Lanzarote Bay Hotel

Author's product rating:   

Value for Money
Quality of Rooms
Standard of Service
Quality of Food & Drink

Advantages:	all inclusive, plenty to do
Disadvantages:	none worth bothering about

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

My friend and I have just come back from a holiday in Lanzarote. This was a last minute deal (like most of ours are) and it was one of the better ones.

I got it off an auction site so apart from the fact that it was in Lanzarote and it was a three star half board basis that was all we knew. Upon landing at the airport we were put into a coach and told we were going to the Lanzarote Bay Hotel in Costa Teguise.

When we arrived in the dark as it was about 11.15 at night we were suitably impressed. The hotel looked extremely large and we walked into a very spacious round lobby area. The booking in was fairly quick and easy and to our surprise we both immediately had a bright orange band attached to an arm. We were then told this meant we were in an all inclusive hotel. Not really wanting to turn down free food and drink we did actually explain that we had only booked on a half board basis but we were informed that this hotel only did all inclusive and that everything was o.k.

We were then informed that because the hotel had expected some late arrivals the restaurant had stayed open late especially in case anyone wanted something to eat. This is something I have never had happen before.

We were given the key to our room and a map of the hotel and sent off to find the room. Unfortunately there did not seem to be any one around to carry the cases so we had to lug them ourselves and we turned out to be on the 3rd floor. These rooms were all in blocks around the pool area and they were all 3 floors. Upon opening the door we were again very impressed. Instead of a hotel room as expected it was more like a self catering apartment. We went into a large lounge which had a settee, coffee table, coin operated TV and patio doors opening on to a large balcony. There was also a kitchen area with a cooker and fridge, a bathroom with a shower, bath, toilet and a bidet. The bedroom was large with twin beds, plenty of wardrobe space (complete with lots of hangers), drawers and again patio doors opening on to the balcony. Another small disadvantage was the doors in the apartment were quite dificult to open and the bathroom door was extremely noisy.

We dropped our luggage and went back to the bar for a much needed drink.

The next day we had a good look around the hotel. In the middle of the foyer were some steps that lead down to a bar area complete with stage. This was where all the entertainment in the evening was held. There was plenty going on every night. In the early evening there was always a kids disco which they loved. As we didn't have children with us I can not tell you too much about what there was for the children but they always seemed to be something for them to do and going by the fact that most of the kids were wearing either green tee shirt and shorts or yellow ones I presume they were all given these. The disco finished at 8.30 but the children were allowed to stay in the club all evening as long as they behaved. There was usually then music played whilst bingo tickets were sold. At 9.30 every evening there was a game of bingo held. For people that do not like bingo do not worry as there was only one game played. The tickets were reasonably priced at 2 euros each or 10 euros for 6 but the prize money was between 60 and 100 euros for a line and between 130/200 for a full house.

At 10 oclock each evening there was cabaret which appeared to be in a two week rota so you saw something different each night. Some nights there were different artists booked and some nights it was the tour company reps but each one was well worth seeing. Whilst there we saw a magician, a tribute to the platters, a trio that took off various artists, a tribute to Hollywood and on our last night there was a tribut to Disney in which all the kids staying in the hotel had been given parts. Following on from the cabaret there was a disco until midnight at which time all the bars in the hotel shut.

The hotel had a large kidney shaped pool with an island in the centre. One side of this pool was deep water and the other was shallow. There was also a separate childrens pool. There were plenty of sunbeds and some parasols. There was also a pool bar and a small section where you could get food during the day. There was a salad selection, chips, burgers etc. All the drinks from this bar were supplied in plastic glasses as they were for drinking outside. There was also another bar where you could either drink inside in comfy chairs or go sit out on the terrace. If you chose to sit on the terrace you were again given the drinks in plastic glasses. No-one really minds these as obviously no one wants the risk of broken glass around a pool area. This bar did not allow children in after 9 at night and showed a film in the eve
ning for people that did not want to see the cabaret. The films were fairly recent. The one we saw was the Lord of the Rings - The two towers.

There was also three tennis courts and a football/basketball pitch, a rifle shooting area, darts, archery and other entertainments. There was a quiz each lunchtime round the pool and activities and games each afternoon. There was also a childrens club each day for the kids.

The restaurant was very well organised. You never had to wait for a table and they were always clean. The food was all self service with plenty of choice. There were several themed eveings including a chinese night and a spanish night. Spaced around the room were various drinks machines. There were three giving out coffees, 2 giving out fruit juice, eg pineapple, orange, apple, 2 machines dispensing coca cola, lemonade, fanta etc. There was also a tap giving out water, 2 dispensing beer, 1 for red wine, 1 for white wine and 2 for sangria. There was also a separate area where there was food that children usually insist on. Chicken nuggets, chips, fish fingers etc.

The hotel ran a free bus every half hour to a nearby beach which we took a couple of days but we also found a nice beach about 10 minutes walk away. Near to the hotel there was also a few bars and a couple of supermarkets within 5 minutes walk. The only main disadvantage we found of the hotel was the fact that you always had to go out of the front of the hotel whilst everything including the beach was at the back. It would have been easier if there had been a back gate as the hotel was quite large to walk around.

One last thing to say about this hotel is that although it is a very busy hotel there was never any waiting around. In the bars the longest you had to wait for a drink was a couple of minutes, there was always plenty of food and everything was alwasy clean and tidy. I would definately recommend it and look forward to going back again in the future.

After reading the comments about this op I have decided to just add another couple of points. This holiday actually cost us only #237.50 each. That was flying from Leeds Bradford (our local airport) and included in flight meals and transfers. I call this very reasonable. Also the hotel was situated about 15 mins walk away from the centre of costa teguise. The free bus to the beach actually dropped you off in the centre so if you wanted to go out of the hotel in an evening it wasn't far to go. If the bus had stopped and you didn't want to walk we were told it was about 2 euros in a taxi. Also directly at the back of the hotel was a bus stop from which you could get a bus that went straight to Arricife (Lanzarote centre) and then carried straight on to Porta del carmen. Hope this covers everything you all want to know.