Ocean Palace Apartments

First time to go on an all inclusive holiday, great variety of food, neither dad, mum or kids were left hungry at any time. Ice cream on tap, its a good way of getting fluid into young people. Overall the hotel is very good, clean, spacious and in its day was probably a good 4* hotel, however, 2008 it could do with a bit of TLC. But you don't go on holiday to stay in your room. The trips are well worth going on, although you can get a better deal if you venture outside of the hotel. I would recommend the VIP half day trip up Mount Teide + cable car (extra cost) views magnificent, aqua park is fantastic (but go on a transfer day "Tuesday or Friday" less busy) good way to get a tan without getting bored. Hotel staff in the main, very friendly and respond to manners and courtesy. Entertainment very good although some dodgy acts, but you can always go to the Irish bar. As with most peoples comments I would have to agree the tiles around the pool are very slippery, a good sport is watching new arrivals not fall over, but your on holiday why rush? Kids reps and entertainers were always busy and seemed to be very enthusiastic. The beach was only a 15 minute walk away, which was down hill, therefore, 25 minute walk back up a steep hill, which kids did not like.
All in all, we would go back again, so it can't be that bad. Great family holiday.

Just returned from Ocean Resort. Ocean Resort is not a 4 Star as we know it. The tiles around the whole complex are far to slippery, watch the new arrivals getting the hang of them. The secret is you are on holiday dont rush anywhere, just warn the children. There's not a great variety in the restaurnt but I'd prefer 5 good dishes as appossed to 20 rubbish ones and yes there is chips, but honest there is nobody in the restaurnt making you eat them! and not noboby in our group went hungry. The pool barman was grumpy at times but so would I be with people grunting at me all day, try an ORLA and a bit of spanish at times it goes a long way after all we are in his Country. There are a lot of steps around the complex but your legs soon get over this prehaps is just a case that I dont do enough exercise and yes it is along way to the beach and even further back up the steep hill but you are on the side of a volcano.
The entertainment staff keep busy all day with a smile on their faces, enjoying what they are doing, say a big Hi to Jen and Chloe.
The entertinment in the evenings is easy watching and fun, dont be afraid to join in, and in the future can someone let as know if ABBA update their outfits or at least get some that fit, and look out for the grins!
All in all, their were 15 of as in our group, 8 adults and the children ages ranged from 2-11, great family hotel would go back remember u are holiday have fun dont spend your whole time looking for problems, and finally if you dont like getting splashed by children playing dont sit next to the swimming pool

We have just returned from a weeks stay and have to say that we had a fantastic time, there was 15 of us in our group and we were all well catered for there was chips served with every meal but there was plenty of other options like rice and pasta even jacket potatoes so you could avoid chips, plenty of variety when it came to drinks too and ice creams came in little tubs which the children enjoyed, Rooms very clean and nice balconies to sit on in the evenings, Floor around pool very slippery but if you walk carefully you are fine, Entertainment team are busy all day and are always around doing activities and the evening entertainment is good, shows were good we found the Abba tribute group highly entertaining (and we dont mean the singing). We went out to see the dolphins on a boat trip and have to say it was amazing we also saw pilot whales too. All in all we would had a great holiday and would go back again

Just returned from a weeks all inclusive hol in this hotel. Firstly, although we had a good time, in our opinion it is not a 4 Star hotel, and no where near the standard that we have experienced in other 4 star hotels. Paper table cloths, plastic chairs and paper napkins in the main restaurant on an evening is not a 4 star hotel. Bar service especially in the pool bars is poor, more often than not there was only one member of staff serving, rushed off their feet and we waited up to 30 minutes in a queue on many occasions - not how I really want to be spending my holiday.
The food quality is good though a bit repetitive- lots of chips! - but there is plenty of choices of meats and salads etc.
Lunch time food is served outside, but was again very busy and we often struggled to get a table to sit down and eat as people use the table and chairs to sit at to sunbathe as there was not always enough sunbeds to go round- yes the usual towels on sun beds at dawn goes on here and it tends to be a case of if you cant beat em, join em!.
The pool area at the Nogal Apartments side is a bit quieter, but again a long wait at the bar for food and drinks. One member of staff has to serve all the drinks, and also prepare and cook the food, very understaffed again, no wonder they never seem to look very happy.
We had a one bed apartment located in the annexe known as the Nogal side, which as the brochure states is 3 star accomodation. This block we felt was in need of a majot refurbishment, the rooms are dated, look tired and have seen better days.
Entertainment is good, the reps work really hard and put in a lot of effort. The constant reminders from the entertainment team to tick the excellent box for entertainment on your holiday questionnare "to ensure they all keep their jobs" can become wearing though, a couple of mentions would suffice guys- we can see the effort you put in.
All in all we enjoyed our hol, weather was great, and we got what we paid for, but dont expect 4 star luxury or you will be disappointed.

