Galeon Playa Apartments

5 readers found this review helpful

Lovely apartments, very clean with fresh sheets and towels regularly. Clean pool area and helpful reception would certainly go back again. Didnt find the entertainment all that great but it was adequate. Liked the fact that the sunbeds were kept under lock and key until 9.45ish which gave eveyone a fair change of getting one. However there were the odd people who reserved beds and never turned up for hours. The local resturaunts were very reasonably priced with excellent service.

9 readers found this review helpful

My review is fairly long but I'll try to cover everything to give others a view on Costa Teguise and the Galeon Playa Apartments!
Me & my partner (Ages 22) booked to go to this hotel with Thomas Cook - Absolute Nightmare! Thomas Cook listed the wrong holiday dates on their website which resulted in both me & my partner losing a days work! Thomas Cook stated we'd arrive back in the UK on 30th June..not 1st July as the flight tickets stated when we collected them. We also assumed it would be a package holiday complete with rep - this was not the case & everything was separate. Also don't bother booking a transfer if you book with Thomas Cook - they don't even bother to fetch you on the return journey & taxis are much cheaper!
Couldn't really fault the Apartments themselves, we arrived late at night and were not on any of their booking records, we were also told they did not even deal with Thomas Cook. Luckily, we were given a room. Rooms are very spacious, separate bedroom, 2 balconys and cleaned 5 times a week. We were facing the pool also which was nice to check out what sun loungers were free! Pool area was lovely, somedays crowded but still loungers available. The pool was clean and very refreshing with a separate but very small childrens pool. There was also a separate pool just around the corner, however Costa Teguise is very windy on some days, then breezy on others so this pool was often not in use as the wall behind it was not high enough to shield from the wind. If this was sorted by the apartments, the pool areas would never be crowded.
The staff were generally helpful although we didnt need them much. Maids were very effiecient and reception staff which is all you need really on a holiday. I wouldnt advise anyone to book half or full board as we ate in the hotel restaurant one evening and there is not much choice available if you're a fussy eater and like your meals piping hot! Price is 7 euros for the buffet, however drinks are very expensive so try and get in a bottle of water of your own.
The resort itself if fairly lively, and the apartments face a very beautiful beach. Our first two days were extremely windy so we stayed around the pool after an hour on the beach and getting sand whipped at us! However, as the week went on, the wind changed to a gentle breeze and the beach was beautiful. We hired sun loungers on 2 days for 8 euros for 2. The sea is beautiful and make sure you buy some goggles or a snorkel and sea the thousands of fish surrounding you! We also went to cucharas beach for one day, same price for loungers, however we didnt find this beach as nice as the other. There are 2 spars fairly close together for cheap shopping, also a Netto right outside the apartments which was slightly more expensive.
We didn't really do much else on the days, due to not having a rep to book trips with. However, we had a leaflet for the Rancho Texas Park which provides a free bus service. We actually missed the free bus but got a bus ourselves into Peurto Del Carmen for 5 euros for the both of us, then a taxi round to the park for a couple of euros so probably cheaper than a rep wouldve offered anyway. We caught the free bus back to Carmen, then another main bus back to Teguise.
The nightlife was fairly good. Being a young couple we did wish to go into Carmen a few nights, however taxis were still fairly expensive to get there 20 euros each way. We went for one night, had a meal and went to one ar where my partner paid 12 euros for a double vodka redbull which we found too expensive. We must not have been on the main strip as there was only 2 busy bars so we headed back. Teguise has a great selection of restaurants, my faveourites being the two facing the sea front (I forget the names) 3 course meal and 2 drinks each set us back around 20 euros each which we found very reasonable, and they often bought out 2 free drinks at the end also. We went to Teguise's family nightclub which I believe was called Baobas or something like that! Reasonable drinks prices - 2 for one most nights 9 euros for 2 large malibu (or Balu!) and cokes and 2 pints of beer. However if youre young and expecting this to be a nightclub, it isnt as children are allowed in with their parents and it was mainly full of 15-17 year olds.
Overall it was a lovely holiday. We'd have preferred to be in Carmen for more nightlife but no complaints for Galeon Playa or the surrounding beaches. I wouldn't stay here again simply because I never stay in hotels twice as I like variation but this is a good family hotel. Possibly not suitable for young couples or singles groups who want to be out getting drunk every night as it is too far from Carmen to do that every night unless you want to spend a fortune on taxis! We also hated the wind on the first two days so I'd imagine if some unfortunate holiday makers get this sort of wind all week then it wouldn't be very pleasant.
Just don't book this holiday with Thomas Cook! However saying that I didn't see any sort of rep at this hotel all week so maybe it's an independant booking job.
Happy Holidays! x

