Canary Islands 2023 Holiday Thread
Discussion
After taking a punt and booking the Barcelo Playa Blanca Royal Level Adults only a couple of weeks ago, we arrived yesterday.
As already mentioned I was quite relaxed and would be quite content if we had to put up with a few teething issues.
From what we have seen so far the hotel is great. More or less finished with a bit of landscaping still to be finished. Breakfast and lunch buffets in Royal Level are excellent. We did try the main buffet last night and was nothing to write home about. Service is a little slow but not an issue.
The rooms are great and I really love the contemporary feel of the decor throughout the hotel.
One block won't be open until next year and neither of the a la carte restaurants are open yet although the Mexican will supposedly open tomorrow.
The hotel is very quiet and if you are a glass half empty kind of a person it would be very easy to describe it as a building site and unfinished, but we've no regrets so for.
I had a dander around the Rubicon Marina this morning and is a nice area.
If I figure out how to post photos I may do it later in the week.
Thanks again to the poster who mentioned the hotel.
As already mentioned I was quite relaxed and would be quite content if we had to put up with a few teething issues.
From what we have seen so far the hotel is great. More or less finished with a bit of landscaping still to be finished. Breakfast and lunch buffets in Royal Level are excellent. We did try the main buffet last night and was nothing to write home about. Service is a little slow but not an issue.
The rooms are great and I really love the contemporary feel of the decor throughout the hotel.
One block won't be open until next year and neither of the a la carte restaurants are open yet although the Mexican will supposedly open tomorrow.
The hotel is very quiet and if you are a glass half empty kind of a person it would be very easy to describe it as a building site and unfinished, but we've no regrets so for.
I had a dander around the Rubicon Marina this morning and is a nice area.
If I figure out how to post photos I may do it later in the week.
Thanks again to the poster who mentioned the hotel.
bernie_eccle said:
After taking a punt and booking the Barcelo Playa Blanca Royal Level Adults only a couple of weeks ago, we arrived yesterday.
As already mentioned I was quite relaxed and would be quite content if we had to put up with a few teething issues.
From what we have seen so far the hotel is great.
We used to really like Barcelo...right up until they made Royal Level an adults-only environment. Clearly they decided that anyone with kids had to be trash and would all be treated alike, crowded into the main area and given mediocre food and service.As already mentioned I was quite relaxed and would be quite content if we had to put up with a few teething issues.
From what we have seen so far the hotel is great.
I get that adults-only areas/hotels SHOULD exist. Not a problem.
...but when that's your only premium offering, then you lose a lot of custom.
bernie_eccle said:
After taking a punt and booking the Barcelo Playa Blanca Royal Level Adults only a couple of weeks ago, we arrived yesterday.
As already mentioned I was quite relaxed and would be quite content if we had to put up with a few teething issues.
From what we have seen so far the hotel is great. More or less finished with a bit of landscaping still to be finished. Breakfast and lunch buffets in Royal Level are excellent. We did try the main buffet last night and was nothing to write home about. Service is a little slow but not an issue.
The rooms are great and I really love the contemporary feel of the decor throughout the hotel.
One block won't be open until next year and neither of the a la carte restaurants are open yet although the Mexican will supposedly open tomorrow.
The hotel is very quiet and if you are a glass half empty kind of a person it would be very easy to describe it as a building site and unfinished, but we've no regrets so for.
I had a dander around the Rubicon Marina this morning and is a nice area.
If I figure out how to post photos I may do it later in the week.
Thanks again to the poster who mentioned the hotel.
Have a great time, it worked out cheaper to book ours as a package- We are almost next door in Yaiza As already mentioned I was quite relaxed and would be quite content if we had to put up with a few teething issues.
From what we have seen so far the hotel is great. More or less finished with a bit of landscaping still to be finished. Breakfast and lunch buffets in Royal Level are excellent. We did try the main buffet last night and was nothing to write home about. Service is a little slow but not an issue.
The rooms are great and I really love the contemporary feel of the decor throughout the hotel.
One block won't be open until next year and neither of the a la carte restaurants are open yet although the Mexican will supposedly open tomorrow.
The hotel is very quiet and if you are a glass half empty kind of a person it would be very easy to describe it as a building site and unfinished, but we've no regrets so for.
I had a dander around the Rubicon Marina this morning and is a nice area.
If I figure out how to post photos I may do it later in the week.
Thanks again to the poster who mentioned the hotel.
bernie_eccle said:
Stuff
Glad it’s all worked out for you 
Rubicon Marina is a curious place IMO - looks like it could be really good but was pretty quiet when I went, although it was out of season so to be expected I guess. The street market was quite good and pretty busy and there is a nice coffee/cake place that has outside seating overlooking the boats and is worth a visit.
This place, which is just as you go in from your hotel is pretty good - does some nice food and was always busy with what appeared to be locals which is always a good sign.
Edit - think the coffee/cake place is Arabella’s
Edited by Fifty on Sunday 3rd December 21:04
The marina is more upmarket but also notably more expensive (for what you get) than the central promenade...we've tended to head to the restaurants along there or behind the promenade in the evenings simply because you get more for less...and you don't tend to get the 'Brits on tour' brigade at the proper restaurants anyway.
(Italian just west of the Yaiza in the commercial complex - Casale Franco? - is very good, as a compromise if the promenade is too far)
(Italian just west of the Yaiza in the commercial complex - Casale Franco? - is very good, as a compromise if the promenade is too far)
Less than two weeks to go until my 5 week escape a la Isla de Tenerife.
A big apartment in a small town on the west side in order to immerse myself in the Spanish language. A lot of hiking too.
A few friends coming over to visit over the weeks but I'll be happily solo over Christmas and New Year.
Two of my grown up kids coming over for the last week in January.
Need some sun and warmth
A big apartment in a small town on the west side in order to immerse myself in the Spanish language. A lot of hiking too.
A few friends coming over to visit over the weeks but I'll be happily solo over Christmas and New Year.
Two of my grown up kids coming over for the last week in January.
Need some sun and warmth
I'm a bit rusty on how to upload photos but have resurrected an old Flickr account to give it a go.
An album with some snaps of the Barcelo Playa Blanca, Lanzarote
https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjB5CrB
Hopefully that works. Was painful trying to pull these together on the phone and can't remember how to embed them here.
An album with some snaps of the Barcelo Playa Blanca, Lanzarote
https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjB5CrB
Hopefully that works. Was painful trying to pull these together on the phone and can't remember how to embed them here.
fourstardan said:
Hotel does look nice, I really love the way they use black rock in Lanzarote with the light colours.
Infinity pool looks good as well, but its a shame it over looks the harbour
When you are on a lounger, you can't see the harbour, just the masts and not an issue for us. Infinity pool looks good as well, but its a shame it over looks the harbour
Actually, just come back down to the Royal Level Infinity pool and it doesn't directly overlook the marina, but the bay next to it.
Nope, failed at trying to embed from Flickr
Edited by bernie_eccle on Monday 4th December 15:32
Edited by bernie_eccle on Monday 4th December 15:33
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