My partner and I booked this hotel with First Choice about 2 weeks before we were due to depart. It seemed, at the time, a good deal out of all the other choices. As Gran Canaria isn't that large an island, the trip from the Airport to the Hotel took about 30 mins.

Upon arrival at the hotel, the staff were very helpful and we lugged our cases off to a self-catering room on the 7th floor. To say we were disappointed doesn't really cover it. The room itself had a tiny sink, two very small electric rings and all saucepans etc, were shoved into what clearly was clothes storage space within the room. There was no kettle (a must for a mad tea drinker) and a very small fridge. The room itself was the last one on a row, close to a staircase and had a really isolated feel to it, made worse by the fact that the balcony overlooked a very busy road. The decor of the room was a drab green colour with dark wood wardrobes, bed headboard and drawers etc.

Both me and my partner disliked it instantly. We returned to the reception and said that it was not at all what we were expecting. The staff were very helpful and they suggested we move to the Riu Papaya that was part of the same complex. My partner went off to look at the room they suggested.... it was basically the same, in a quieter part of the complex, but without the 'kitchenette'. The decor was the same drab green colour and we realised that this was clearly what all the rooms were like.

We agreed to move to the 2nd room and asked for a kettle to be sent up. The fridge in the room was cleared of the hotel-supplied drinks and became the place for milk and other bits and bobs. The maid was a delight and bought us plates, cups knives and forks etc very soon after we got into the room.

The hotel itself was well maintained but due to its size, it had no atmosphere. The pool was large and a poolman cleaned it every night. Poolside towels were supplied by the hotel, and despite signs everywhere saying that sun-loungers could not be 'reserved' the usual culprits were up early to reserve their loungers.

Neither of us swan in the pool, so I can't comment about that. We didn't eat in the hotel either, so I cannot comment about food quality etc. The hotel laid on a bus that took you to the Maspalomas Dunes and this ran every half hour in the morning and late afternoon.

As Brits, we were clearly outnumbered by our German friends, and it felt like we were the only Brits in the hotel. The hotel itself laid on entertainment each night, but we did not partake of this either.

All in all, these two hotels are nice, but are now very dated and in need of a good refurb. Their location is not in a rowdy part of town and the bus to the dunes everyday made the distance from the beach no issue at all.

The plus side is that the staff were very helpful and the hotel clearly had a good hot water supply as the shower each night was a joy. All in all, I would not return to this hotel.... to be fair, I doubt I'd return to the island as we hired a car and there isn't really a great deal to do if you don't want to lay in the sun all day.

Apartments are furnished as the furniture was worn out and really out. We booked a room without plan, so can not tell anything about the food.

Staff was very formal, and mostly nice to the 45% Germans and 45% English in the hotel.

Swimming pool was small, and also did not use this a lot.

If you just need a bed close to the center, these apartments are fine.

This was probably a really nice hotel when it was first built, but it is literally crumbling from the balconies, the furniture comes from whatever passed for 1980's "IKEA" and the bathrooms are very dated. But it was clean, pleasant service and the beds were OK.

we booked a studio apartment instead of a normal room hoping for a lounge area with a bedroom. When we checked in, we were taken to the room and it was a hugh let down. It had no lounge area and basically consisted of a sink and a small table. The worst thing about the studio apartments are they overlook a busy road and all we could hear was traffic. We asked to be moved and our thomas cook rep was quick to get us moved to a room in the adjoining hotel called the Riu Papayas which had basic rooms but much quieter and nicer views (the flamingo rooms overlooking pool were very nice too). These two hotels had very attractive surroundings and staff were very friendly and helpful. The pool area was also very lovely. There are many Germans in these hotels but they were all very nice and no lager louts were present. I would recommend the hotel but the rooms are dated but very clean.