San Marcial Apartments

Just had a week staying at these apartments and believe me 1 week is enough. On our arrival we asked for extra pillow's, yes we did get them on the 6th night. Apart from that the apartments were very clean and tidy. Our Rep Toni was great very helpful and had time for everyone. Keep up the good work Toni.
The cafe at the apartments was very basic, but we don't go on holiday to lie about the cafe or pool so that's not for me to say anything about. The reception staff were rubbish they couldn't care less about you, all they seemed to worry about was that they looked good.
We wouldn't go back to these apartments but they are worth a visit if you're not fussy.

1 reader found this review helpful

In 2004 myself and my husband got engaged in the San Marcial and we returned in March this year on honeymoon.
I just love this place. It’s so clean and the staff are so friendly. I would recommend it to anyone of any age. The restaurant is just fantastic.
We ate in it every night both times we visited. Sissi and Miguel are the owners and actually remembered us from our first visit which we thought was lovely.

We arrived on Sunday Afternoon and reception was closed, we were told by the rep to get the keys from the Restaurant which we did without any hassle.
Our apartments were really good. We had a two bed which had loads of space for four people to move around without getting in each other’s way.
There are a lot of steps to the pool but they had ramps for wheelchair users.
The pool area was spotless, but the pool was freezing cold. Not heated.
The restaurant was really fantastic it had a great variety of foods on the menu. From Breakfast right through to dinner.
The restaurants and pubs in Matagorda were a five minute walk and again had a wide range of restaurants and bars.
Coming from Ireland I normally steer clear of Irish Bars but we went into one and had such a great time we went back every night the owners Dave and Maria put on a good meal and also good entertainment. The bar was called The Auld Triangle. Would recommend it for food. I cleared my plate the nights I ate in there.
Anyway overall the holiday was really enjoyable.

Had great holiday in Lanzarote. The San Marcial is very clean, comfortable and friendly. We ate at the complex restaurant almost every night as it was really good value and good choice. Family of four ate for about £18 every night. Would recommend getting it as a take away and buying drink from supermarket to have in apartment as same price as a couple of drinks from the bar.
Swimming pool fine, no problem with strange colour or swim wear changing colour!
Airport not an issue it is fascinating seeing how close the planes get to the hotel opposite. Wouldn't like to be staying in the corner room there!
Matagorda is VERY quiet and set a long way from other ameneties. After exploring the island we would go back but better in Playa Blanca for kids. Matagorda beach very rocky so couldn't let kids swim but they did enjoy rockpooling and caught huge shrimps, fish and a giant, pink sea slug thing!
Car hire essential unless you just want to stay by the pool. The cost of car hire for 4 days locally was the same as one excursion for 4 people with tour operator. Would recommend Timanfaya, Jameos Del Agu, Mirador El Rio and Cactus Garden. Even our 3 year old enjoyed it all! BEWARE road map of island is rubbish, you will get lost!

