The R2 Pajara Beach Hotel in Costa Calma, Fuerta Ventura, promises a carefree, all-inclusive holiday in idyllic surroundings. While it mostly lives up to its too-good-to-be-true four-star image, a holiday there may not suit everyone. Let's take a look at what to expect.
LOCATION
Costa Calma means Quiet Coast, and the little town certainly lives up to its name. There is no designer shopping, no fancy electronics or clothing stores, no buzzing discotheques or even trendy restaurants. Other than idle curiosity, there is little motivation to leave the R2 Pajaro Beach Hotel to visit it.
The hotel itself lies at the beginning of an unspoilt beach that stretches all of 21 kilometres to Jandia, at the south of the island. It is not sand all the way; there are interludes of wild, rocky outcrops to be negotiated.
The view of the sea is magnificent from the pool and pool dining room, as well as from the main hotel. Access to the beach is another matter. It's advertised as being "10 metres" from the hotel, but unless you're prepared for a suicidal jump over the railings, the walk down is considerably longer than that. Bring nuts with you - there are many bold little squirrels that come up to you and beg quite shamelessly. The beach to the south offers recliners that are maintained by the Costa Calma municipality. If you are unlucky, you will be asked to pay 3 euros a day for them.
On the way down, there are also a number of areas enclosed by loosely stacked stone walls. Many people choose to soak up the sun here rather than on the recliners - and they do so au naturel. In fact, people of all shapes and sizes walk around au naturel on the beach, not feeling the need for the pseudo privacy offered by the stone walls.
ARCHITECTURE
Glass and water is the best way to describe the R2 Pajaro Beach Hotel. The main focus, both inside and out, is a waterfall feature. Inside the hotel, it cascades through the full volume of the hotel, and the theme carries through outside in a series of stepped waterfalls leading to the pool.
POOL
The main pool area may make you wonder if you need the beach at all. it is not just big; it is magnificently huge. Here, the paving slopes down gently into the water; there, the pool boasts a central island packed with palm trees. There are no square or formal shapes, the pool curves and meanders around a vast area, creating semi-private pockets of land adorned with comfortable recliners. While you are never far from the pool dining room, or indeed from other guests, you feel uncrowded and relaxed.
The pool dining room and bar offers snacks and drinks throughout the day, mostly sandwiches and cakes, as well as hamburgers and hot dogs over lunch. These are included in your all-inclusive package.
Pool towels are available. Pay a deposit at reception for a towel card which can swap for a clean towel at any time, and vice versa. Your deposit is stored in a sealed envelope with your name, and returned to you when you hand back the card on leaving.
BEDROOM ACCOMMODATION
The bedrooms are spacious. The "double bed" on offer, though, is two large twin beds pushed together to look king-sized.
The en-suite bathroom offers plenty of shower gel. Anything else, such as shampoo, conditioner, body lotion or the like, you should bring.
Your room key fits into a slot near the door to provide electricity while you are in the room.
FOOD
The cuisine has a strong Mediterranean influence, as you would expect, and is generally excellent.
Breakfast offers a variety of cereals, nuts (do they provide them specifically for the squirrels?), fruit, yogurt, charcuterie, eggs, bacon, sausages and a variety of breads. Omelettes are cooked to order. Lunch and dinner offers an extensive hot and cold buffet as well as a variety of fish, chicken and meats cooked while you watch. The dessert buffet is small, but well worth a visit!
ENTERTAINMENT
The R2 Pajara Beach Hotel has plenty to keep you occupied if you are not content with simply soaking up the sun. An entertainment team patrols the pool area offering water aerobics and other activities during the day. There is a games arcade, a billiards room, shops, a gym and even a spa. Watersports are available at extra cost, during the summer months. At night there is music and dancing to keep you entertained.
INTERNET ACCESS
There is an Internet cafe which offers high speed Internet at a reasonable cost. However, if you bring your own notebook with wireless access, you can make yourself comfortable anywhere on the 5th floor and connect for free!
ALL-INCLUSIVE
While the package is nominally all-inclusive, it is only all-inclusive to a point. All the meals are included, and drinks - up to 11pm at night. Also certain bars and restaurants, especially those accessible to non-residents, are excluded from the package.
SUMMARY
If you're looking for a quiet, relaxing holiday, with few late night parties, then the R2 Pajara Beach Hotel merits a 5/5. If you're wanting to party non-stop, then it's not the hotel for you. Neither is the Costa Calma area - rather look North in the bustling tourist centres.