42 Reviews
Traveller Rating
-
Excellent9
-
Very Good19
-
Good12
-
Average2
-
Poor0
Review Overview
-
Cleanliness
-
Entertainment
-
Food
-
Service
-
Location
Travel operator: First choice
Travel operator: first choice
Our first over all impression of the Hotel was good, until we got to meet some of the receptionists. I agree with other comments, most weren't that helpful. We did encounter a man and a woman on reception who were - but sorry can't remember names!
The rooms were cleaned everyday - to a good standard. Various times of day. We even had a room cleaned after 7 at night where we had been in and out of it all day!
If you have a room overlooking the tennis courts - be warned there was a pungent smell!
There is a lot of building work going on all around the hotel. Do not let this put you off, apart from a claxon telling the workers of breaks etc, noise was really minimal.
The Hotel is a little too far away from the main town to walk with young children, but plenty of people we met with older children walked there in fifteen to twenty minutes. About the same walk to the Water Park if you are travelling there light so we were told.
The restaurant staff in the main Gaudi restaurant were brilliant. (Most night we sat on the left hand side where you go in) We had a young baby and a 4 year old with us, and they looked after us well, and always made a fuss of the children. Expect to queue after 830 pm for your dinner for about 25 minutes! In the mornings if there is a queue - sit outside for your breakfast - no need to wait!
The food was good for all inclusive, we are a fussy family - I don't eat meat, DH not a veg / salad lover and DD a typical fussy 4 year old. I struggled one night on the second week, when the food was repeated, and I'd tried it the first week, and decided I wouldn't bother with that choice a second time. I would say - the trick to the food not being too repititive is to have a particular meal rather than buffet style food IYKWIM?! The only complaint really with the Gaudi restaurant was that even though we were always there for first sitting was the food was not as hot as I would have liked it. The milanese had less choice of an evening, but lunchtimes offered baguettes, burgers, hotdogs, pizza, chips and salad. The food was always hotter here. There would sometimes be a queue for baguettes, but unless the person in front was ordering more than 4 it always moved at a steady pace. Some chefs were more generous with fillings than others! If you are all inclusive and want to eat all day, position yourself by the Milanese! (By the activity pool)
If you book a packed lunch - collect it early - as you may find that it has been given away - or not made!
Ice creams were only free if you want scoop style from the Milanese. If you want to pay for them, and like chocolate icecreams DOVE icecreams were heavenly!!!
The alchohol rule for AI is 2 drinks per person, however, a couple of times we did get more. I think the thing is - forewarned - forarmed - if there is a party of you going - you need more than one person to go to the bar. It isn't an unreasonable request IMO of the hotel. I ditto the comment about the bar staff liking a little spanish being spoken to them!
The entertainment during the day was pretty much non stop. We put our 4 year old in kids club, and had to stay - not quite enough going on for her to be entertained by the staff alone, when there are so many languages being spoken - she found it a little daunting, although it did not stop her going back if we went with her. Kind of defeats kids club! However, what we could see of the older kids club - it looked much better - as long as they like games and sports. In the evening there was mini disco by the Milanese at 8pm, (A good time for under 8's) bingo at 9pm, followed by a show.
There were loads of pools to choose from, we liked the pools that seemed to be by the self catering area, as it had a big and a child pool next to each other. From what we could see as we walked about, sunbeds were available until about 11am, but if you wanted the same spot on a daily basis - "bagging" it by 10am usually sufficed! No need to get up at 7 to do this!!!!!
We would recommend this hotel to others. There is plenty to do here - if you want an active holiday. We were happy by the pool as our 4year old was in her element, so for us it was a really relaxing holiday.
Just a tip - if you travel late August - the second week we needed thin jackets in the evening, as the breeze picked up.
Travel operator: My Travel
Bus service ok went to Rosaria and el castilla on two days no pronlems.
Very nice markets for a change by the market is a small theme park for small kids only open at night, for older ones there was a haunted house.
One day we went on a two hr trip on trikes it was wonderful, you follow the leader but drive them yourself went to el Castillo lovely.
There are lovely walks on the beach to the sand dunes if you can drag yourself away from the pool, i an glad i went self catering as i did not have to stick around for free food.
The pool by our apartments was the best one i think neb
never to busy sometimes had pool to ourselves especially in the afternoon.
Travel operator: Travel republic
Travel operator: On The Beach
The hotel was good with very clean accomodation that had maid service daily. We stayed in a junior superior suite but on reflection should have booked a 2 bed suite as the bed situation for our 12 + 3 year old turned out to be a double sofa bed that when pulled out was 2 single sofa beds which meant that the metal framing between them was dangerous for the 3 year old and the 12 year old didn't get a good nights sleep most nights as her sister kept spinning around in her sleep and kicking her in the face.
We mainly used the swimming pools that were located almost behind the supermarket (If looking from the reception doors down towards the entrance fountain they are past the tennis courts over to your left).
