To see what other people have written about the apartments
they stayed in, along with Puerto Rico, read
some reviews. Also, if you've already been to Gran Canaria or
remember for when you get back, tell me what your apartment was like
- what it had or didn't have, was it spacious or small, tell me the
good and the bad! I can add it to my reviews
and it helps me a lot to answer everyone else's questions.
The accommodation/complexes here usually don't have
individual brochures but more importantly, they all follow a very
similar standard, depending on the rating. The ratings I am using
are ratings that the tour operators give the complexes. Many of the
complexes have their own restaurants and other services and facilities
that you would find in an hotel.
The only 5 star hotel anywhere near Puerto Rico
is an Hotel in Arguineguín, 10 minutes drive away. The best
choice for 4 and 5 star hotels are all in Maspalomas and the capital,
Las Palmas. One of my favourites though is not far from Playa del
Ingles, it's the Melia Tamarindos in San Agustin. The best English
tour operator to ask about 5 star properties is a company called
Magic of Spain.
Other 5 star properties in or near Puerto Rico are all "holiday
ownership" resorts. The new hotels at Amadores Beach are
nearing completion and the first to open in March 2003 was the huge
and luxurious 4-star hotel Gloria Palace Amadores followed in April
by the 4 star Riu Club Vistamar hotel.
On to the apartments; the big plus with 4
star (3 keys) rather than 3 star is the facilities and
service you'll have access to, although the standards of accommodation
are fairly similar in quality and size. 24 hour reception, daily
maid service, room service, on-site restaurant and shops (including
mini-supermarket), baby-sitting service, pool, bar and some form
of onsite entertainment and activities ranging from tennis courts
and organised pool games to cabaret entertainment in the evening.
(Entertainment varies between properties). There will be on site
security (24 hours) in some form as well. Accommodation will comprise
of separate bedroom and bathroom, a lounge and a spacious, well
equipped kitchen area with cooking facilities and a fridge, telephone,
television and your own balcony with seating and a table out there
too. 4 stars either have fantastic views over the ocean or are located
right next to it! You'll have a safe box somewhere within the apartment.
So, your accommodation in a 3 star
(2 keys) will be very similar to that in a 4 star (so read above).
Maid service may be 3 or 4 times a week rather than daily and you're
not likely to have room service. Standards of furnishing in the
apartment should be quite high still with apartments very well maintained.
You'll still have a pool with either a small restaurant or pool
bar serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. Reception is usually open
24 hours but in some complexes it closes over night. Again, there
is some form of security on sight. You're likely to have onsite
entertainment but you have a bigger choice for entertainment around
the resort. Safe facilities will be available and you'll have a
private balcony with its own seating and table. A TV will be in
your apartment but not always your own phone. The majority of complexes
here by the way are rated 3 star.
In a 2 star (1 key) you'll still
have an apartment with a separate bathroom and separate bedroom.
The lounge will have a TV but there won't be a phone in your apartment,
although one will be on the complex. You'll have similar cooking
facilities to a 3 star property, including fridge although the kitchen
area is usually quite small, the priority of space being aimed at
the lounge area. The standards of furnishing will be pretty basic
and minimal but always very clean and well maintained. Even 2 star
properties have nice pool facilities with a pool bar serving meals
and snacks throughout the day. The reception hours will be limited,
usually to mornings only. There'll be safe box facilities and maid
service is usually two or three times during the week. Your private
balcony will have seating and a table. I don't think there are any
1 star but correct me if I'm wrong!
Common features to all complexes, whatever
their rating - the voltage here is 220 and the sockets
are 2 prong. Adapters and converters are sold in most shops. Few
complexes provide either toasters or kettles with their kitchens.
These may be available for hire from your reception. There will
be a private swimming pool, which is cleaned on a regular basis.
Launderettes and dry cleaners can be found in the "Centro Commercial
Civico" - main shopping centre. Most complexes have TVs in
their apartments, often linked to Sattelite systems for channels
from all around Europe and the local radio have many stations broadcast
in various languages, the local English station being Kiss FM on
90.6 FM.
You don't have to pack an iron, kettle, hairdryer
..... hire them in Gran Canaria
Puerto Rico is built into two,
steep hills and it is common for an apartment complex to cover several
levels of a hill meaning you have lots of stairs too and from your
apartment. If you have problems with stairs you'll need to ask in
advance (at your travel agent) if there's a lift to get you to the
level of your apartment or ask to be on a level where you won't
have to use stairs.
Playa del Ingles is huge and densly
populated, second largest holiday resort in Europe so offers a great
choice of accommodation from 4 star hotels to small complexes of
Bungalows but mainly larger apartment complexes. Very much on the
flat so easy to get around and rehgular bus services as well as
plenty of cabs take you from one side to the other.
Maspalomas (niehgbour to Playa
del Ingles) is equally as large a resort though far fewer complexes
and a much quieter feel about the place. Lots of smaller apartment
complexes and bungalows over most of the resort but that part nearest
the beach and lighthouse offers 4 and 5 star luxury hotels. A couple
of hundred meters further south of the lighthouse is Meloneras where
more luxury hotels and duplexes are being developed.
Most bedrooms will have twin beds so be careful,
make advanced requests if you're expecting one large, double bed.
Kitchens in bungalows/apartments usually have desk-top cookers,
no ovens nor grills but occasionally (not often) a microwave. Don't
be afraid to ask at reception for extra pillows, extra blankets
or anything else you might like to have in your accommodation that
isn't already there. Reception staff here are multi-lingual and
in the main, very helpful. Ask them for advice, information or help
and you should be suprised at how forethcoming they can be. Apartments
here seem to have balconies with table and chairs as standard.
Package Holidays
Whilst you may find booking your holiday to Gran
Canaria cheaper by arranging your flights and accommodation separately,
check with your travel agent for the price of a package holiday.
The main tour operators here are MyTravel, Thomson, JMC, First Choice,
Direct Holidays, Cosmos, Libra, Spies, Sunwing, Tjoereborg &
Ving & Club 18-30 in the summer, so ask your travel agent for
their brochures. In addition to lower prices you'll have a free
airport transfer and the services of your holiday representative
whilst you're here. In some resorts your package will include meals
and your holiday rep will have arrangements with many of the excursion
companies here to enable you to receive either lower prices, extra
items and services included on the excursion or free transport.
Book well in advance if you're planning to travel
Christmas/New Year, towards the end of February when the carnival
starts, Easter and school holidays. These are the busiest times
of all though high season here is really all year round due to the
climate.
I can't help (sorry to say) with renting long term
or buying accommodation. If you're still left with questions about
accommodation though then there's an apartments section of the canaryforums
