as my good lady packs the sink as well.

found the rooms excellent, although i feel there some rooms not as well positioned as the one we was in, some had a bad outlook across the volcanic land to the rear of the hotel, but im sure if you was unfortanate enough to be put in one of these the reception were seemed very helpful.

The complex is a large set up and takes a while to get your bearings, as most floors are not numbered and the signs in the main block where most of the bars and resturants are, were not easy to undersatnd, what direction you should be going. we always took the stairs(keeps yer fit)may be we should took the lifts.

The food variety was excellent and catered what ever your taste required, from pastas, pizzs, fish, all meats, oriental and many more,the veg were a little soggy due to the amount of people they were catering for, you could get drinks 24 hrs a day once you worked out the system, as one closes another opens. The orange juice was squash.

Entertainment the piano was the nicest bar with the veranda overlooking the sea, and the man playing the piano and sax early eve, very pleasant, kids stuff, seemed to be clubs through the day, but not to sure.

this hotel is a bit on a limb and not very wheel chair friendly, but there is building work on the go which connects to a lovely harbour which leads on to the town plays blanca, but in the works defence not close enough to worry about from our room,

Sun beds by the pool, no rush, available all day, loads free when ever req. Pools, one heated and it was very warm and did not get that, god this cold with a shiver as you jumped in,

The towels supplied from gym area, but first must get cards from reception take to the gym, then ok
went to the gym and used the jacuzzi,sauna and steam,
the gym was limited and not many free weights and only one tread mill working and only one rower,
also opens at 10am, just as the pool opens, then 4 till 8, would be nice if it opened at 8am,as once you've had a few wines who wants to go to the gym.

The pool bar was good serve your self drinks and food and opens at 12 midnight,and at 4pm till 545pm have the pancakes crepes, very nice.

Yes we would definatley go back may be two years when the surrouned area is a bit more completed, but no real complaints.

People seemes to have paid a very diffent price to stay there, so dont book through the main tour operators, as you seem to pay a lot for the privelage. We payed 2oo to 300 pound cheaper than some and we also had private transfers included.

not recommended for the old people/disabled and could be a bit slow for the young clubber, but great for what we wanted, a weeks break,


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Travel operator: sunstar

Recommended
Shelley
19 years 9 months ago
In my opinion, this hotel is a fantastic place to stay for a relaxing, enjoyable holiday. It is extremely clean and well-maintained. There is very good entertainment for kids and adults alike, especially the gentlemen that plays the piano in the bar which has magnificent views of the coastline.
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Travel operator: Sunchoice

Recommended
Karen B
19 years 9 months ago
The Papagayo Arena is a good family hotel. It is located however quite a bit outside Playa Blanca although having said this it only costs approx 3 euros into the centre. You can walk it but if you walk the road way which is the quickest it takes about 40 minutes brisk walk - however in some places there is no pavement so not ideal if you are walking with young children. Take the taxi its quicker and cheap.

The rooms in the hotel are large and the bathrooms are really good 2 sinks which was a nice touch. The hotel maids and cleaning staff work really hard as the hotel is huge, my only real criticism would be that they go in and change the sheets/mop floors/change towels but they do not pick up paper cups or anything that you may leave out on the balcony or anywhere else in the room.

The swimming pools are clean and one of them is climatised so not quite a shock when you get in and out, however the sundbeds (which you can always get) could be cleaner and the tables around pool side could be cleaned more frequently. The hotel provides huge pool towels so none of that really naff effect where towels are hung all over the balconies as the towels can be changed daily.

The hotel food was excellent huge choices breakfast lunch and dinner and pancakes in the pool side restaurant between 4-5.15 every day (my little boy loved them) - tried to avoid them myself as another few pounds would have been added to my ever increasing waistline while I was there. The hotel our second week became really busy and the dining room (especially at breakfast) became a little manic to say the least, you sometimes had to wait for a table. As with all hotel buffet style food the usual failing does apply in that the food could be hotter although there were microwaves in the dining room for use so this helped. Food choice was as I say very good something for everyone - King Prawns even on the salad servery a few nights.

The hotel staff were generally all very friendly although they could have done with more a fact that we think they remedied the day we were coming home as more new faces around. Drinks ok although we did have flat coke on 2 occasions. Help yourself wine in the restaurant red was the best in my opinion but purely a matter of choice.

The entertainment for kids was good a mini club run twice daily and mini disco every night. The adult entertainment was the usual dancers/magicians etc although ok nothing spectacular.

My family and I overall had a lovely holiday at this hotel and would go back there again although maybe not until the development around it is complete and there are a few bars/shops withing walking distance.

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Travel operator: Eclipse

Recommended
Clive Dowe
19 years 10 months ago
We went on our first all inclusive to this hotel booked over the internet direct. At first I was abit stunned to see all the building work going on nearby but we didn't hear much noise from the sites.
The hotel is kept very clean generally but due to the windy nature of the resort sometimes rubbish would blow around the pool and watch out for flying parasols. Rooms are kept clean and mini bar was stocked up most days. The food cannot be faulted and if you do well there's no pleasing some people. Lots of choice from local fish, pasta, all meats, pizza. The main restaurant at lunch time was excellent as most people eat at the pool bar. The Green Bar which is without children was really nice and if you tip the hard working head bar maid (mid 40's dyed hair)a few euros the service/drinks are excellent. The bar staff do get over run especially at night. Staff were all friendly and very helpful if maybe abit over worked. My children loved the entertainment and made lots of new friends. If your children are old enough two way radios at this hotel work well as the complex is quite big.
The beach is not much good, but the fishing off the rocks at the sides is quite good, try the local method of using a nylon bait bag. If you catch a good one the hotel will give you a nice bottle of wine, I saw one fisherman pull out some nice sea trout.
We will being going back again most probably next May as the children (and us) really enjoyed our stay.
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Travel operator: Direct

Recommended
Jayne Rowswell
20 years 1 month ago
Here is my review of the Papagayo Arena Hotel

The hotel is built on a cliff overlooking the sea set amidst hundreds of little villas which are being built around it. It looks a bit bleak though
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Travel operator: JMC/Thomson

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