Bahia Principe Fantasia Tenerife

"My partner and I booked this while out day drinking and then read the reviews.... I was mortified and nearly changed the hotel ...... so I'm writing this review for anyone who has been put off this hotel to hopefully put your mind at ease 😊 My family consists of 2 adults 3 kids (19/17/11) we travelled out on 30th December and arrived at the hotel at 8 p.m.; upon arrival the reception team were brilliant and checked us in very quickly! Our bags were taken to our room by the concierge. We were able to quickly change and grab our evening meal and have a few drinks in the bar! We stayed in room 1401 which was a family master suite that was right next to the sports bar, it overlooked the golf course and despite how close it was to the reception and the bar it was actually quite! so perfect location!! The room was aesthetically beautiful! and spotlessly clean! there was plenty of space, however the issue I had was considering I had 2 adult kids with me the room was set up for 3 children with all 3 beds pushed together, it wasn't really suitable for a room booked for 3 adults and 2 children, the beds were also very small! It would be perfect for a family of 5 with younger children. This is more of a Jet2 fault than the hotel as they should have passed this information over. The master bedroom had a massive bed that could fit 4 people in it! and was really comfy! There was also not enough hanging space or draws for 5 people - we really struggled and had to leave things in suitcases. The room was cleaned, and towels were changed daily! There is also a mini fridge with juice, Fanta and beer - a few mini bottles of wine for the ladies wouldn't go a miss! Bottles of water are also available in the room that are replenished daily. Shower area has shampoo, condition, shower gel and body milk cream. Food The hotel really won't win any awards with the food as it really is below standard for a 5* hotel, and I'd say the one thing that lets this hotel down, having said that it's not as bad as it's made out in other reviews, so please don't worry too much! I would have hoped the management would of done something about this by now, as for the last 6-9 months reviews have said the same, yet nothing has changed! Food needs to be served up on metal trays that radiate heat - this will solve at least that problem! Breakfast I did notice multiple choices of milk for those with allergies and a gluten free corner, there was a mass amount of fresh fruit which was gorgeous and lots of choice! same with the pastries and different types of bread! Plenty of yoghurt flavours and cereals! Cooked breakfast was ok just not very hot, they had the usual, bacon, sausages, mushrooms, tomatoes, beans and different types of eggs etc. and an omelette station. Breakfast times between 9-10 are absolutely manic, the best time to go is 8-8.15 or earlier if you prefer during peak times. Lunch/ Dinner I found that they served cheap cuts of steak that really weren't very nice! and the chicken on occasions was tough. There was a great selection of veg, potatoes and pasta! The salad bar was unreal! loads to choose from with a good selection of dressings. Salad was fresh and so tasty! The choice at each mealtime was good - it was different every night! The temperature of the food wasn't great! everything was plated up on ceramic trays which don't radiate heat in the slightest! The lights they were under also didn't kick out any heat so it’s no wonder!!! change to metal serving plates this will massively help!!! As a last resort there is a microwave available! People have moaned about not being able to get a drink at the table, but it's not really an issue, a staff member sometimes comes to the table to take your order sometimes they don't depending on how bust they are. But there is that many staff you can easily grab one to take your order and they will happily oblige - you will not go without a drink at meal times! The restaurant is spotlessly clean, and tables are cleaned promptly, at busy times you do have to wait to be seated but they have a great system and even when there is a big queue out of the door you don't wait very long at all! The snack bar in the children’s pool was great! it was like McDonalds with a touch screen to order. The food here was really nice but the menu is limited so it gets boring after a few days! We visited the 2 A La Cart restaurants, the first one was the Italian which I would describe as a themed restaurant not A ‘La Cart! the choice wasn't great, and the standard of food wasn't the best. On our last night we visited the steak restaurant and upgraded our steaks which I would advise you to do! The only cut included was en croute which is the worst cut of steak! We upgraded to fillets and a T Bone which were unreal! for 5 of us we spent 125 euros which was worth it! The Caesar salad starter was also to die for!!! Pools We used the main pool with our kids being older, the pools weren't too cold! To get the best sunbeds that had the sun most of the day you needed your towels out by am (directly at the bottom of the main stairs) if you aren't bothered about the sun, there are loads of beds! Drink stations served beer, 3 types of wine which were really nice! juice and fizzy pop! - take your own cups as the ones provided are small! I order us some big ones with straws & lids from temu! Pool towels are available and can be changed daily. The kids pool - wow very noisy avoid if you don't need to be there! I did walk through there a few times it was like a rave! loud music etc. - honestly not saying that as a bad thing as the kids were having an absolute ball! and the entertainment was full on! The adult’s area was a bit of a joke - it was the size of a postage stamp! and right next to the kid’s pool - in high season you will not get any rest in there at all as both areas’ kind of merge together! Lobby Bar Beautiful bar! the staff are amazing! nothing is too much trouble even when it is busy! On a lot of occasions, we had drinks delivered to us that we hadn't ordered! talk about service!!! The thing that let the bar down was the entertainment! it was on for 30 / 40 minutes max, then once it was over there was no music or atmosphere, so it turned flat very quickly! Sports bar. This had every game of football on that you could think of! there was also karaoke, bingo and a quiz, and pool tables. A really great addition to the hotel! Entertainment We went to 2 pre bookable shows, the first one I’m sure was called IMOX – which was absolutely superb! It was a mix of singing, dancing, magic and acrobatics. It’s a must see! Toy circus was more for the younger audience as you would expect it was really good but if you are travelling with older kids maybe go and see one of the other shows as you can only pre book 2 shows during your stay. Evening entertainment as previously mentioned was over in a flash – this needs to be looked at! All signers that were on were great and just as the night got going, they were finished and packed up, most were on for 30 minutes and then you were left with no music and a flat atmosphere. Kids entertainment: I honestly haven’t been to a hotel like it! During the day was fantastic! Daily pool party, and a jam-packed entertainment program the kids loved it! Older kids; not really much for them to do other than join in with bingo and the quiz etc. Staff They all need a pay rise! Every single one of them works tirelessly, the hotel is absolutely spotless! Bar staff are superb nothing is an issue for them; all are so friendly and make such an effort to make sure you have the best experience. The hotel has its own photographers that are on hand daily, taking photos of the kids in the pool for you to purchase – we got some gorgeous photos on New Years eve. New Years Eve The night was brilliant; the pool area was set up for photo opportunities, there was a drinks reception, music, and a guy on the sax, the vibe was great! Dinner was nothing flash, they did have crab and lobster on, but it was that over cooked you couldn’t get it out of the shell!! The entertainment afterwards consisted of a singer in the lobby bar, then afterwards there was a live band on the terrace followed by an amazing fireworks display. What a fantastic night – if only the rest of the nights entertainment was like this! Top tips: buy some bigger cups, download the hotel app as you will need this during your stay to book shows and restaurants, it also has the daytime entertainment program and menus on there. Over the road there is a really nice Indian and about 10 minutes’ walk away there is an Irish bar Would I return to the hotel – no I wouldn’t but that decision mainly is based on the fact I have older children and the limited evening entertainment."

