VOI Arenella Resort in Arenella

This hotel has so much potential but there are several odd practices that need to be changed. The layout is very confusing. Food lukewarm at best, although pretty good products. Lovely grounds and beach area. AI drinks too small, shops mostly closed. Staff generally friendly but pool stall officious.

Where to start as we were rather underwhelmed with the hotel and feel it falls short of the description. As there is a lot to unpack I've broken my review into sections.  The room - The room was made up each day but not cleaned. You knew when the maids were coming as the hallways echoed loudly of the trollies and them shouting from room to room to each other. If you like a lay in or are a light sleeper be aware that day or night the corridors offer very little peace. The room had no amenities other than a TV and an empty fridge. If you required a kettle, iron and anything else you had to rent them. Someone told us in the resort a kettle was €30 for the week! Food - We stayed as an all inclusive guest. Breakfast ran from 7:30 to 9:30 we didn't make it down for this. So unable to comment. Lunch - plenty of choice from local cuisine to pizza, burgers, chips etc. Fresh fruit and ice cream was available at lunch only. Dinner - Same as lunch but with more options including a roast station which changed each day from meat to fish. Drinks during meals - beer, red and white wine on tap as were water and soft drinks. Jugs available to save multiple trips which was handy. A Pizza bar is available for lunch or dinner. But you have to book. Pizza was decent and made a nice change from the buffet. When booking the website said snacks available throughout the day. The only snacks available within AI at the pool bar was what seemed to be left over breakfast pastries or cold squares of pizza. So this was very disappointing. There are two other places to eat. One restaurant is only available if you have a premium room. The other is a bar offering coffee, cocktails and local snacks (arincini etc). This is a pay only place and isn't covered under any board. The food was all ok, but my personal opinion it was never hot enough, everything was lukearm. So somethings weren't pleasant to eat. Drinks - Beer, cocktails, wine, spirits and soft drinks but all served in a small plastic cup. All fine and tasted pretty good. Premium cocktails and bottled beer drinks available to buy. Prices as of Sept 2025 were very reasonable. Pools - The 2 outdoor pools offer plenty of sun loungers. The reservation of beds is not stood for and is controlled by the life guards. One pool offers music and activities and the other more relaxed. The third "indoor" pool isn't indoors, just had a sliding cover which was open. I guess this is used in colder months. Also the 3rd pool is only accessible via the spa (payment required). The Spa - We did use the spa facilities. Massage was great as were both the wet and dry saunas. Unfortunately the hot tub was cold and only 2 jets working The cost for a 30 minute massage and spa access was €40. Other options available. We had a couples massage and one complaint from my wife was her masseuse had smelly feet and could smell them through her trainers when she was face down on the bed. So not the best when trying to relax

Resort and grounds were very nice . Food wonderful. The people overall were unfriendly and rude. The staff for the most part also . I would not recommend for germans or English speaking people . Sad because it was sooo expensive

Located in the middle of nowhere, can't leave resort by foot. Some positives: - nice food, albeit it repetitive a lot. - Beautiful rooms cleaned daily with fresh bedding and towels. Fridge in room is always a bonus. - Pools are enormous and very clean. - The resort is overall clean. - Train to take you to the beach is really handy. Free sunbeds. - Trip into local town only €5 euro each return. (Only runs in the day) Some negatives: - Resort is in the middle of nowhere, can't leave resort on foot. - Ridiculously strict lifeguards. Can't jump into pool, can't use any inflatables (yet they sell them in the on site shop!!), can't eat snacks around the pool, constantly watched by lifeguard, can't have balls in the pool and it's a pool to look at not use as it's ridiculously strict and ruins the experience!! - Food nice, but repetitive. - Same entertainment every evening. - Staff speak poor English. - plastic cups for all inclusive. Small and have to keep returning to bar. - Food times are limited. Evening meal not until 7:30pm!! Not good for people who need to dine earlier. Would not return.