Reviews of Maspalomas Princess Hotel, Maspalomas, Gran Canaria

It was the best thing ever to go...

Overall Rating:

8/10

Board Basis:

Half Board

Date of Holiday:

Dec 2005

Tour Operator:

Thomson

Submitted By:

Mrs L Ball

Comments:

It was the best thing ever to go away for New Year highly recommend it to anyone, the weather was like summer it was even better knowing that is was very cold and wet at home.



The hotel was fantastic the pools were large and heated they were many to choose from.



Lots of bars one piano bar in particular very relaxing, atmosphere was really good really catered for the new year celebrations big party, and what was nice that this was a very family friendly hotel.



Loads of selection on the foods.

This is our 3rd visit in 18...

Overall Rating:

3/10

Board Basis:

Half Board

Date of Holiday:

Jul 2007

Tour Operator:

Thomson

Submitted By:

Mrs S Marshall

Comments:

This is our 3rd visit in 18 months and boy have standards dropped!



We paid an extra £60.00 for a taxi to and from the airport and when it turned up (both ways) it was a decrepit old bus just for the 3 of us. As for the Thomson reps, we didn't even bother due to earlier experiences with complaining last year.



I agree with an earlier comment that this hotel should no longer be classed as Platinum as you are all treated the same. Checking in is a nightmare!!



Bar and dining staff friendly as always - however service was, at times slow simply because there were so few.



Food definitely gone downhill, as has the standard of cleanliness in all areas. Two pools were closed for a day whilst we were there as someone had what I will refer to as an 'accident' in them.



Particular attention should be paid to the mini golf area which is so tatty and indeed we made the same comment last June and it remains just as bad, bits of tape sticking things together!



There are now only 2 table-tennis tables for both Tabaiba and Princess (last year there were at least four). It was rare for my 9 year old to get a game (unless he was there at 7.00 a.m. as the Germans from the other hotel monopolised them). As for the sunbeds, well - don't get me started!!



The air conditioning was bad and in fact at one point some moisture dripped through the ceiling of the piano bar onto me.



Generally the standards have declined dramatically in such a short time. Everywhere is generally tatty and tired looking.



There is a plus point though - the weather was glorious which always helps.



While we were there, we checked out another hotel in Melonaras which looked wonderful so we shall be returning there next year.



We will not return to Maspalomas Princess and nor will we use Thomson.

We stayed in a quad room which...

Overall Rating:

9/10

Board Basis:

Half Board

Date of Holiday:

Oct 2006

Tour Operator:

Thomson

Submitted By:

diddy

Comments:

We stayed in a quad room which was really nice and rooms were kept clean and tidy for us on return from the pool. Always fresh towels but lighting in the room was dim.



Hotel was big, airy, well maintained and staff were always polite and very helpful.



We enjoyed the food which was buffet style, always good selections on show.



Pools were big but not enough sunbeds in right location and did not like the grit which was meant to be sand.



Location was quiet but restful outside nightlife taxi ride away.



Would go back to this hotel.

Our experience of this hotel was...

Overall Rating:

6/10

Board Basis:

Half Board

Date of Holiday:

Mar 2007

Tour Operator:

Portland Direct

Submitted By:

Mr R Johnson

Comments:

Our experience of this hotel was marred by the poor standard of many of the rooms.



The first one we were offered looked across the top of a concrete canopy into the room of the identical hotel (Tabaiba Princess) next door.



After kicking up a fuss in Reception, we were eventually offered another room at the other side of the hotel. This turned out to be a family room consisting of a double bed, a single bed and a bed settee all in a room designed to hold 2 people.



At least it was better than the first room but by now we had found that most people we met had also been given poor rooms and most of them just kept quiet.



This means Thomsons are probably not even aware of the problems. The snag with this room (and about 30% of the others) is that they overlook 4 main roads. The nearest one, a dual carriageway, had traffic running 24 hours a day. It was so bad at one point that I did a brief survey, seeing as how I couldn't sleep.



During the day about 240 vehicles an hour passed by, reducing to around 80 per hour through the night. I spoke to the Thompsons rep who are residents and she said she was not aware it was a problem until I gave her the figures.



Following that, we were moved (third time) to a third floor room overlooking the pool. In fact there are only a handful that overlook the pool and you need to be on the third or fourth floor to avoid the thump thump sound from the late night disco.



