BEST Fest aims to offer you a fun and friendly environment in which to enjoy open water swimming and make new swimming friends. By joining us you also become part of the BEST Family!
We value your opinion and now use ‘Racecheck’ to gather authentic participant feedback as this helps us assess our performance and identify areas for improvement. Of course, we encourage you to tell us immediately if there is something we could do better! RACE CHECK – BEST FEST REVIEW
If you want to know how the BEST Fest experience was for others, check out the testimonials below:
“Best Fest was wonderful, thank you. I have brought back tons of memories and better still a euphoria from my experience in your place of paradise.” – Catherine Bassage, South Africa
“I wanted to say thank you to all the organization of the Best Open Water Festival, a European championship, indeed a world championship in open water with a unique formula of its kind, three races of 5 km (real crossing), 1.5 and 7 /10 km circuit, under the aegis of FINA.
A competition, more and more difficult every year with the presence of national teams such as Canada, Germany, England, Spain, and many clubs from all over Europe and beyond; a unique experience that in these seven years has allowed me to confront foreign technicians and to grow as a coach, to make my team known and appreciated, the glorious Posillipo Nautical Club throughout Europe, as well as having brought strong and less strong swimmers strong that in this magical reality that you have created, have become national and world champions.
The Best Centre is an exceptional complex where you can train to prepare for competitions, and where I feel at home and my athletes always manage to give their best.
Comparison with the other teams is very important and your organization is impeccable.
See you next year, I promise I will never miss you”.
Rosario Castellano, Alberto Castellano and Francesco Pastore, coaches of the Posillipo Nautical Club of Naples & Antonella D’Avino Swimming, Manager of the Posillipo Nautical Club – BEST FEST 2023
“An amazing experience in May this year, when we were finally able to go to Mallorca and experience the brilliant BEST Fest. We were well looked after; the hotel was conveniently located and served plenty of excellent food. The staff and BEST Fest volunteers were helpful and friendly. We met old friends and made new ones. The festival itself was really well organised. Events were inclusive and fun, the sea was warm and clear, and the post swim paella was delicious! The location is beautiful, with fabulous scenery, walks, and inviting beaches. The town has many restaurants and bars, not all in the main tourist areas. The BEST Fest pool was stunning. Watching International teams train, and receiving coaching ourselves was a really valuable experience. I would definitely recommend it to all swimmers, and friends of swimmers, and am considering going again next year.” – Lin Cran – BEST Fest 2022
“BEST Fest is a truly unique open water racing experience, well organised, and in a beautiful location. Swimming Canada’s athletes have benefitted immensely from their time in Colonia Sant Jordi, learning from the range of races on offer, and enjoying the fantastic facilities at the Best Centre.” – Mark Perry – National Distance & Open Water Coach. Swimming Canada. 2018
“Six half-mad-swim women, each one a different ability level and with different challenges in mind. It’s just a Best Fest party with room for everyone! With events every day, from 500m (relay) to the hard-core 10k, plus the beautiful Olympic pool for free practice and coached sessions – it’s simply the BEST! If you’re lucky, when swimming you may see a little Moray eels staring curiously, a Ray or other small fish…it’s like swimming around in a large aquarium. So beautiful. The most delicious surroundings. The event organisation is top quality and safety is a priority; medics, kayaks, boats and refreshments are always on hand and everything is within walking distance because Colonia St Jordi is nice and compact. Are you fond of water? Maybe you just started Open Water and want to learn a little more? Whatever your reason might be, Best Fest is fantastic. ‘just do it’, you won’t regret it – you’ll love it! We promise!” – Jeanette Moller Demuth, Denmark
“As for me , it was the best event I’ve ever visited and swum! Thank you for everything ! I’ll be there next year!” – Valeria Sulimina
“BEST Fest is a fantastic event. Set In a wonderful location in Mallorca, the open water festival is run exceedingly smoothly by a fab team of volunteers. A vast array of events from 1.5-10km, the Best Fest team caters for all kinds of open water swimmers from the novice to elite. They provide a great atmosphere throughout the week, making sure everyone is always welcome. I’ve attended for the last 3 years and always plan to go back as much as possible, as it is a fantastic week that I will always enjoy. Aside from the awesome staff and event itself, the cocktails and ice creams pretty good too…!” – Sophie Trotter, RAF Team.