We found that there was always sunbeds available and that most guests did not use these pools due to the fact that the pool bar was never open and you had to do a short walk back to the reception area bar to get drinks.
The childrens pool came up to my 3 year olds chest height but she was fine with arm bands and actually learned to swim whilst there. The only proper baby/toddler pool is located next to the play area but this is so small with never a sun bed available after 7am that i really don't see the point. This was an area we felt could be improved.
The staff were all very helpful and spoke excellant English except the maids who seemed to speak very little.
The food on the whole was good but we have had better from other hotels of the same rating. The breakfast was vast with a great choice but lunch was usually what could be made from last nights left overs, and the evening meals were usually ok altough even for me who never struggles to find something I like. Even I found it hard on a couple of occassions and we only went for 1 week.I even came down with a bad case of vomiting the day before returning home and not that I would like to say it definitely was a mild case of food poisoning but I have had it before and the syptoms were very much the same. The fresh baguettes were nice but again could have more choice for fillings.
On the whole we had a nice time but we haven't ever returned to the same hotel twice and if we were to do so this would not be one that we would not go back to, as I said we have stayed in better for the rating.
Travel operator: A1 Travel
We all agreed that the accomodation was excellent and the gardens, pools etc were also excellent.
We also thought this was a great place for families as it is so child friendly. We knew this before our holiday, but since it was June and before school holidays we thought that would be o.k. For any adults thinking of going to this resort I would say it could be a nightmare. Never in my life have I heard so many crying babies and bawling kids. We do adore kids and enjoy our lovely grandchildren but on holiday this was a bit much. There were buggy parks otside the dining room and on our first night we counted 20 buggies and that was just when we were going in/ The place was bedlam and by our second week was so unbearable that though we were a.i. we were going out to eat just for a bit of peace.There was an adult only pool which was really nice but parents were still allowing their kids to use it. Some brave British people asked them more than once to move their kids. At night possibly because of being a.i. babies and toddlers were being carried or wheeled in and out of the bar until midnight, so no peace there either.
Sounds like one big moan, but we enjoyed our hols as we always do but first time ever was glad to get back to the peace and quiet of Britain.
If you have kids this is definitely the place to be as they can run riot, meet lots of other wee ones and have a wonderful time. If you want a relaxing holiday this is not the place.
Travel operator: thomas cook
There are 5 different pool area's with plenty of sunbeds. We were by the relax pool which was always nice and quiet and if children came into the pool making any noise the manager would come and tell them to be quiet or move to the family pool which was mad and very noisy all day, it was nice to have a choice.
The animation team were great fun and kept everyone entertained all day and night, that's if you wanted, they did'nt hassle you.
The food was lovely especially the a la carte resturantes, Italian and Spanish. The spanish was my favourite, lots of choice and we were stuffed when we came out.
The second week of our holiday was half term for the kids and the complex was fully booked and was probably too busy. The buffet resturant was very busy and the staff struggled to clear tables. Some people had to wait outside for tables. I would'nt advice anyone without children to visit this resort during school holiday times, we had a teenager with us and even we thought it was a bit crazy the second week.
The staff in general were very pleasant and helpfull except for 1 waiter in the lobby bar (Deiago) who was very ignorant and would go missing in the back room for 10 mins rather than serve you, but never mind the others were lovely and friendly, especially the young lady on the pool bar at the childrens pool. She worked so hard all day on her own and always had a smile for everyone.
All the activities on offer were excellent, tennis, basketball, volleyball, darts, fully equiped gym and spa and lots of others, it kept my teenage son happy for 2 weeks, we barely seen him he made so many friends there.
Overall i would recommend this complex to familys with children. We really enjoyed ourselves and would consider returning in the future.
Travel operator: First Choice
The hotel is nice, the food in the main Gaudi buffet restaurant is lovely. There are always two chefs show cooking, one usually steak and chicken and the other two different kinds of seafood. Along with a carvery with usually, pork, lamb, turkey etc on it too. Then there are the usual pastas, vegetables and several other main courses to choose from. I really enjoyed the food and put on about half a stone, so that says it all really. There is also an extensive salad bar, soups, bread and puddings to choose from. The only complaint I have is that I couldn't get booked into either of the Al a carte restaurants, you have to be at reception first thing in the morning (ie before 9) to book for the following evening and the restaurants don't open on a Monday and Tuesday.
The animation team are great. They do everything. There is only six of them and they run the kids clubs during the day, darts, archery etc by the pool outwith the two kids clubs sessions and then they do the shows at night. Don't get me wrong, the shows aren't brilliant, but they are entertaining and worth seeing because there's nothing else to do here at night. I think because I knew how hard the team worked I appreciated the shows more. They did a comedy show, a caberet quiz thing, Grease and Cats are the ones I remember. They mime to everything but as I say its worth watching. Two of the team are absolutely fantastic dancers and god knows why they're not working professionally in the west end or something.
