Arabella Beach Hotel

We had a successful stay, thanks to the good service. The rooms were spacious and clean, and the food was good with plenty of variety.

The location is the standout: the hotel is right by the beach, and the entertainment for kids and adults runs for much of the day. The activities were great, and the kids stayed busy and happy. The manager speaks excellent English and was very helpful. There's also a hair salon and a few cosmetic services in the hotel. The woman there doesn't speak English, but she's kind, and it's a nice service to have. Room and corridor conditions were the worst part. There was a horrible smell, poor hygiene and cleaning, and nearly everything seemed due for replacement. Towels and toilet paper weren't replenished, and there was hair from previous guests in the shower. If you track down the cleaner or complain to the manager, at least the basic tasks get sorted. Food quality was average, though there was enough choice to find something, plus fresh salads. The bar was open all day but had a limited drinks menu. Most staff spoke little or very poor English; most were kind, but often seemed untrained and unable to answer questions. The bar staff looked half asleep. Some were pleasant, while others seemed unable to smile. I felt some features might be left over from when this was a 4-star hotel, even though it seems to have been downgraded. With that mix of great, mediocre, and very bad points, 3 stars feels right for a 3-star hotel.

The sea and beach are fantastic if you enjoy waves. The hotel itself feels like it's falling apart, and it wasn't very clean. I saw enough dirty patches on the first day, and they were still there on day five. Receptionists were nice and helpful, but struggled a lot with English. I didn't try German. Half the bar staff were making an effort, while the others more or less hid and seemed completely apathetic. Come for the beach, but I can't recommend the hotel.

It's suitable for seniors and families with kids, but for a 4-star hotel I expected much more. The prices are high compared with other 4-star places.