Don Paco / Castilla Apartments Reviews

Don Paco Castillas was a breath of fresh air:

I was a bit dubious about the hotel following certain reviews that I had read, stating it was unclean, bad location, terrible food with a choice of only lamb or rabbit all week.... However, I can HIGHLY recommend this hotel to anyone expecting 3 star quality and value for money. We went in October 2008, the week before half term. We are an engaged couple who were looking for a relaxing holiday, not a party central holiday that is more suited to the centre of Puerto Del Carmen. The hotel complex is in an excellent location, about 5 or 10 minutes to the East of Puerto Del Carmen by taxi (only €4). This was not a Brits Abroad type of place, which was just perfect. The beautiful beach is just a couple of minutes walk from the back of the hotel and the beach is enormous, clean and stunning with fine dark sands. There are plenty of small bars and restaurants along the front should you fancy a couple of drinks on an evening, but if you want to have a bigger night then you can always jump in a taxi to Puerto Del Carmen. We were All Inclusive in the resort, so we only went out a couple of times to the local bars for a pint or 2 after sunset. The main hotel bar is friendly, efficient and All Inclusive offers a good variety of spirits, a nice local lager and several soft drinks. The food we found to be excellent. It is not 'haute cuisine' for those more used to eating at Nobu, but there is a big buffet offering a very wide variety of dishes at lunch and dinner. Fish, Chicken, Turkey, Pork, Lamb, Beef, Rabbit, rice, potatoes, chips, vegetables, soup, bread rolls, pastas, a nice salad bar, a good desert buffet, beer, wine, soft drinks.... a large choice and all very good. Breakfast is standard each day, but again there is a good choice of different eggs, beans, frankfurters, bacon, cold meats, cheeses, yoghurts, fruit, breads, croisants, pastries, tea, coffee, hot chocolate etc. You will NOT be dissappointed with the food unless you are a food snob and will only eat lobster and caviar. The rooms were cleaned 5 days out of 7. We were in a 'suite', which was what we got through Thomas Cook. It was comfortable and a very decent size with a nice balcony. To sum up, we had an excellent holiday made better by the friendly staff, great food, clean hotel in an excellent location that was great value for money. It's not 5 star, but you're not paying for 5 star so be realistic in your expectations and you will enjoy!

In my opinion an excellent, clean and peacefully located apartment complex, close to the beach and surrounding area of Playa de los Pocillos.

We had one of the refurbished apartments apartments but they were still completing others while we were there. We found the staff to be very helpful and polite at all times, all areas were clean and tidy, and we saw only a couple of cockroaches in the 2 week stay we were there, in what we have normally experienced to be an infested Canary Islands, and I assume this can only be down to the cleanliness of the hotel.

We had a 2 bedroomed apartment which was very spacious, with a pool view, cleaned 5 times a week with bed linen changed once a week, and towels changed twice a week. Our room had an air conditioning unit in the lounge area and a TV. which showed english channels, both available to hire for 18 euros per week each, and also a mini-safe in one of bedrooms, also for hire.

The complex has 4 pools spread out across the complex, and I did not see any reserving of sunbeds by any of the nationalities staying here, (German, British, Spanish, Irish, Dutch). The main pool has a small bar and restaurant on the side. Small beer costs 1.8 euro and a large beer is not obtainable in either of the hotel bars. The entertainment did seem to be centred around the Spanish guests as most of the other guests went out at night. There is also a short cut through a gate at the back of the main pool area, which leads to the main road and beach about 5 mins. walk away. This is closed between 10.30 and 11.00 at night and will add another 5 min walk around the complex to the main reception area when this is closed.

Can't comment on the food as we were self catering, however you could visit the main canteen and pay per adult and child for the evening if you wanted to, approx. 10 euro per adult, and 7 per child.

The complex is a good 30 min. walk away from Puerto del Carmen, aprox. 4 euro taxi ride, or 1 euro each on the regular bus service. Surrounding area of Playa de os Pocillos has numerous bars, restaurants and shops, and is only a 10-15 min walk from the smaller resort and beach of Mata Gorda.

Overall a good, clean apartment complex, in a quiet location, close to a lovely(dark sand)beach, within easy reach of Puerto del Carmen if you want it.

Very good for a two star. Food good, rooms better than expected bedroom bathroom kitchen lounge. Four large pools. Entertainment very poor more for the spanish.

When we first got there we were a bit confused by the apartment layouts, its a bit like a maze at first. We stayed in a 2 bedroom apartment which was really big. we had an amazing balcony, it was huge. plenty of swimming pools to choose from as well as a supermarket on site. A 2 minute walk will take you to a SPAR and a NETTO's. so great if your going self catering. my husband was shocked at the fact he could get 5% lager at 24p a can. The beaches were beautiful and very clean. the kids loved playing in the sea. We all really enjoyed our selves and a week before christmas only 2 days of rain. Happy days.

A big sprawling holiday ";factory";. Rooms are just adequate but smokers beware - all rooms are no smoking! I don't know why they are being so precious about this as the rooms are in poor decoration and not well maintained. Bars are also no smoking so not very well attended.

Having said that I had a nice time in the resort itself. Nice bars and good food was easy to find just a short stroll away from the complex. Ideal for couples wanting a nice peaceful vacation especially if you can find a better apartment.

For 2 people it costs the same in a Taxi as the bus fare to get to the main P D Carmen ";Blackpool"; area.