1 reader found this review helpful

We have just returned from a 2-week package holiday in the San Marcial Apartments booked online with JWT / First Choice. JWT gave the apartments a 2-star rating, which is about right for the amenities and service currently on offer. They have the potential to be 4-star, but are let down by skimping on the finer points.
The San Marcial apartments are located in the heart of Matagorda, the easternmost suburb of Puerto del Carmen, around a 10-15 minute coach ride from Arrecife airport and a 15-20 minute taxi ride from the centre of Puerto del Carmen (too far to walk). The complex consists of 15 whitewashed blocks of 4 apartments, two up, two down, laid out in an open, south-facing open rectangular arrangement, looking out to sea if it were not for the Beatriz Playa hotel blocking the view (the two are separated by a 1-acre open space of palm trees). The complex is arranged in terraces, with the apartment blocks in the topmost terrace, overlooking the bar/restaurant on the middle, and the pool on the lower. There is an overpriced on-site supermarket in a sub-level adjoining the pool run by one of the surliest shopkeepers you’ll ever come across!
Our first impressions were not good; despite an on-schedule arrival at lunchtime following a 5am check-in in Dublin, most of the apartments were still being cleaned, leaving most guests to wait around until between 3pm and 7pm before they could move into their apartments. Day 1 was a write-off; any benefit of the early flight was completely lost. And it was not an isolated incident; we watched the same thing happen with guests arriving the following week. There appeared to be insufficient housekeeping staff (about 4 in all) to cater for all 56 apartments in the complex in a timely manner.
When we eventually got to occupy our one-bedroom apartment, we were further unimpressed to immediately find long-standing water damage across the bedroom and bathroom ceilings. The paint was continuously flaking off the ceilings and upper walls throughout our stay and the musty smell in the bedroom was intense if the window was left closed for any length of time.
Housekeeping was cursory. The bathroom remained liberally splashed with sun cream from the previous occupant(s) and the shower tiles ran brown when we washed them down with a drop of bleach and water. The icebox in the fridge was frozen solid and required complete defrosting before we could fit anything into it. During our 2-week stay, towels were changed only twice and bed linen only once, not particularly hygienic in a sweaty peak season when temperatures sometimes reached 40°C or more.
That aside, the apartment was spacious and typically equipped with a 2-ring electric hob, an electric kettle and a microwave oven/grill, and a manually operated TV with just CNN, Sky News (in B&W only) and the local canarian TV channel. Basic utensils were a tad stingy and did not match the number of occupants; no teapot, toaster, brush or mop were provided - unless you were willing to hire them at reception. Contrary to other reviews, we found the metal sprung frame beds uncomfortable; either the sprung wooden slats or the plastic mattress cover groaned or squeaked with every turn.
The pool area consists of a freeform pool and kiddies pool. Sunbeds are limited and parasols even more so, and most were usually snapped up before dawn by returning late-night revellers. Despite signs warning that towels would be removed by ‘night security’, this was never enforced. In fact, the so-called ‘security’ turned a complete blind eye to the rowdier revellers, leaving it to guests themselves to confront any late-night racket-makers.
JWT’s description of Matagorda was of ‘a rapidly developing area with an ample selection of shops, bars, cafes and restaurants to choose from’. It is actually a neglected backwater of Puerto del Carmen, a purpose-built then forgotten tourist overflow consisting of nothing but apartment complexes and vacant lots surrounding a single, two-storey ‘Centro Commercial’. There are no other amenities apart from the dozen or so bars/restaurants, two mini-markets and four souvenir shops concentrated inside the open-air mall. The nearest alternatives are 800 metres away along the charming seafront promenade, in the modest commercial strip bordering the Jameos Playa complex. To be fair, all of the restaurants in the mall serve good food at low prices (typically €7-12 for a main course, about half the price of restaurants in downtown Puerto del Carmen). Our favourites were the Auld Triangle, Paradise Beach (try the rack of baby ribs or the meat platter cooked over the barbeque) and the Sirocco (their Steak Provençale is fantastic).
Should you need to top up with ready cash during your stay, there is no ATM in Matagorda itself; the nearest is the Banca March at the roundabout on the main road opposite the Jameos Playa (about a 15 minute brisk walk along the promenade).
Would we return to Matagorda and San Marcial? No. We usually go for quiet, family resorts, but Matagorda is positively lethargic with virtually no distractions except to watch planes land in nearby Arrecife airport. San Marcial has great potential, but needs a little investment and more aggressive management.

