Bahia Principe Sunlight San Felipe

Hotel was atrocious. Not a 4* at all. Bathroom was really lousy, incredibly dated, shower wouldn’t stay up, poor water pressure. Shower gel and shampoo containers empty. One teeny bar of soap. Room air con didn’t cool the room, just dehumidified, so we were left very dehydrated. Right over a bar at night so couldn’t have the balcony doors open. No kettle or mugs in room so couldn’t even make tea. Breakfast buffet was adequate, dinner was pretty repetitive. Hotel broke Spanish law by refusing to provide tap water at dinner and just tried to charge for drinks. Everything felt like it had a surcharge - parking (€15 a night) safety deposit box, pool towel hire, it just went on and on. I wouldn’t return and would not recommend this hotel.

We went to Tenerife for a break in April and booked half board in the Bahia principe in Puerto de la Cruz. It is a very big hotel in a central location, walking distance to the shops and restaurants. As we booked half board (the hotel has 2 options half board or all inclusive) you could choose dinner or lunch at the hotel. Which was good for us as we like to go out for an evening meal. Upon arrival you receive an armband which is also the key for your door and you can buy drinks etc with this to be added to your bill. The room looked a bit dated, but was very spacious with a large patio area. It had a bath, shower, fridge, tv, 2 armchairs, patio furniture etc. The only item I missed, was a kettle. Breakfast was very good: something for everyone. Lunch:,warm and cold, large selection. Wine served at lunchtime. We went in April and there were always enough sunloungers and towels provided too. The room gets cleaned everyday and is spotless. Staff also very friendly and helpful. We realized too late that it is not much more expensive to book all inclusive, it would pay for the drinks even if you decided like ourselves to go out in the evening. The reason for 4 stars is for the rooms could do with an update. Everything else is very good.

We have stayed at Bahia hotels previously that have been better than this one. Location was as described and fabulous sea view from our larger than average balcony. I felt that the staff were biased towards the German tourists ( we were one of only a handful of English tourists). On arrival we were only told our room number floor number and where the restaurant was. We were not offered towels for the pool or safe rental. However other guests were! Food was plentiful but not always very hot. Lots of pork on offer but chicken sausages‍♀️. Chops, chicken breasts etc were griddled with garlic oil which spoilt them. Staff in restaurant work really hard and definitely deserve a mention. Evening entertainment was dismal so returned to balcony with a drink. Pool area was lovely and resort had a relaxed vibe (tip -if you visit local restaurants along the sea front check what they are charging for as we got overcharged on 2occasions - no apologies when I pointed it out they just gave money back so it felt like it was a normal thing to do).

The hotel met our expectations. The room was excellent with the biggest balcony we ever got with the views over to the ocean and also Mount Teide. The room was spacious comfortable and clean. The mattress on the king size bed was really comfortable. There was a lot of draws and big wardrobe to put all our things. The food in the buffet restaurant was ok even though little bit basic. The breakfast was good with a great selection we especially liked the bread rolls choice. The staff was very nice and friendly. Dinner was not as good and we sometimes struggled to choose what to have, the deserts get replaced but the best ones go quickly and the replacement is not the same I missed the chocolate cakes as there wasn’t a lot of those on offer. Also both of us were ill for a day with stomach bug and as we only eat at the hotel probably got it there, I thought mine was from the chicken steak cooked on the grill as was a bit pink I stopped eaten it but by then was too late. All in all we had a good holiday. PDLC was as lovely as we hoped and we chose the hotel for the location. Also went for a trip booked with agency at the reception and was excellent, would recommend Mount Teide plus Masca trip. Would recommend the hotel and the location.

I recently stayed at Bahia Principe Sunlight San Felipe, and unfortunately, the experience was far from what I had hoped for. The hotel feels stuck in the 90s, with outdated decor and a lack of modern amenities that make the whole place feel tired. The cleanliness left a lot to be desired. I encountered cockroaches in my room more than once, which made it difficult to relax. The room itself was surprisingly spacious with amazing views of the sea—a huge plus that was sadly overshadowed by the issues with pests. The food was another major disappointment. The buffet was repetitive and lacked variety, with most dishes either overcooked or lacking any real flavor. Even the basics didn’t taste fresh, and given the cost, I expected much better quality and choice. The pool area was also unable to cope with the number of guests. Finding a spot was a constant struggle, and it felt overcrowded from morning to evening, making it hard to enjoy the facilities. The entertainment was similarly underwhelming. The shows were lackluster, lacking the energy and engagement you’d hope for on a holiday. The one redeeming quality was the staff. Both the waiting staff and cleaning staff were friendly, attentive, and went out of their way to make up for the hotel’s shortcomings. They truly are the shining light in an otherwise disappointing stay. I wouldn’t recommend Bahia Principe Sunlight San Felipe unless some serious improvements are made.

Good points Excellent sea views. The rooms are big and have plenty of storage. Close to shops and restaurants Staff work hard and are friendly. The housekeeping staff are really good and keep the room and hotel very clean. The drinks served on an evening were nice but you have to pay for them if you are half board. Good activities/entertainment for the children. Bad Points The pools are a bit small for the size of the hotel. When it's busy, you might struggle to get a sun lounger because they are reserved early in the morning. Poor lighting in the room. Air con does not work. Sewage smell from the vents in the bathroom. The shower pressure is weak. There are only 3 lifts for 16 floors, and there can be a bit of a wait during busy times. The doors can also close on you while you are getting in them, which is dangerous. The rooms are dated. A 4-star hotel should not be charging for the use of the safe. No tea or coffee in the room. You can ask for a kettle from reception and buy your own tea and coffee if you are desperate. It's probably advisable because the drinks machines in the buffet restaurant are terrible. The buffet restaurant is absolute chaos during busy periods. I feel so sorry for the staff working there. There's clearly not enough staff, and the restaurant is not big enough to deal with the number of guests.  From queuing to get into the restaurant and not enough bowels/plates, etc. The noise and ambience of the restaurant is like school dinners. The air con does not work properly, so it gets too hot and makes the whole dining experience unpleasant. There was heavy rain fall one day, and a section on the restaurant had to be closed off, which made the restaurant worse than usual. In my opinion, the a la carte restaurant should have been opened up to everyone to help elevate the problem. This brings me to the next question. Why do only the all inclusive guests have access to the a la carte restaurants? The half board guests should be able to go during their stay, too. This might also help reduce the choas in the buffet restaurant during peak times. If you have vegetarian or vegan dietary requirements, I think you will struggle with the food, especially if you are staying longer than a week. The chefs culinary skills seem to only be able to cater to meat eaters. The food labels are not always accurate. This could be dangerous if you have a food intolerance The food is very repetitive, and the standard  of the food declined during our stay. It would be nice to have proper themed food events each night to break up the repeativeness, e.g., Spanish, Italian, Mexican, Chinese, Asian & USA. It would be useful if the food menu for the week. The desserts can be hit and miss. The nice deserts tend to go fast, and if you leave it too late, you will be left with jelly in a cocktail glass or yoghurt with sauce in a glass. I ordered an omelette one morning, and it was disgusting. I couldn't eat it. Location The beaches around puerto de la