Bahia Principe Fantasia Tenerife

This hotel is widely celebrated for its enchanting castle and extensive family-oriented facilities, making it an ideal destination for families with young children. Guests consistently highlight the hotel's remarkable cleanliness, the generally attentive and friendly staff, the diverse and well-maintained pools, and the spectacular entertainment shows. The spacious and comfortable rooms also contribute significantly to a positive stay. The hotel is particularly well-suited for families with children under 10-12, as its entire design and activity program are geared towards keeping younger guests engaged and happy, allowing parents to relax. To enhance your experience, it is advisable to bring towel clips due to the frequently windy conditions, and for children sensitive to noise, headphones might be beneficial during busy meal times.

Facilities & Amenities
The hotel offers an impressive array of pools, including splash pads, water slides, and a serene adult-only infinity pool, all consistently praised for their cleanliness and maintenance. Guests appreciate the well-equipped gym with guided classes, and the spa is noted for its modern and spotless environment, though some found treatments underwhelming. Unique baby stations on each floor, complete with a microwave, are a thoughtful convenience for families. The arcade and games room provide entertainment for older children. However, guests frequently mention that the pool areas can be dangerously slippery, leading to falls. The lifts are often described as too small and insufficient for the number of guests, especially those with strollers, causing delays and inconvenience when navigating the hotel's multiple levels.

Cleanliness & Room Comfort
Guests consistently praise the spotless cleanliness of the rooms, noting that they are spacious, modern, and well-maintained. The beds are generally found to be comfortable, including the sofa beds for children, though some found them too soft or bouncy. In-room amenities include a mini-bar (though replenishment can be inconsistent), tea and coffee facilities, and a balcony often equipped with a drying rack. While the air conditioning is present, some guests reported issues with its effectiveness or functionality, requiring multiple fixes. The bath towels are a recurring point of dissatisfaction, described as too small, poor quality, or even having holes, and the provision of other toiletries like hand soap or facecloths is inconsistent. Noise levels are generally manageable in rooms not facing the main pool areas, but some specific rooms experienced unwanted humming or noise from adjacent rooms.

Dining & Food Quality
The buffet restaurant offers a wide variety of food with nightly themes, catering to diverse tastes, and is praised for its constant cleaning efforts. However, a significant and recurring complaint is that the food is often cold or lukewarm, and many guests noted the pervasive presence of flies on uncovered items, particularly salads and desserts. While the buffet can be repetitive, the à la carte restaurants generally receive more positive feedback. The Italian restaurant is a highlight, especially for its interactive pizza-making station for children, and the Steakhouse is also well-regarded. Feedback on the Asian restaurant is mixed. The snack bar is popular for its convenient and tasty quick meals. Regarding beverages, Lobby bar cocktails are highly praised, and self-service options are available, but some guests found the wine selection limited, spirits to be of cheap quality, and expressed frustration over dirty plastic glasses at pool bars. Breakfast offers extensive choices, though fresh orange juice often incurs an additional charge.

Location & Accessibility
The hotel boasts a convenient location very close to the airport, with transfers typically taking only 10-15 minutes. However, its immediate surroundings are described as quiet and somewhat isolated, meaning guests will need to rely on taxis to reach popular tourist areas like Adeje or Siam Park. While there are a few local shops and restaurants in San Blas within walking distance, the hotel is largely self-contained. A significant environmental factor is the frequent and strong wind, which can make outdoor areas feel cool and blustery, impacting comfort around the pools and even lifting parasols. Internally, the hotel's sprawling layout across multiple levels, combined with small and slow lifts, poses accessibility challenges for guests with strollers or mobility issues, as there is a notable lack of ramps. Underground parking is available, though some guests noted an additional charge.

Staff & Service
The staff at the hotel consistently receive high praise for their friendliness, helpfulness, and attentiveness across all departments, from housekeeping and restaurant staff to the entertainment team and bell boys. Many guests highlight their dedication to ensuring a positive experience, often going above and beyond. While the check-in process can sometimes be slow or chaotic, particularly during busy periods, the majority of interactions with staff are positive. Housekeeping is noted for its thoroughness and daily service, though some minor inconsistencies were observed. The kids' club staff are particularly commended for their engaging and caring approach with children. However, some guests reported negative experiences with the hotel's customer service when dealing with significant issues or seeking post-stay resolution, with concerns about a lack of empathy or follow-up.

Additional Information
Several guests reported significant disruptions due to a worker's strike, which led to a severe reduction in services, including long queues for dining, closed restaurants and bars, and a lack of room cleaning, prompting strong criticism of the hotel's management response. The hotel utilizes convenient wristbands that double as room keys, a feature appreciated by many. Guests frequently recommend bringing towel clips due to the windy conditions. While the hotel aims for a five-star experience, many reviews suggest it operates closer to a four-star level, particularly concerning food quality and service consistency during peak times or unforeseen events. There were also isolated but serious concerns raised about pool safety due to slippery surfaces and, in one instance, the hotel's handling of a critical incident.