We have just returned from our 2 week holiday at Ocean Resort.
We read all the reviews before we left and would agree with most of comments made.
The hotel is tired, the showers are awful but we only found one member of staff who was particularly grumpy. He works the main pool bar so beware.
The pool is fabulous (don't run and you won't slip) and the First Choice Reps were exceptional throughout the whole holiday. Our daughters 11 and 8 had a wonderful time, consequently so did we.
It was our first time on an all exclusive holiday and to be honest I don't know how they do it and still make money. There was food available virtually 12 hours a day and unlimited drinks and ice cream for the children. We never went to bed hungry and if we had wanted to we could have drunk ourselves to oblivion every night.
Tips for your stay:-
Take an alarm clock as the predominately english guests start placing towels on beds at about 07.00 in the morning even though it was still dark.
Use the showers before 17.00 and they are not too bad.
If you have fair hair speak with a hair dresser before you go as the pool turned our duaghters hair green. Apparently you can get some special shampoo to prevent this.
Book trips through the leaflet you get at the airport.
We hired a car and went to Loro Park (fantastic) up the volcano (brilliant) and whale watching from Los Gigantes (unbelievable).
Overall we could have completed these trips cheaper through Direct Excursions and would have no doubt got some local imput during the journeys.
To sum up. Excellent value for money. You get what you pay for in life and at under £300.00 per person per week during the Easter holidays we thought it would be hard to beat.

My family and I (two adults 1 x 11 years old and 1 x 4 years old child) have just got back from a fantastic time at this accomodation.
The first thing I would say is that the hotel is really more like a 3 star plus. It has a grand reception area and nice surroundings, however the rating of 4 star is a little optimistic! (Might have been a few years ago - but Hotels have come on a little!)
The room we stayed in (a one bedroomed suite) was brilliant. Lots of room, good facilities and extremely well maintained. Only gripe (and this really is the ONLY gripe this holiday, was poor water pressure from the shower, with either red hot or ice cold water.)
Food - plenty of choice at breakfast, lunch (pool side buffet and grill) and dinner.
All inclusive board basis is good. I stayed at The Columbus in Las Americas before this, and their All inclusive was like a prisoner of war camp. Strictly 1 drink per customer (made it difficult to watch the children) and a seperate scabby bar out of the way. However the pool bar at the Ocean Palace was the main bar, and you were allowed two alcoholic drinks per person (plus as many soft drinks as you like).
I would also add the First Choice kids entertainment is excellent - and the staff go above and beyond to make your stay enjoyable.
Sports facilities available, and staff in the hotel are friendly, fluent in english, and very helpful.
The resort is quiet, not suited to a lads holiday (definitely a family or couples relaxing resort) but with a million taxis on the island, las americas is only a few euro away.
15 mins walk to the beach at Torviscas (down the hill) and 5 minutes walk to the lively market on Saturdays and Thursdays.
Whilst talking about the walk down, Watch out for the "I'm not trying to sell you anything - just doing a survey" girl on the way down. She will try (unsuccessfully) to show you have "won" a scratchcard and you can claim your prize if you get in a taxi "RIGHT NOW" and go to their offices in the centre of Las Americas. (Which I'm sure will be a timeshare/holiday company), but she didnt even get past the "Oh my God you've won a star prize" ruse, and when told politely I'm not interested and know what your game is, she stomps off and mumbles "I'll give the prize to someone else then!!!" Was worth the five minutes out of my life for just that laugh!
I will definitely return to this lovely Hotel again.