Three rooms in a week must be a record and not once did anyone dispute our reasons for moving. This is a huge hotel (+ the identical one next door) so do not expect to be treated as a person, you are just another guest.



We never got an apology just grunts from the overworked reception staff or it may be there just weren't enough of them to cope.



This is at best a three star hotel. Good food but little else to recommend it and certainly not enough sun beds for everyone.



It wasn't a bad holiday but it could have been if we hadn't stood up for ourselves.



If I'd wanted 3 stars I am sure there were some good ones available.



Please Thompsons take this out of the Platinum brochure - it does the good hotels a disservice.

We have just returned from this...

Overall Rating:

7/10

Board Basis:

Half Board

Date of Holiday:

Mar 2007

Tour Operator:

Thomson

Submitted By:

Mr I Gibbins

Comments:

We have just returned from this hotel. The staff are very friendly. The rooms are a long walk to get to and are clean. There is no tea making facility. The rooms on the lower floors are mostly shaded by the palm trees that surround the hotel.



Plenty of outside entertainment to keep you occupied. Restaurant was always well stocked Food was very good with plenty to choose from. Entertainment was not up to much many people walking out on some of the shows.



Very difficult to get a sun bed unless you are up at dawn probably due to the Germans that stay in the sister hotel which share the pool. We enjoyed the holiday but feel the hotel is too big and busy for us and lacked the personal touches that we enjoy in a smaller hotel.

Overall my family holiday was...

Overall Rating:

10/10

Board Basis:

Half Board

Date of Holiday:

Dec 2007

Tour Operator:

ThomsonBooked Though Portland-Direct and Flew With TUI

Submitted By:

Miss SJ McAvoy

Comments:

Overall my family holiday was perfect. However, there was one thing which caused me distressed and brought me to tears. On the return flight, I felt discriminated against due to my inability to eat dairy products (something they had been informed of prior to flying).



When this was not honoured on the outbound flight (a suitable alternative was offered), we raised it with our hotels reps. The head rep assured us it would not happen again and provided written confirmation that a suitable meal or alternative would be provided.



While the food was being served, the two other members of my family received their meals and I was served nothing. When cabin crew were asked about this they said they had no information stating I should have a meal.



Indeed one member of staff told me that he'd been flying with the firm for two years and therefore knew more. Regards of this I think my 12 years of flying with Thomson to Maspalomas enables me to be more of an expert than he is. All I can say is that the hotel bends over backwards to make your stay magical.

Just returned from a half term...

Overall Rating:

9/10

Board Basis:

Half Board

Date of Holiday:

Feb 2007

Tour Operator:

Thomson

Submitted By:

Mrs L Oxley

Comments:

Just returned from a half term (schools) holiday. Had fantastic weather, fantastic food as ever-been four times now, the kids loved the pools- two are heated.



As others have said re; reserving poolside beds; we didn't turn up until 10 am for beds and there were plenty to choose from-in half term!



Honestly, I have been to the Bahamas and stayed five stars there, this compares very nicely to the treatment, food, pools, sun, rooms etc that we received out there.



I would definitely go again.



Ok, I do agree with some of the comments regarding half of the hotel being all incl. but it really didn't bother us that much.



Let them get on with their beers and snacks (they paid for it).



I think holidays are for relaxing and this hotel is certainly up there in my top ten holidays for a great spot to kick back, chill and just enjoy. The price reflects the hotel.



I thought the two reps I encountered and spoke to on a couple of things were excellent. For a few euros we went by taxi to Aqualand-great fun.

I and my Fiancé went to this...

Overall Rating:

10/10

Board Basis:

Half Board

Date of Holiday:

Oct 2006

Tour Operator:

Thomson

Submitted By:

Miss K Phillips

Comments:

I and my Fiancé went to this hotel in Oct. I must say it was one of the best holidays we have had.



As I work for Thomson Holidays, I have been to some Platinum hotels before, this being the best.



Staff are so friendly; nothing is too much trouble for them.



However, I would request a high floor when booking the holiday, as the low floors don't have much of a view except trees, also as well if you feel like an early night there is too much noise coming from the entertainment lounge just below your room.



Food was lovely, something different every night, anything from a la carte to beans and chips.



We will definitely return and I will be recommending to my customers. If you have booked already to go, I can assure you’ll have a great time.

My Fiancé and I have visited...

