Arona Gran Hotel

3 readers found this review helpful

Thoroughly enjoyed holiday in this comfortable and well positioned hotel. Only downside was paying over the odds for item purchased in electrical shop within the hotel complex. Should have done my homework and would not then have been fleeced! Otherwise a relaxing break, with wall to wall sunshine.

10 readers found this review helpful

Our room and bathroom was a reasonable size and good quality furniture and fittings. Although ur room was pool facing we didn't get any sun on the balcony which we hadn't thought to ask for when we checked in. The swimming pool was a good size and there were plenty of loungers although there were a large amount of people reserving their "space" early. I used the gym a couple of times but the weights and cardio equipment was quite old.
The food was ok and there was plenty of choice at breakfast and dinner. The waiting staff were the least friendly and efficient in the hotel. All drinks purchased are charged to your room and no money is taken by the waiting staff at any of the bars or restaurant.
Entertainment at night was the typical entertainment that most hotels have e.g. ABBA tribute group, Chilean Pan Pipes, dodgy magician etc.
The beach behind the bar is very rocky and the sandy areas are used by wild cats as their toilet. You have to walk to either side of the harbour before you get to a good beaches.
The average age of guests I would say was around 65-70.

15 readers found this review helpful

we stayed at the hotel in mid Feb 09, the outside of the hotel is very good as you walk in side the reception area is a real wow factor with green trees and a large water feature in the lower ground floor, the hotel is very clean and the bed rooms cleaned every day, the food in the hotel is some of the best we have had with a very large choice as non meat eaters we had plenty of choice.
The pools are clean and well kept.
The evening entertainment was good.
we will go back.....

8 readers found this review helpful

Having arrived home from Arona Gran last Tuesday 18.11.08 I must give any future guests our impressions of this hotel. Wonderful wonderful wonderful! Everything is just perfect.This time of the year the hotel was about two thirds full so there was plenty of room for everybody. No trouble whatever to get loungers round the pool, whatever time you got there. The weather was perfect for all the 11 days we stayed there.The rooms were vere spacious and cleaned every day. Pillow covers changed every day. Beautiful private balconies and excellent bathrooms. The buffet meals were out of this world. Everything you could wish for. The staff were excellent.
All I can say is roll on next year.

27 readers found this review helpful

Just arrived back from the Arona Gran, and while it was a fabulous hotel and a fablulous week, there are a few things I wanted to mention after reading the reviews on this site.
First of all, we booked online, using a well known site. Flights, accomodation and 'Resort Hoppa' airport transfer. Big mistake. We waited, sitting on the Resort Hoppa bus, for an hour and a half to go the fifteen minute journey to the hotel, and then they insisted on picking us up at 4.00am for the same journey back - our flight was at 7.30 am! We got there over an hour too early which is a big deal at 4am! Also, you have to phone 24 hours in advance to confirm your return pick up, and the lines are constantly busy. We panicked a little when we could not get through and it ruined a morning worrying the bus would not turn up. We now discover if you book direct with the hotel online, you get a free transfer, ten percent dicount off accomodation, free sauna, etc. HOWEVER even if you intend to book as a package with a travel agent... forget Resort Hoppa. Just get a taxi yourself. It cheaper than the bus and not half as much hassle.
Anyway...the hotel itself is wonderful - we have been on many cruises and the accommodation was of a similar standard to the big cruise ships. It did not 'feel' like a typical Spanish package tour hotel. When the curtains are shut, and the air con is on, you could be in any quality city hotel. Only the heat outside gives it away! The rooms are very comfortable, with huge flat screen, good channels, large comfy beds, good quality furnishings, air conditioning, lovely big bathroom, dressing gown and slippers etc. The communal areas were gorgeous - marble floors and hanging plants. Piano playing in the background, lovely lounging areas.
A tip - if you want the sun on your balcony, try to get the pool facing rooms on any floor ending in numbers 50 upwards. Any room ending in 10 - 40, although with pool view, is on the curve of the building and does not get any sun on the balcony at any time of day. Even the inland facing rooms get some sun!
Ferry horn IS loud, but after a day you don't hear it. It hardly disrupts your holiday anyway, it's just a blast on a ships horn after all! (I quite liked hearing it cos I don't wear a watch and it told me the time)
We only had breakfast in the hotel. It was...'ok'. I can't vouch for the evening meals which other people have raved about. But, the water in most of the tea/coffee machines was not hot enough ( I had to search the whole dining room for a decent drinks machine to get a hot pot of water for tea..and it tasted very 'chemically'. ) Also they obviously leave the cereals, biscuits etc out all the time, and they go soft. Small moans I know, but I hate soft cornflakes and cold tea! Hot food was nice enough, made to order for you. Waiting staff are slightly surly. Pool area was gorgeous, clean fresh towels every ...but the usual panic in the morning to get a sunbed. However, the staff do remove the 'reserved' towels if the lounger has not been sat on for an hour or more, which was good to see.
Go to the 'Polygon' right across the road for really cheap pre dinner drinks - only five euro for a typically huge spanish vodka with coke, and a huge draught beer in a cold glass. Owners are Welsh and nice people. We usually stopped off for a night cap too. I got almost a whole bottle of Bailies in one glass! Hic.
The Hotel is a brisk walk from the main areas of Los Christianos. It's a nice walk right along the coast into town and you can keep going to Playa de Las Americas. We found the best meal on the island on this walk - the 'Chill Out Bar'....just as you come out of the tunnel at the Port. A guy wanders around the restaurant singing - he is fabulous entertainment, almost better than the food. But not quite.
Watch out for the scammers with their scratch cards and fake 'hello's'...don't fall for any of the touts whether they are selling sunglasses, restaurants or timeshare. Bodyswerve the lot and don't even reply to them.
We are definitely going back to the Arona Gran, or one of the other Spring hoteles in the area.

