R2 Pájara Beach Hotel & Spa

The best part for us was the beach. The hotel is right on the shore, and the sandy nudist beach just to the left became our favourite place. We could walk back to the hotel bar in about five minutes to refill our water bottles. The setting is beautiful, with blue-green sea views, and it made for a sunny winter break from the UK. Our room was clean and fairly large, with a comfortable double bed and a balcony looking toward the pool and, in the distance, the sea. Fresh towels were available daily, with one blue pool towel supplied for the whole stay. It was fine for five nights, although the decor could use an update and we missed having coffee-making facilities. There was a good range of food, including healthier options, and we especially liked the ice cream and surprisingly good red wine. For a short stay the selection worked, though it might get repetitive over longer visits. With one main restaurant and one main bar, queues were common. The all-inclusive deal also had several exclusions: the beachfront bar, pool tables, and beachfront sunbeds, which cost an extra €50. That bar was the only comfortable place to sit and smoke with a drink, and those sunbeds were the only designated smoking area besides your balcony. Paper cups everywhere except the restaurant made things feel a bit cheap. The Wi-Fi was extremely slow and unreliable. Entertainment was sparse, with just two shows in five nights and quizzes on the other evenings, and the hotel had little atmosphere. Some staff were lovely, but most came across as abrupt or unfriendly. The breakfast rule against wearing a boob tube seemed odd for a beachfront hotel. Most guests seemed older, I'd guess about 80% were over 75, though many were friendly repeat visitors. A beautiful spot for sun, rest, and beach time on a short winter escape. It works best if that's what you're after, rather than lively entertainment or a premium all-inclusive experience. The setting is lovely, but the atmosphere and the way things are run could be better.

Christmas dinner was a real highlight, with delicious food in an elegant but cosy setting. I want to thank the kitchen team for working so hard to make it such a lovely experience for the guests. We had plenty to choose from at every meal, including fruit, vegetables, salads, meat, fish, desserts, different breads, and alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. We spent a week here over Christmas and couldn't have imagined a better holiday. The garden is beautifully kept, with a huge variety of plants, and the hotel is close to several beaches. Everyone we met across reception, the kitchen, bar, cleaning, gardening, and animation was kind, respectful, and professional. I felt welcome every time I spoke with a staff member. The gym is spacious and has new equipment, and we played tennis twice on the court overlooking the ocean. Our room was very clean and quiet, close to the beach but away from the pool and restaurant, which we really liked.

The food was just average, not bad, but it could be better. Apart from that, we had a great time and can definitely recommend the place. Our room, bathroom, and shower were spacious, and I've never slept so well on holiday. Our wing on the second floor, room 2223, was really quiet at night. The floors are numbered from the top, so the top floor is called the first. We liked the range of entertainment, and it was nice to have the option of watching the show or heading upstairs to the disco and bar. The greenery was lovely too, with well-kept palms, grass, and trees. The best cappuccino was at the pool bar.

I really wanted this to be a brilliant first family holiday with my partner and our 11-month-old son, so it's a shame that some of the service let us down. Some staff were genuinely happy to see us, and the pool bar barman was very nice, as was one of the waitresses we met. But we had several uncomfortable interactions. At breakfast, one server told me to get a paper cup from the bar instead of helping in the main restaurant. Our baby couldn't drink from the glasses, and we'd left his cup in our room, a five-minute walk each way. On another day, I sat down with food shortly before lunch closed, with time to eat, but staff reacted openly and made me feel rushed. At TOTO, the barman also seemed unimpressed when I ordered two coffees in a language other than Spanish. The all-inclusive food was very nice, and for a hotel this size the waits weren't too bad. The buffet line took about 5-7 minutes. Since it was only mid-April, I don't know if the queues get longer at capacity, but extra servers in busy areas could help it move faster. Lunch felt rushed. The smoking area by the beach seemed to be ignored, with guests smoking just outside the Level 6 doors where families walk through, about 30 metres from the proper area. That should be monitored. The location is lovely, with a small beach where chipmunks hang around. Overall, I didn't rate the hotel highly because of the service from some staff. It's a shame, since I was really hoping for a great first holiday as a family.