Overall Rating:

10/10

Board Basis:

Half Board

Date of Holiday:

Nov 2005

Tour Operator:

Thomson

Submitted By:

Mr K Murphy

Comments:

My Fiancé and I have visited this hotel for the past 3 years and my parents in law have been going there for the last 7 years. We are going again in November as we absolutely love it!



Every year the staff are very friendly and recognise us, which is very welcoming.

The food is always excellent. My fiancé was ill last year but would definitely not put this down to the food. The whole experience of this hotel is fantastic.



The facilities for children seem to be first class and we will definitely carry on going there when we have a family of our own!

My Family and I (Wife and 2...

Overall Rating:

9/10

Board Basis:

Half Board

Date of Holiday:

Aug 2006

Tour Operator:

Thomson

Submitted By:

Mr M Riley

Comments:

My Family and I (Wife and 2 children 12 and 10) have just returned from this lovely hotel. We had a wonderful time and were very well looked after.



The rooms are not overly big but they are adequate. There are plenty of drawers and a large wardrobe but take a few hangers with you. Satellite TV is 3 english channels Eurosport and Sky News and BBC world news.



The food is excellent and plenty of it Breakfast is massive, there is so much food to choose from I haven't got the space here. The pool area is spacious but I still had to get up at 6:30am to get a prime sunlounger and I was not the first one either. There are lots of sun beds though and if you cannot find one the staff will bring more out for you.



Round about the Hotel it is a 20min walk to the Beach at Maspalomas and further hour if you can do the trek around the dunes to Playa Inglis. we only did it once (early PM) but great for photos with the sunsetting.



Faro2 is a shopping centre/Bar complex 15mins walk away and Holiday World is a small amusement park 25mins walk away. Taxis cost about 3 euros to Playa Inglis. The Hotel has a happy hour every day from 5-6pm so have drink then wander down to dinner at 6:30. Again the food is excellent lots of choice the kids have some plain food chips and pasta etc to keep them happy.



Overall a great holiday we would not go again but that is not because we did not like it we just tend to go once and then see somewhere else next time. Have great time if you go, oh and one last tip, there is a supermarket near the hotel (5mins walk) if you go out of the back gate and the water and ice creams are considerably cheaper then the hotels.

This was our 4th time at this...

Overall Rating:

3/10

Board Basis:

Half Board

Date of Holiday:

Jun 2006

Tour Operator:

Portland Direct

Submitted By:

Mr A Frame

Comments:

This was our 4th time at this hotel and we have witnessed the steady decline since our first visit in 2003. First comment is that the Thomson reps are below useless, always have been and it seem they always will be.



Secondly this holiday should no longer be classed as a platinum as you are not getting the same perks that you used to like the hotel check-in, which was great for those of us with small children.



Other small touches like the A-la-carte menu have disappeared too. The bar/waiting staff were as pleasant as always, it is nice when someone remembers you from previous visits and makes you feel welcome, thanks Theresa, you are the best employee there. The standard of cleanliness has gone downhill too, bathrooms not cleaned properly, children’s pools not very clean etc. The hotels being split now between AI and HB is also a pain.



Finally, speaking as someone who was up 7am to reserve sun beds for my family at the children’s pool, this was necessary due to the number of elderly people who were taking the beds around this pool despite the fact they had no children. This has only been as issue in our last two visits, so perhaps those people should show a bit more consideration to those of us with young families who wish to supervise our children when they are in the pool.



As for some of the other comments, some people should remember that they were children once.

We were greeted on arrival by...

Overall Rating:

9/10

Board Basis:

Half Board

Date of Holiday:

Jun 2006

Tour Operator:

Thomson

Submitted By:

Mrs L Hill

Comments:

We were greeted on arrival by very friendly and helpful staff. Our room, on the first floor, had a really nice view, overlooking the children's pool but considering it WAS the children's pool, it was very quiet all day.



We found the food to be absolutely wonderful, especially at breakfast, when we could stand and wait for fresh bacon and eggs, pancakes and omlettes. Our only complaint is that the dining room is very hot, especially at dinner-time, apart from that no complaints at all. We did have to join a short queue each day at meal times but within minutes we were seated at a table.



The poolside area is beautiful, with plenty of sun beds but sadly there is the ongoing problem of people reserving beds with their towels. I watched one or two putting their towels out at 7 am. I was tempted to throw them in the pool but just could not be bothered as it was not really necessary to reserve them as there were so many. My only complaint about the poolside area is the distinct lack of sun umbrellas apart from the graveled area of the pool. I think it may be because there are a lot of palm trees which can afford some shade if you feel like moving beds during the day.