7 readers found this review helpful

Booked the package with jet2.Good price !!!Airline what advertises. Cheap , gets you there. No tv on flight or meals but you can buy drinks snacks hot pizza etc.And was on time!!! We went for the shuttle service offered by jet2 from airport to resort,Again fine. Minibus with about 8 of us on, no waiting, straight off. The apartments Galeon Playa very near a georgus beach and near to bars and restaurants too. Apartments are very nice with the usual fridge toaster kettle and microwave. Always plenty of hot water. Ours overlooked the parade of shops, bars but was ok.Nice big balcony with airer for your bits of washing!!! Always sunbeds available round pool. But try the beach nearby.Its beautifull.!!!Eating out......plenty of choice.Lots of chinese if thats what you want. Theres lots of "Lanis" around, tex mex, steak houses, etc. All excellent.The "glass House " round by the hotel Tahiche does a carvery and other good meals. Average was 9 euros for a plateful. One place i wouldnt go is he "La Provence" bar just along the road. Spanish omelette.....what do they do? they put CHIPS in the omelette instead of cooked potatoes.... !!!!!!Thats lazy !!! For a good brekky try the "Inn on the square" in the square just along past the "lighthouse" bar, past the tex mex Was about 10 euros for 2 of us but it was good. You can get cheaper but quality counts. We had a trip to Puerto del Carmen on the bus, 20 mins away. Different to Costa Teguise but a nice place and nice prom for a walk. Bars .....personal choice. We liked the ones in the square and the irish bar just down past the bars shops and acroos the road . Entertainment 6 nights. Would defo go here again. If you dont like the heat your ok as theres always a breeze and so you dont get the intense heat like you do in the med.Loved the beach nearby. Dont know if its natural sand but who cares!!! Wish i was still there thats what i know !!!!