If you've got kids, as I say theres not a lot for them to do at night. There is a wheelchair ramp down to the main plaza area which most of the young kids (including my one) spend the whole night sliding up and down. Great fun for them, but not so great fun for the six pairs of trousers that got ripped in the process! Other than that they do a free bingo to win a bottle of champagne, just before the show starts, but between the numbers being read out in English, German and then Spanish and all the kids running around I really couldn't concentrate on it anyway.
The little baby pool is tiny, but theres an excellent sandy play park there for the kids and its handy for the kids club too. There are two other pools next to it, one of which is an adults only pool (despite the kids in the pool!). My main complaint about this area is 1. My balcony door opened onto the relax adults pool and I didn't use it because I had a little un, even though others did and 2. The bar here was shut because it was out of peak season, which I was annoyed at as there was more than enough people round these pools to justify opening it. It meant walking away up to the main pool bar for a drink. Several times we opted to get a couple of cans of juice from the Netto supermarket just at the entrance to the hotel, even though we were all inclusive!
The choice of drinks on all inclusive is ok. They have a couple of branded whiskys, Ballantynes, J&B etc on ai. The house vodka is ok and the house beer is Estrella Damn which is nice. They also do a couple of all inclusive vodkas, jugs of Sangria and hot chocolate etc all on all inclusive. It was quite as limited for drinks as I thought it would be which is good.
The breakfast in the mornings is nice too and has an excellent selection in the main Gaudi restaurant. The pool bar does a late breakfast from 10am to 11am but to be honest it is very very limited and I felt as if I was imposing on the staff there just by being there. If I have any complaints about the staff in this hotel it would be in this restaurant as the rest of the hotel staff are amazing. They also do a lunch buffet in the pool bar, again very very limited. But they have the sandwich corner here which is brilliant freshly baked baguettes with a range of different fillings, well worth trying!
Be aware that if you are wanting a baguette and the chef runs out of fillings, you will have to stand there for 15 mins while he refills his ingredients. He doesn't say a word to you either or put up a sign, he just goes and chops up all his stuff while you standing there huffing and puffing. Again the main restaurant staff are completely the opposite of this. We only had one night where I would have complained the service was slow and they did look very short staffed.
The reception staff were really nice and we had excellent service from them. You can also order a packed lunch if you are going to the beach and are all inclusive. You just need to order from reception by 8pm the night before you want it. We did this and were quite happy by what we received. It was two sandwiches each, fruit, fruit juice a bottle of water and a cake, well it was adequate anyway.
The hotel run a bus to the beach which goes about once an hour which is excellent. You get dropped off just at the Oliva Beach hotel and the beach here is stunning. A five minute walk will take you to the sand dunes and these are out of this world, as is the crystal blue waters here, you could easily imagine yourself transported to the carribean. People should be aware though that there is a lot of naturism here so further along the beach is full of people starkers and they're not shy about it, so if you're shy you should stay down nearer the hotels.
The hotel rooms are nice, we had a junior suite which had an enormous bed, which was actually really comfortable for a change, the comfiest hotel room bed I've ever had. There was a large sliding door seperating that from the living area, where the sofa bed was converted already when we arrived into an adequate comfy single bed and still left room for sitting. The bathroom was nice and clean with an excellent deep bath and a shower. There was also a dress room with fabulous storage for all your clothes and room for suitcases to be stored too. The safe is held in this room and is free if you are on all inclusive. Please also note that you don't need to take pool towels to this hotel with you, its not very well advertised but the reception give you cards which you can exchange for pool towels in the spa. Saves loads of room for duty free in your cases.
I went to the spa and treated myself to a manicure and a pedicure. It cost 75 euros for both and took two hours in total. Don't get me wrong I really enjoyed it but to be honest I've had far superior manicures and pedicures for a tenner in Turkey, also much better ones at home but it was worth it for the relaxation and hand and feet massages.
The spa itself is nice and has a gym, sauna and spa. Worth a visit to escape hubby and kids for a wee while ;-)
The private beach opposite the hotel isn't really worth going to. Its quite rocky, although my four year old enjoyed collecting bits of lava rock from the beach. Its nice and quiet though if you just want to dig a sandcastle. 10 minutes walk along to the left will take you to Waikiki beach which is a lovely beach with two bars/restaurants and a gorgeous little bay. Well worth spending a day at.
I did overall enjoy myself at this hotel. I'm not 100% sure if I would return though as it wasn't quite as luxurious as I had hoped. I would rate it as an excellent three star, but feel its pushing it a bit to rate it as a four. Its also a wee bit out of the town of Corralejo and as I said there's not really anything to do at night. I would return to Corallejo in a flash but think it would be to either a flashier or hotel, or one nearer the town. I highly recommend it though, you make your holiday what you make it at this hotel and the food and drink are good.
Travel operator: Independant
Travel operator: Direct Holidays
Ask a Question
Got a question? Ask our community of over 1.5 million users.