Our room was spotless and well furnished with plenty of drawer and wardrobe space. The towels and bedding are changed every day.



All in all, we had the best holiday we have ever had, we really cannot find fault with the hotel at all. The food was superb, the service was second-to-none. We cannot wait to return.

Fifth time at this hotel for...

Overall Rating:

8/10

Board Basis:

Half Board

Date of Holiday:

May 2006

Tour Operator:

Thomson

Submitted By:

Mr G Williams

Comments:

Fifth time at this hotel for myself, my wife, son (now 5 yrs old) and my in laws. Generally Hotel is still very good, gardens, pools, bars, staff etc still excellent.



Very apparent though that staff numbers have been cut in the dinning room. Long wait for tables most nights, reduced staff couldn't clear tables quickly enough. Part of the room has been closed, strangely the area normally set up for couples. All the other tables normally set for 4 now only set up for 2 people causing the problems along with the reduced staffing. Dinning area very hot and stuffy.



The air conditioning has been turned right down, lots of arguments between guests when some opened doors to try and cool the room down, not a nice atmosphere which is a shame as the evening meals used to be a pleasant experience! When we complained to the staff they asked us to please complain to the Hotel management as they couldn't cope with the workload or the heat. Food still very good- great selection and nicely presented, but it's impossible to have a relaxed meal until they turn the aircon back up.



Bedrooms under refurbishment, we had a refurbished room, very nice, clean and spacious. We would normally have already decided to return next year however I will be checking if the dining area is back to normal before we book. Reps as useless as ever, complained during the week but no action seems to have been taken.

Just arrived back from the...

Overall Rating:

8/10

Board Basis:

Half Board

Date of Holiday:

Apr 2006

Tour Operator:

Thomson

Submitted By:

Deano316

Comments:

Just arrived back from the Maspalomas Princess after a fantastic weeks break in the sun. Due to the holiday being rated as 4 stars and with it being a part of Thomsons platinum range, my girlfriend and I had high expectations of the hotel and surrounding area before we arrived and were pleasantly surprised when we got off the coach.



We were greeted with a good sized clean room on the second floor with adequate storage space some of the furniture had seen better days and we were given twin beds rather than one double which was slightly annoying and we were charged 13 euros to use the fridge which was a bit of a joke but the pluses outweighed the minuses.



As the bathroom was clean and spacious with a fully working shower and bath, a glass table and seating area was ideal for a quick snack and we were given a balcony that over looked the pool which we found was a fantastic sun trap at the end of a day. The pools were fantastic and really refreshing after a few hours of sunbathing, the pool bars served ideal snack food during the day which was well priced and tasty.



However there is a fight at dawn to reserve sun beds so be prepared to get out early or just play remove the towels when you come down as there are signs saying that you aren’t actually allowed to reserve them but it seems nobody takes any notice. Overall it was a brilliant relaxing break for me and my girlfriend the weather was great the food was great the accommodation and surroundings were great.



We aim to definitely come back next Easter.

Yet again another wonderful...

Overall Rating:

10/10

Board Basis:

Half Board

Date of Holiday:

Mar 2006

Tour Operator:

Thomson

Submitted By:

Miss L Bunce

Comments:

Yet again another wonderful holiday, this was my 5th visit! The hotel is clean and has beautiful surroundings. The staff were happy to help, and the bar staff were very quick and friendly. The food was excellent as usual. The entertainment programme was good, especially the acrobats.



The room was clean and spacious, however the furniture slightly worn, but while there I saw new furniture arriving and work being done in some rooms. It was still to a high standard though. The only slight downside this year was the no smoking policy, not a problem around the pool bars, but the inside piano bars and entertainment bars had a very small smoking section, which in the piano bar was shoved round the back of the bar out of sight of the piano player (Sergio was great) and in the entertainment bar was right at the front meaning you could not get a good view of the stage.



I understand the need for a non smoking section but they should be larger (as there were so few tables you rarely got a seat as those sections are very busy) and not hidden in the corner either! Not sure when the policy came in but did not have this problem last year.

However I would recommend this hotel to anyone who wants a great holiday.



I am moving to Gran Canaria this year but will still stay there with my family every year!