Stayed here with husband and 2 kid’s ages 2 and 4. Apartment’s clean and nice enough but big problem for us was there was no bath.
Kid’s pool was a strange colour and husband’s clothes shorts and top went in colour from navy to wine!
Kids play area was fine and the restaurant was excellent and great value for money. Reception staff not very helpful and cleaners only ok. CNN only English channel on the TV and no option to get more at a cost.
Hotel Beatrice had kids disco at 8.30 every night so that helped to keep them happy but other than that there was nothing really for kids in Matagorda.
Have stayed in Puerto Del Carmen and Teguise before and would go back there before Matagorda as the place lacks amenities for kids. Planes not really an issue you don't even notice them after the first day.
Bring a second buggy for kids up to at least 5 as in the heat they don’t want to walk like at home and it is a long walk to Puerto Del Carmen. Had great weather and an ok holiday but won't be returning to these apartments.
Rancho Texas worth a visit for adults and kids your could go there for the day with parrot seal and eagle shows well worth the 46 euro for 2 adults and 2 kids, only 5 euro to get there by taxi.

1 reader found this review helpful

Hi, we stopped at san marcial for the first time in feb this year. The rooms were quite large compared with some we have stayed in they were very clean and comfortable.
We stayed in room 154 from the balcony we had a view of the sea and the mountains which was great in my point of estimation. The maid and staff in the restaurant, reception were lovely they made our stay very welcome.
We did the grand tour of the island whilst we were there, that was very enjoyable and educational at the same time. To see the volcanoes, green lake and the caves all in one day great and not at all tiring. I must not forget the staff in the supermarket in san marcial who were very helpful and not over priced.
We will be stopping there again, we go to Lanzarote every feb so can’t wait to go back see you all at sanmacial next year!

Have just returned from a 2 week holiday at San Marcial - in spite of weather not being too good had a great time. Apartments are spacious, clean and very comfortable (only a couple of plug sockets not working!) Could do with bigger cups i.e. beakers, and larger glasses.
Cleaning staff were very friendly and our maid very efficient. Pool and surrounding area was kept very clean. The Rep (who we did not need to call upon) was very friendly and available accordingly to the visiting timetable displayed in Reception. Only drawback if you needed it, which we didn't, the Reception closes in the afternoon until early evening.
If I had a complaint it would be the pigeons - take a water pistol to stop them landing on the balcony and leaving the calling card! Didn't dare leave anything on the balcony to dry as it would more often than not have an additional pattern on if left unattended!
On site restaurant/bar - very friendly, food excellent and competitively priced (must try the Pizza's - excellent).
On site supermarket was very well stocked and not over priced - his on site baked bread rolls in the morning are to die for - go down about 8.30am and you can enjoy warm rolls for breakfast - delicious. Open 8am to 8pm except on Sunday when it closes at 2pm. Need to remember if you arrive Sunday night take water etc with you.
Nearby suggest you try Picasso’s on beach road - haven't had a steak like that in years and his Roast Beef served Sunday and Wednesday is fantastic (apparently all his meat, fish etc is flown in from England).
Although close to airport this was not a problem - airport closes 11pm to 7am.
Want to go again next November but unfortunately does not appear in First Choice brochure April 2007 onwards - I will definitely be taking this up with First Choice as I really want to go back to the San Marcial.
All in all would highly recommend the San Marcial - even the beds were comfortable albeit basic!

Just back from Lanzarote went a week there were 5 of us altogether in all we had a great time while staying at San Marcial Apartments.
The staff were all friendly and the food was gorgeous, the only complaints we had was the towels were changed once and the bedding was not changed throughout our stay, but the beds were pretty comfortable to sleep in.
We were close to the beach but it was very windy we had really nice weather while we were there. A couple of days were overcast but still really warm for any young ones.
The nightlife in Puerto del Carmen is brilliant I would especially recommend the Big Apple, its fantastic and the staff get on with you really well.
I had a good time while in Lanzarote and would recommend to anyone.

Went to San Marcial on honeymoon on 10th of September 2006. Very badly run place. Room was dirty, phone didn’t work, balcony doors were jammed, and shower was blocked.
Very bad service, reception was only open for few hours, and to top it off we had to go to the airport at 12.00pm (flight wasn’t till 10pm) because they had no where to put luggage.
The pool was nice, and the bar wasn’t too bad. Prices at bar were much dearer than any where else. Over all, wouldn’t recommend this place to anyone.