Hotel Arathena

I’m on my last night of a weeks holiday at the hotel and writing this while it’s fresh in my mind. The hotel is lovely, very pretty and quiet especially at the end of season. There are quite a few steps to most rooms, I’m on the first floor and there’s one set of stairs which is fine for me but could be a problem for some with mobility issues if on a higher floor. The breakfast area, bar and reception are all close as this is a very small hotel. I’m in a standard room with a shared balcony which overlooks the very quiet road and hills in the distance, perfect for me as I’ve sat out quite often and haven’t seen many people or cars passing. My room has plenty of space and the bathroom has a walk in shower. The only things missing really are English tv channels and a kettle, I love a cuppa and have borrowed the kettle from my Daughters superior room, standard rooms don’t have kettles. The rooms are kept clean every day and have lovely cool air conditioning. Stock from the mini bar is chargeable so we purchased water from the local shop and kept it in the mini bar. There’s one local shop which is open until 1pm and then 5-8 pm. There are several cafes and restaurants in the town which is just a 5 minute walk away on a flat road. We did book most nights but also managed to get a table when we didn’t book. We like a pizza and the only place we found that did them was Ichnos pizzeria, via Zara 54, we ate there most nights as found it very reasonable. The market in the town on Thursday mornings until 1pm is good, lots of stalls with fabulous clothes. The town has lots of boutiques, expensive but high quality. If you like hiking there is a path that leads into the hills behind the hotel, we had a good long walk/climb up there and the views were worth it. Reception staff were very helpful, breakfast is 8-10 and was sufficient, buffet style. The bar with a small selection of snacks is available from 3pm daily which we only used once for a drink as we found it a late time to start serving, this also put us off using the pool as we had no drinks. The pool itself is small but nice but no atmosphere due to no music and the close proximity to others although not many seemed to use it daily. There are no beach towels so bring your own if you plan on visiting the beach. The beach is a drive away, we hired a car for a few days, the bus service mentioned in other reviews wasn’t mentioned by the hotel but we didn’t ask. We purchased the holiday through TUI and we didn’t see a rep at all so no trips or details about the area were given but the reception staff did help with anything we asked. Tip if going to the beach the sunbeds are €40-50 take towels and if reading this before travelling buy a pop up shade instead, many locals seemed to do this. A thing we missed out on but I’d suggest is parking up at Porto cervo marina, pay your park and there’s a free boat across to the town and back from the marina, we missed out as the boat carries 12 and there were 11 waiting but would have been a good experience, the waitress in the restaurant there told us about it.

Hotel Arathena is a real gem, set in the absolutely picturesque town of San Pantaleo—actually one of the best towns we visited during our trip, and we saw most of the northeast. It’s a lovely place with great restaurants and boutique shops, tasteful and full of charm, but without being overly crowded. The hotel itself strikes the perfect balance between character and comfort—it feels charming and unique without being old or tired. The pool area was lovely and peaceful, and a great spot to unwind. Breakfast was another highlight, with a wide variety of delicious options each morning. A special shout-out to Bruno, who went above and beyond to accommodate my severe gluten allergy. He was not only incredibly thoughtful and careful, but he did it all with a warm smile every day. Thanks to him, breakfast was completely stress-free for me, which made a huge difference to our stay. Bruno truly helped make our visit extra special, and we’re very grateful. All in all, Hotel Arathena exceeded our expectations. I can be quite picky when it comes to hotels, but I would absolutely stay here again. Highly recommended

The Hotel is located in quiet area just a minute walk from the local village (which is gorgeous). Rooms are quite rustic without being old fashioned, they were thoroughly cleaned on a daily basis with the towels and bedding changed regularly. Breakfast was of a very high standard, with a wide and varied choice of what to eat, the members of staff all acted and worked in a very professional and friendly manner. a big shout out to Pierre (apologies if incorrect spelling), who wore tirelessly in both the bar and at breakfast service. The pool was amazing, the only let down was that some of the loungers were in need of replacing ( I did notice that some where being assembled, in a workshop downstairs). This was a very relaxing holiday, after our recent trip to India which was loud and very tiring. There were a couple of minor issues which were dealt with in an efficient manner by the hotel staff, such as an influx of ants (sorted with no fuss). A vase for putting in some fresh flowers (provided on request). The pool area can seem a bit quiet, perhaps some quiet music piped in? I did not ask. Would I return, YES in a heartbeat. The Staff were Brilliant!!!!

The best thing about this hotel are the amazing staff, who were friendly and helpful. The hotel itself has a very pretty and traditional feel in a quiet location. The village of San Pantaleo has a mini market, several restaurants and an ice cream shop. It is well worth hiring a car for day trips to nearby towns and beaches.

If you are looking for a relaxing holiday in a scenic place this is for you . We had the most amazing 2 weeks . The staff are so friendly& helpful . The hotel is peaceful & relaxing with a beautiful pool area . Bedrooms are beautifully rustic & are kept very clean