"Fantastic family holiday at a great 5 star all inclusive! We had an amazing family holiday (7 in total , children 12, 9 and 6yrs with an adult with additional needs) Accommodation was excellent- very spacious junior suite. Beds were very comfortable and king size. Food- I honestly can’t see how anyone could complain about the food here. The buffet was excellent with lots of choices, allergens clearly labelled, gluten free section, separate kids section at their height and smaller portions, fresh food cooked in front of you. It was great. The staff were very good, getting drinks, clearing away and interacting with the children in a very friendly manner. The ladon grill deserves a special mention for a fabulous T bone steak!one of the best in years for us. We also went to the Italian and it was very good. They allowed the children to don chefs hats and aprons to make up their own pizza. The snack bar at the pool was a big hit- being able to order your hotdog/ chips etc Activities- Children’s activities were great and varied for all ages! There’s no disappointment Here. There’s a separate “teenage loft” that is very good for teenagers with games/ hang out loft/ ps5 tournaments and arcade games. Spa- we had a few treatments including the children’s massage- they were exceptional. Special mention to Fatim who was so accommodating and very kind! I had heard a few people complaining about children running around. There is an adults only area with a fantastic infinity pool. However- it’s a hotel with a giant castle and splash park- it’s catering for families and children!!! I could imagine during the summer it would be a lot busier and there would be a bit of sun lounge battles but there was plenty of space when we were there in Jan. This was an amazing week of winter sun that was much needed for our family."

"After a hellish journey to get here (the snow was a nightmare) we arrived to a gorgeous hotel. The type where other people on your transfer are jealous. The rooms are gorgeous, the facilities are insane and the staff are wonderful, but…we were really let down by the back of option to book the A la carte restaurants! We booked this hotel because of the kids pool and all of the positive recommendations for the a la carte! We have a 40th birthday whilst we’re here, so had hoped to book into a nice restaurant before going out for drinks. However, they are not running to full capacity so we are unable to book any of the restaurants for the duration of the stay. We asked at reception and was told we should have been told by Jet2 to pre-book. Jet2 said that’s completely untrue! So whilst it’s not the be all and end all, it’s poor from the hotel - who quite frankly couldn’t be less interested."