15 readers found this review helpful

I HAVE JUST COME BACK FROM THIS HOTEL AND I AM WANTING TO REBOOK FOR NEXT YEAR ALREADY. THE HOTEL IS VERY NICE INSIDE AND OUT. I WAS EXCEPTING THE WORSE FROM PREVIOUS REVIEWS BUT I FOUND THE HOTEL VERY NICE AND PLEASANT AND VERY CLEAN. THE FOOD WAS VERY GOOD I WAS VERY CONCERNED FROM EARLIER REVIEWS SAYING THAT FOOD WASNT COOKED RIGHT BUT I FOUND OUT IT WAS VERY WELL COOKED (IF YOU SPEAK TO THE CHEF THATS COOKING YOU CAN GET THINGS WELL COOKED AS I FOUND OUT WHEN HE DID SOME STEAK FOR ME ). THE MEALS ARE BUFFET STYLE AND VERY WELL PRESENTED. THERE IS LOADS TO CHOOSE FROM AND THEY CATER FOR EVERYBODY INCLUDING DIABETICS WHICH WAS VERY SURPRISING. EVERYTHING IS CLEARLY MARKED. IF YOU WANT MEAT WELL COOKED THEN ASK THE CHEFS TO COOK SOME FROM FRESH AND THEY DO IT WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS FOR YOU. YOU CAN GET MEAT COOKED WELL DONE, MED AND RARE THERES EVEN SIGNS ON THE GRILLS TELLING YOU THIS. THE ROOMS ARE VERY NICE AND ALL ROOMS COME WITH A 32inch LCD THE BEDS ARE COMFORTABLE AND VERY CLEAN YOU EVEN GET A BATHROBE AND SLIPPERS TO WEAR WHILE YOU STAY THERE WHICH WAS NICE AFTER A SHOWER. THE HOTEL HAS ACTIVITIES ON THREW THE DAYTIME AND SHOWS ON A NIGHT TIME FOR GUESTS. THERE ARE 3 POOLS ONSITE WHICH WHERE GOOD TO SWIM IN 2 FOR ADULTS AND ONE FOR CHILDREN TO PADDLE OR SWIM IN. IT GETS VERY HOT IN THE DAYTIME TEMPERTURES GET WELL INTO THE 30'S AND EVEN HIT 40 ONCE THAT I KNOW OF I HAD HEARD OF A FEW PEOPLE HAVING SUNSTROKE AND BEING BADLY BURNT SO WEAR PLENTY OF SUNCREAM (HIGH FACTOR) AND DRINK PLENTY OF WATER. YOU ARE ASLO GIVEN A VOUCHER FOR A FREE TOWEL TO USE I WOULD ADVISE YOU TO GET IT AND PUT IT ON A SUNLOUNGER AS QUICKY AS POSSIBLE AS THE SEATS GET HOT IN THE SUN OR THE GERMANS GET THE BEST ONES FIRST (SUNLOUNGERS THAT IS) ON THE WHOLE THIS IS A VERY NICE HOTEL AND I WOULD RECOMMEND IT TO ANYONE AND I AM LOOKIN FORWARD TO RETURNING NEXT YEAR WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS. THE SURROUNDING AREA IS NICE BUT BASIC AND COULD DO WITH SOME MONEY BEIN SPENT ON IT (IE LOS CRISTIANOS) THERE IS A VERY NICE PUB IN THE TOWN CENTER CALLED THE DEVON ARMS THAT DOES GOOD FOOD AT GOOD PRICES AND IS A GREAT PLACE OVERALL. I HOPE THIS INFO HAS HELPED SOME PEOPLE AND I HOPE YOU HAVE A VERY NICE HOLIDAY LIKE I DID. ALSO FOR SOME CHEAP WATER AND CHEAP FOOD THERES A NETTO RIGHT ACROSS THE ROAD FROM THE HOTEL ITS VERY GOOD FOR CHEAP WATER AND OTHERTHINGS U MAY NEED . I AM GIVING THIS HOTEL 9 OUT 10
ONE MAJOR POINT THAT I DID LEAVE OUT WAS ROAD SAFETY PLEASE BE CAREFUL WHEN CROSSING THE ROAD AS CARS DONT OFTEN STOP AT THE ZEBRA CROSSINGS AND YOU COULD BE VERY BADLY HURT AND EVEN KILLED I SEEN A FEW PEOPLE AND MYSELF DODGING THE TRAFFIC ON THE CROSSING RITE OUTSIDE THE HOTEL SO PLEASE BE CAREFUL