14 readers found this review helpful

First of all, Lanzarote is a wonderful place to holiday. There are beautiful beaches and stunning things to visit, amazing art and attractions.
Myself, husband, 9 year old and baby, went during Easter of 2008. We knew nothing about Lanzarote. However, because we managed to get sunburnt on the first day, we hired a car, went all over the island, and gained ourselves a pretty good knowledge in a short space of time.
Galeon Playa is a 3* property and that is what you get. Its absolutely fine. No fancy frills, yet its certainly not unpleasant. It doesn't have the luxury of a 5*, so expect a 3* and you will be happy. It was spotlessly clean, and the staff were wonderful. The rooms are cleaned 5 out of 7 days. The towels are provided so no need to take your own. The room had a microwave and a fridge, and they were really rather spacious, with a separate bedroom, then a kitchen diner and large sofa area, which doubles into the childrens' beds. We arrived around 10am and checkin is about 12, but once they saw our baby, they sorted our room immediately. We were very impressed. If you can't get in your room though, go and have a wander down the promenade, its very nice. Our room overlooked the sea which was lovely, and every room has a balcony, i think.
The food was fine too. Mornings there were always eggs, bacon, etc, always croissants and pastries, always fruit, and always fresh ham and cheese. In the evenings there were always 3 choices of main, 2 meat and one veg option, always salad. For a 3* you really cannot complain. At breakfast you can use the drink machine for squash - (pineapple, orange, tropical) and the tea, coffee machine. But in the evening these do not work, and a small bottle of water is about £1. So take your own. You are not supposed to, but the waiters never minded us taking in a large bottle of Evian.
The local supermarket right opposite is expensive, go around the corner (towards the right) and head for Spa. Much cheaper and lots more choice!
ALSO DO NOT CHANGE YOUR MONEY BEFORE YOU LEAVE. THE RATE OF EXCHANGE IN LANZAROTE IS MUCH BETTER. There are plenty of banks, but if using you card to get money, always go inside, just incase you have a problem, cos things are slow out there, and it could take days to get it back if your card got stuck!
The resort of Teguise itself, is also kind of 3* but its nice, and the beach is lovely; SANDY, which we wanted for our children, and the Galeon Playa is only a couple of minutes walk away. The promenade is fairly nice, lots of places to get icecream, BUT about £2.50 each. The perfume shops are great. DO NOT THINK the prices are the real ones. They will ALWAYS give you discount. They do not add VAT in Lanzarote, so with discount all the perfumes are MUCH MUCH cheaper. Buy all your Christmas pressies!!!! If you get a few things you'll get a better discount too. The chinese restaurant is Spanish chinese, remember that! The duck was great, but the pancakes were awful. I'd recommend one of the sizzling dishes, as they can't seem to get those wrong! The pizza place opposite the hotel to the right, does great pizzas.
Now - about Teguise (pronounced Te-geez-y.) It is known as breezy Teguise. We arrived in April, and had gale force winds, but we did have 2 beautiful calm days too. You have to remember you are on a tiny island in the middle of the ocean, just off the coast of Africa (Senegal is the nearest country) there will be wind. However, it is always hot, so the breeze is often welcome. The good thing about Teguise is in the north eastern part of the island and this is the absolute best spot IF you want to travel and see the sights. If you come out of the hotel, and go down the promenade, then take a right onto the coastal road, you can go to the biggest big of Teguise, a much more touristy area, and its only a short walk. You can hire electric scooters here and get cheaper dinners. There is also a lovely beach, so do have a wander.
If you choose Teguise I THOROUGHLY RECOMMEND GETTING A CAR AND SEEING ALL THAT IS ON OFFER on this beautiful island, even if only for a few days. Also, if it is extremely windy, as we found, you can drive down to Playa Blanca which is much less windy (on the southern tip of the island) and a perfect antedote to Teguise gales.
The local rep greeted us on the morning after we arrived to tell us all the amazing trips you can go on. Most of these were between 30€ -100€. DO GO AND LISTEN TO THE REP, because there are so many excellent trips, however, DONT BOOK THEM, hire a car! We decided to check out hire car prices. You can walk along the street from Galeon playa and find a range of car hire places. It works out about 25€ a day, and is even cheaper if you book BEFORE you go. This is the cheapest way of seeing the island by far. The attractions aren't expensive, neither is car hire.
From Teguise you can visit almost all of the sights of Cesar Manrique (the islands famous artist) All of them can be reached easily in 15mins - 40mins. There is Manrique's house, built on 5 volcano rock bubbles, a couple of caves that he designed, (really cool) and the window at the top of island which is carved into the mountains and overlooks another tiny island. (outstanding!) Amazing trips, (including the island's biggest market held every Sunday morning) and Teguise is a great base to see them, but DONT waste your money with the tour reps, it is so much cheaper to hire a car and pay when you get there 6€ or something. The market is huge, very busy, and lots of stuff to haggle for.
You can drive to the national park in about 50mins, this is the closest you will get to going on the moon, and is where NASA test their moon buggies!!!! It really is an amazing trip, again quite cheap if you drive there. Once there, there is a only one restaurant but it cooks all of its food over a huge hole in the ground which is so hot its like a bbq! Amazing. Get there early though, as they close in the afternoon about 3pm or so, then open again in the evening!
If you get a car, dont bother driving to Arricife, the capital, (pronounced arry-see-fy) there is one main highstreet of shops, but not really worthwhile. (and I'm a shopper)
The BEST PLACE TO STAY BY FAR, is in PLAYA BLANCA. Right in the south. This is where the money is. Also the weather is much milder, so if you stay in the Galeon, and the weather is rough, just drive down, it will take about an hour. Here there are the lovely 5* hotels, plus the PAPAGAYO beaches, so you pick up a boat in playa blanca and take a trip to the idillic untouched Papagayo beaches. About 12€ for adults. Also visit the Rubicon Marina. Here there is a submarine trip that you can go on, trips to Fuerteventura sanddunes, and other lovely boat trips. Not too expensive if you book direct. The marina is the luxury bit, lovely restaurants, obviously more expensive, but just lovely. IF you want a pair of RAY BANS, get them here, again 20% cheaper than in England and a massive range of all the newest fashions!
We didn't visit Puerto del Carmen. This is in need of major money injection apparently and is the most undesirable part of Lanzarote, but Teguise, and especially Playa Blanca are lovely.
PS - DO NOT GET A TRANSFER WITH YOUR TOUR COMPANY - you can walk outside the airport, SO EASY, line up with the other wise tourists, and get a cab for 17€. We read a previous review, and took a chance, ABSOLUTELY EASY, and we are travellign with a pushchair, but still we got a huge cab. There are loads of them.
DONT FORGET, if you like the sights, GET A CAR. ROADS are fairly easy to navigate.
HOPE THIS HELPS, and enjoy your visit.
The Galeon playa is rated as a 3* accommodation, and this is exactly what you get. Would i recommend it? Well if you can't afford the luxury of Playa Blanca 5*, then yes, absolutely.

