"It's a well-known fact that this is the best hotel in the Canaries" - those were the first words from our holiday rep at the start of our first full day staying at the Princesa Yaiza. By that stage, we already had a few nagging doubts, but more of that later.
First, the good points. This a very good hotel by any standard. The location is great, a short walk from the heart of Playa Blanca and a multitude of decent restaurants along the buzzing seafront. The suites are a good size with separate bedroom, living room and excellent bathroom. The hotel public areas are spacious and decorated to a high standard. The staff are friendly and helpful and the place generally was kept spotless inside and outside the rooms. There is a good choice of eating options in the hotel and I thought that the general standard of entertainment in the evenings was pretty high.
So a good hotel ... but not perfect. When we arrived, the receptionist happily informed us that our room had been upgraded to a suite at no extra charge. When we opened the door we were a little disappointed. The view on one side was a very long corridor, on the other a hedge. The place was dark with a very strong, persistent odour of stale water from the bathroom that would not shift. It felt like a dungeon. We asked if a change would be possible and a note duly appeared under the door first thing in the morning. We could have an "excellent" sea-view room for an extra 30 Euro per day. It would be free about noon. We accepted. In fact, we did not get in until 7pm after waiting around all day and checking availability regularly. The new room itself was as described, with stunning views over the sea but the transition could have been handled much more smoothly.
The hotel also lacks a little finesse in terms of food. Apart from daily breakfast, we had snacks on a few days and one evening meal. This was a disappointment. At a set cost of 72 euro for two excluding wine, this was poor value compared to the superior restaurants within a few minutes walk. The service was anything but slick, and to be honest, the food choice was not that great for buffet style. The plastic flowers on the table didn't exactly help the look either.
The hotel also seemed to struggle a bit with the unseasonably cold weather. It took three days to crank up the patio heaters and stop the automatic doors from sending a chilling wind through the upstairs bar. The fact that the singer needed to wear an overcoat should have been a good enough hint.
These are niggles, and should not detract from the fact that this is a high quality hotel. Several of the guests during our stay were return visitors and it is understandable why. Is it the best hotel in the Canaries? Last year, we stayed in the Atlantis Bahia in Fuerteventura. Its location is not as central as the Princesa Yaiza, but on most other counts we think it probably has the edge.
BEWARE Lanzarote tour operators are careful to advise on purchasing cameras and electrical goods from a recommended reputable chain. This chain does not have shops in Playa Blanca. I experienced a well-rehearsed scam in one shop. In general, for high end equipment, the prices in the Canaries struggle to match the deals available from the main UK providers.
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- Princesa Yaiza
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- Princess Yaiza Hotel
- Princesa Yaiza Hotel
- Hotel Princesa Yaiza Suite
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