5 readers found this review helpful

Me and my boyfriend just got back from our 10 day holiday in Tenerife and we absolutley loved it. I would give the hotel 10/10 and would definately recommend it.
It was very clean and quiet. The staff were very friendly and would help you as much as possible.
The buffet had alot of choice, catered for all and we both thought the food was delicious.
I would definately visit this hotel again and really miss Arona Gran and Tenerife!

5 readers found this review helpful

Just returned from 2 weeks with my wife at the Arona Gran, which we booked online through First Choice. The hotel was brilliant, possibly one of the best we've ever stayed in. Spotlessly clean, well presented, good food and the pool areas are outstanding. I was a bit concerned from earlier reviews about building work at the hotel but this now appears to have finished and there's not a trace. Pity the same couldn't be said about the sea front at Los Cristianos: for the first week the beach and the walkway along the prom were fenced off and the walk from the hotel to the harbour felt like being in a prison camp. As for the "harbour" itself, it's not the kind of harbour we had expected - it's basically a ferry port for Fred Olsen and other ferries, not very attractive at all. The area around the Arona Gran Hotel looks very tired, immediately adjacent to the hotel is an area of waste ground that seems only to be used for the Sunday market. The walkway past this waste ground is dimly lit and is quite scary at night-time, particularly when the vagrants who seem to occasionally occupy this area suddenly come scrambling up the bank and appear in front of you! Apart from crossing to the other side of the road, which is still quite dimly lit, this is the only way to reach the local bars with any sort of entertainment at night other than walking along the prom. Of course the hotel had a full evening entertainment programme which changed every day, but sadly this was indoors and although we thought of giving it a try on at least two occasions I'm ashamed to say we failed miserably simply because of the age profile of the audience - and we are no spring chickens! So overall, the rating we give this holiday reflects the quality of the hotel itself. Work seems to be going on to update and refresh Los Cristianos and so it should, because we were disappointed. As for First Choice, the least said the better - the transfer time from the airport to the hotel was advertised as 30 minutes, but took almost an hour and a half. There was no First Choice rep or any other rep on the bus, the driver spoke very little if any English and quite frequently appeared to be lost. We arrived at the hotel at nearly midnight, having arrived by plane at the airport at about ten past nine! Likewise on the return journey, although this was a speedy transfer there was still no First Choice rep, either on the bus or in view at all at the airport. So had it not been for the run-down state of Los Cristianos and the virtual absence of First Choice reps at arrival and departure, we would be giving the hotel itself a 10/10 rating - but we will not be back.

4 readers found this review helpful

we have just returned from a weeks holiday at the Arona Gran in Los Christianos.
We chose this hotel as it was our silver wedding anniversary,and thought we would like a bit of luxury.On arrival as we walked into the reception area our first impression was wow!the same applied in every area pool,dinning room,bathroom,view from balcony.
We found the rooms comfortable but dated,all though nice flat screen television.
There was 2 days the maids never touch our room and on both days we were out from
8am to 6pm on day trips.The food was average and i have eaten much beter in other 4
star hotels.
I would advise anybody to stay in the hotel but take plenty spending money as drinks
are very expensive,but a lovely bar across the street called Big Ben, good atmosphere
and reasonable priced drinks 3 euros for 2 pints or 2 spirits with mixers 6 euros.
There is a supermarket straight across the road were water is 41cents a bottle it is 2.20
euros a bottle in hotel.
Good shops locally and good market next door on Sundays, but watch out for lucky lucky men with copy watches and sunglasses.
If you get chance go to loro parque. it out of this world especially the Orcas.
but book on the office near the harbour they go everyday, and it is 11 euros each cheaper than Thomas Cook.

2 readers found this review helpful

Sorry -- can't find anything to complain about!!!!
Hotel - food- staff -- all we could wish for--- 9/10 because there were no tea/coffee facilities in the room-- not a complaint but a suggestion to the hotel to provide and bring it up to 10/10
Yes the beach is non existent but the hotel is committed to bringing it up to the standard of the other nearby beaches --- in fact the whole area nearby in Los Cristianos is undergoing improvement
A word of warning -- don't fall for the Freedom Holiday scam -- you would lose a lot of money