“One word….THANK-YOU!….to all of you for incredible days, workouts, racing and fun”…..”I met a spectacular group of wonderful, motivated, passionate people”…..”Perfection – I was stimulated to improve my swimming and I’m ready for next year!”……”I’ll remember the memories of this fantastic experience for a long time” – Team Italia, led by Luciano Vietri.
“BEST Fest 2017 was my third year in a row! To be able to do what you love for a whole week – be it competition, challenge, exercise or leisure swimming – BEST Fest has it all! A great combination of holiday, tourism, socialising, sun, relaxing and swimming. You can combine the ingredients as you want to create your perfect week! I have never met such kind & helpful staff…..they really make participants feel welcome and are always ready to help, whether its questions about the events or finding a nice restaurant! See you again in 2018! Best wishes.” – Nils-Christian Olsson
“2016’s BESTfest was surely the best one yet! A wide variety of events, from the Family Relay to the gruelling marathon 10km in the fantastic Majorcan sunshine, with crystal clear water all put together by the fabulous Best Centre Team, we were sad to leave but looking forward to next year!” – Immy Moroney – 1st Non Elite Junior Femal and Giles Moroney – 1st Non Elite Senior Male 40-49.
“What a great week! Sunshine and crystal clear water – a dream for open water lovers! Full of fun races and distances that are manageable for all levels of swimmer who are looking for a challenge. Excellently organised with friendly staff and very good safety during the races. I´ll be back next year!” – Lena Isaksson – Multiple BEST Fest Entrant.
“BEST Fest is an exciting open water event, with its well organised races and fun and friendly staff making it an unbeatable combination for swimmers getting into open water, and also for those elite athletes looking to develop their open water swimming. BEST Fest has enabled me to race many different open water disciplines in one week and has helped me to improve my open water tactics and experience for use in my major events.” – Caleb Hughes – GB Team athlete & multiple BESTfest event winner.
“This was our 3rd year at BEST Fest & for the 3rd time it surpassed all our expectations! We had a fantastic week as a family, enjoying the sun & the beaches, with great company whilst sharing out the open water swims between us. Each race/challenge was different & the sea was beautifully clear with lots of fish & a gorgeous sea bed to watch as we swam. Some conditions were more challenging than others but that added to the fun! BESTfest & Family Swim Holidays at the BEST Centre have created the perfect combination for a family that love swimming. An incredible experience to watch & swim with elite swimmers too. Special memories have been created here that we will cherish forever. Sad to leave friends but looking forward to next year’s BESTfest already!” – The Frankel Family – BESTfest & Family Swim Holiday regulars.
“NEVER has an event been so aptly named… BEST Fest! It is simply the BEST way to spend a week if you are a swimmer… an atmosphere that is simply electric and everybody was so friendly! The catalyst that brings this all together is the BEST Centre and their brilliant staff. What a great bunch of people! They have all the skills and tools, fabulous local hotels, kilometres of warm water, perfect sunshine and a 50m outdoor pool (with a coach!), but they bring it all together expertly into a holiday that is simply unforgettable.” – Jon Coe – H2Open Magazine BEST Fest competition winner.
Ger, Marie, Joleen, Carol, Riana and Ciaran travelled from Myrtleville & Sandycove Island in Cork, Ireland to join in BEST Fest. “It was a great, fun week, full of challenging swims in beautiful locations, lots of banter, new friends and sunshine. Our group highlight was when Marie got sucked up in the elite swimmers as they lapped her on the 10K. Like a herd of swimming antelopes, she was surrounded, but the experience of “Swimming with TEAM GB” was worth it and an exceptionally enthusiastic video of Marie during her feed made the rounds on twitter.” – Myrtleville & Sandycove Swimmers.
“We love returning to BEST Fest every year. Not just because it’s the place we met, but the friendly and dedicated staff mean you’re guaranteed well organised races in a beautiful location that uniquely cater for elite and non-elite swimmers alike. A great week away!” – Ross & Selena Wisby – BESTfest Couple!
“#Bestfest2016; an amazing dive into the cooling blue seas, with courses set to test your endurance & speed. Beautiful setting with staff to encourage you all the way! Truly an unforgettable week.” – Tanya Wilson & Hannah Graham-Tomkins – BEST Fest first timers.