Occidental Margaritas, San Bartolome de Tirajana, Spain

Hotel is actually two structures - we stayed in the "apartment" block: rooms quite dated but clean and comfortable. Understand that the other structure has more modern hotel rooms, so probably best to book the hotel rather than the apartments. Ideal for families as there is plenty to do for the kids and the friendly animation team can keep them busy all day with various activities (archery, football, mini-golf etc) and there is also both an indoor & outdoor gym, tennis as well as yoga and other excerise sessions for adults. Two pools each with a bar/restaurant and entertainment on the stage each evening was good fun with plenty of laughs for the family - the animation team really do work hard to ensure everyone is having an enjoyable stay, without being too overbearing :) Breakfast and dinner are buffet style and selection was plenty & enjoyable. Dinner has two sittings and at check in you are allocated either earlier or later sitting, though dining room staff don't monitor and we found that best time was towards the end of first sitting as had less people in restaurant. Hotel location OK and has free shuttle transfers at various times throughout the day to either Playa del Inglés (touristy) or Maspalomas beach (more up-market shopping and bars/restaurants). A visit to the Dunes is a must! Small but well stocked supermarket right next door to the hotel is handy for lunch supplies or drinks (if you are not on the All Inclusive deal). Would we go back? Yes.

This is a nice hotel although you must remember there are 2 completely separate towers, one of these is quite new, the other dated however it's the one containing the apartment-like rooms. For a short stay, or any stay having breakfast, half or full board, who needs a kitchenette anyway. You are better off at the nicely newer bedrooms in the other tower. You have all the facilities within, but the pool is somewhat odd and small-ish for the almost 500 rooms. Staff was very friendly and helpful that's out of question, great at any time. Dinner was very nice with lots of choice, and so was the breakfast although in this occasion, the quality was questionable with some products. it's quite unfortunate the cost of the hotels in Gran Canaria is so nonsensically high, however with this hotel you can have a good value for money hence quite recommended.

Food was good, nice selection, a lot of fish options so bit difficult if you dont like fish but i coped quite well. Breakfast was lovely, pancakes and waffles to die for! Lots of steps throughout this resort which was nice exercise - most of the time! The outside gym area was great. We requested an iron via our room phone and had to go to reception to pay a deposit of 20 euros, and then had to wait 45 minutes for housekeeping to bring it upstairs - this was annoying as we were waiting to go out and would have rather collected it. We then had to take our receipt to reception to get our deposit back whilst the iron was still in the room for housekeeping to collect - so bit pointless. All in all, great stay. Good for the older crowd, but didnt bother us (mid 20s). Entertainment was ok on an evening too. Only issue was the bed wasnt a double and they said there wasnt any available so they 'converted' the twin beds into a double which didnt work too well but was an okay option, would prefer a double as i then got back ache from falling down the gap.

Hotel is in a good location, close to shops and entertainment. I arrived at 1pm and my room was ready. My request for a high floor quiet room was honoured, and my seventh floor room overlooked the pool and central courtyard. Very comfortable room and bathroom with safe and TV which had at least three channels in English. Wonderful buffet selection for both breakfast and dinner. Reception always seemed understaffed, and often there was one long queue for check in /out and general enquiries. Dinner is supposedly on two sittings but the staff don't seem to monitor this. I opted for the second sitting that started at 7 45, and soon learnt the importance of arriving promptly - twenty minutes later there is a long queue of people waiting to be seated. Some of the evening restaurant staff are unhelpful and one chef who serves at a counter is very rude. The evening entertainment is usually vocalists on a stage poolside, but some nights they double up as comperes for bingo? / games? .. this can go on until 10 30 and be loud and annoying. I reported that the phone in my room did not work and was told it would be fixed - this did not happen

11 night stay in apartment with family, upgraded to all inclusive before we left UK. This was a good choice. Apartment was comfortable, cleaned every day. Food was good if a bit hectic at times in the restaurant as it was not big enough for number of guests. Good choice of food, Dined in the al a carte restaurant Aloah one night this was very enjoyable. Staff were friendly and knowledgeable, and helpful. Check out time of 12 is a good time, and although our flight was evening we could still store our bags and go for a last meal in Playa del Ingles. Good free bus to beach, and good position for shops and close to Yumbo centre, walking distance.