Got to hotel on the 29th Feb and first impressions were great. When we entered the room given we found it not cleaned but they soon gave us another room that was clean. We went down to the pool which was lovely, sun on it all day, very clean even sun beds washed down and they had a cushioned mat on them for comfort. The food was a little repetative on the evenings and i've never ate so many chips before as they didnt really offer anything else as in vegetables apart from on a sunday night when they put on a roast. I'm epileptic and the light in the bathroom was flashing which is a trigger. With in 30 mins of us reporting it it was fixed (very impressed). They say on the web site that the room is cleaned 3 times a week but it was cleaned every day we were there. Clean towels every day and we didnt need to make the beds as they were already done for us. The night time was great for kids with different shows put on every night. The Eagle show, snake show, parrott show and Queen tribute band. And if like me after the shows i wasn't really iinterested in the kids stuff there was a bar which they call the Irish bar ( not very irish but never the less lovely ). The bar man was lovely, got us a drink as soon as we were running out of one, we didnt need to ask. A charming Australian guy who certainly added character to the place.
Out side of the premises there were shops about a 5 minute walk away and the beach wasnt too far away either but we stopped at the hotel as we enjoyed the atmosphere.
Yes the hotel isnt perfectly decorated for a 4* hotel, could do with a lick of paint in the rooms but so what we werent there to stare at the walls, we were there to get some sun, enjoy the happy atmosphere and relax. There were no drunks making a nuscience of themselves and everything calmed down and went quiet shortly after 12am. We were right above the disco bar yet that didnt matter we still got to sleep by 12.30am as there was no noise.
Service was great in the resturants, great in the bars, very helpful at reception and the reps were fantastic keeping all the kids and even adults entertained through the day and night. They were out working by 10am and finished at 12am, hard working and excellent at there jobs.
Any one moaning about the little things such as decore i can not understand cuz everything else was fantastic. You've got to look at the hotel as the whole package not the little materialistic things cuz thats just petty and why stop your self having a brilliant holiday just becuz of some thing little.
We're hopefully going again later on in the year we enjoyed it that much!

I have to say jez, Natalie and Lauren the first choice entertainers were fantastic with my partner, me and kids they were the best thing about the holiday. Holiday was ok but pool needed some maintenance very dangerous stairs for kids tiles coming off etc, sunbeds were dirty and ripped in need of replacing, food ok but being there a fortnight you soon get sick of the same thing. The place needs a real good clean and up date no way is standard 4 or 5 star like they advertise and we stayed in hotel not apartments. First choice entertainment was fantastic holiday would of been an nightmare without them and met some lovely families while we were there.

Overall a good holiday in a nice resort with great weather.
Disappointed with standard of hotel, tatty and in need of cash injection.
Would have been great in the 1970's but left to decline since. Can't understand comments saying it is fab, must be some easily pleased people prepared to accept very little from a "4 star" hotel. Nogul apartments basis and main hotel areas shabby and substandad.
Hotel was full of some very "rough" english guests with thuggish childen during our stay. Our 4 and 5 year old enjoyed the kids clubs. Food was good. Have written to first choice to register our problems with hotel. Pool cold and full of floating black bits. No soap or hand dryers in communal toilets, spanish staff give off an air they really dont want to be there and not interested in helping you. Found Barbara the rep full of blarney and only too willing to fob us off with inadequate excuses. Really only interested in selling the trips(overpriced, so book with local companies) Most dissapointing hotel we ever stayed in and if you go expecting tat you wont be disappointed. Reminded me of a spanish Butlins and if you think this hotel is a good price you certainly pay for what you get. Situated away from resort centre and beach, shuttle bus would be useful.

Myself,my partner and 3 year old daughter had a great time at Ocean resort.
The reps worked hard in ensuring everyone had a great time.The apartment was clean and the hotel staff wre friendly.
The evening buffet got a bit boring but the breakfast buffet was great with lots of choice, the waiters and waitresses were very quick in clearing the tables.
I can not really find anything to complain about.
Do be aware of the people in the centre of of Playa trying to give you 'winning tickets',you have to go to a hotel to claim your prize,we think it is to do with timeshares, they tell you that you must be very lucky as there are very few 'winning tickets' however we won 3 times in 2 hours and I think most of the hotel guests who ventured out of the complex also won.
We would recommend Ocean Resort as it it good value for money and is excellent for famlies.