5 readers found this review helpful

HOLIDAY FROM HELL
I can honestly say this is the worst holiday I have ever had. On arrival at the resort it took 45 minutes to check in. Eventually we were allocated "apartment" 123. We found the apartment and were horrified. It was filthy dirty and smelly. There was a selection of bugs both dead and alive on the floor. There were wires trailling. It was located in a passageway and was dark. There was a phone on the floor for some reason. The wardrobe was broken. The bathroom was dirty with a stained bath. It was disgusting.
Worst of all it was right next door to the complex nightclub and the noise was deafening. We went back to reception to ask to change but they said there were no others rooms available. It was midnight and they gave us the 24 hour no. for Thomsons. We rang the number but got no response.
We spent a sleepless night due to the noise and phoned the number first thing in the morning. Someone told us to report it to our rep at 9am when they start work.
At 9am our rep arrived. We showed him the apartment but he made no comment. He then said that as we had booked through Go Travel that was all we were entitled to. We know this is not true as other guests had also booked through Go Travel but were allocated decent accommodation. The rep told a blatant lie. He was not interested in helping us and even walked away when I was talking to him. He said "what do you expect me to do?"
We phoned the helpline again who told us to report it to our rep. We told them we had but he would not do anything.
Apparently Thomsons have a "no worries guarantee" and if there is any problem they will send a troubleshooter who will sort the problem out within one hour. Well we never saw any trouble shooter.
After a lot of hassle the rep said come back to him at 6pm.
In the meantime we could not have a shower due to filthy bathroom.
At 6pm he just said there was nothing else available and we would have to wait until a room became available.
We therefore spent another sleepless night and were distressed and exhausted due to the situation and lack of sleep.
We also reported to the hotel manager but he would not help either.
Eventually the next day the rep finally got us a move, but we were only moved to the other side of the passageway. The apartment was bigger but was smelly and damp and we still had the noise of the nightclub and the passageway.
I do not recommend the Galeon Playa because you do not know what you're going to get and if there is a problem they don't want to know.
Since returning we complained direct to Thomsons but they deny there is any problem.

1 reader found this review helpful

Resort was very nice and relaxing, although there is a great choice of excursions if required, or relax on the lovely beach for the whole holiday (as we did).
The weather was sunny and approx. 25C every day.
The Galeon Playa Apartments were very comfortable, spacious and very clean.
Depending where your apartment is you can get late night noise from a nearby fun pub. As we were on the ground floor we had a noisy family above us for a few days (not the apartments fault- just some people are so inconsiderate).
Everywhere we ate the food was exceptional and not badly priced, including the Slow Boat Chinese Restaurant and the La Ole (on the beach front).
This was our first visit to Lanzarote but we will be visiting early winter and late winter every year.
The only disappointment was the extreme inefficiency at Newcastle Airport. On flying out only 2 of the 4 security gates were operating which took nearly 1 hour to get through.
On return at 11pm on a quiet November night it took 1 hour and 10 minutes to reclaim our baggage.

1 reader found this review helpful

Good clean basic apartments, pools clean but very cold. Buffet restaurant not very good but plenty of good restaurants and bars nearby. Would recommend self catering, nearby Netto and Spar supermarkets stock plenty of fresh foods.
Staff very friendly and helpful however the evening entertainment is not very good. Excellent location close to lovely beaches.
Thomson kids zone club very good my children 8 and 4 really enjoyed it and made plenty of new friends. Would recommend, and would go back.

2 readers found this review helpful

Myself, husband and three teenage sons have just spent a week at this hotel and we found it was wonderful. The staff were always friendly and couldn’t do enough to help us with any questions we had regarding the hotel or the resort.
The rooms were cleaned six days out of the seven we spent there and the room we had was very spacious and clean with all we needed to go self catering.
The entertainment was very limited but when Tino was around the place lit up and all three boys enjoyed the daytime activities such as rifle shooting, water polo and aqua aerobics! We all loved the pools which were kept clean and serviced every morning before anyone was allowed to enter them. The bar man there was really welcoming and the furniture was very tidy and clean, he made me some amazing cocktails and was always chatty and funny.
Our Thomson’s rep Julian was there to welcome us and gave us loads of advice on places to eat and things the kids would enjoy, he was around everyday and if he couldn’t he gave plenty of notice and other people we could speak to. We arranged several excursions with him and found them to be very reasonably priced and he made sure we had full directions for the pick up points and information and what we needed to take. His sense of humour and fun only added to the enjoyment of the holiday. We promised to be back and we are looking at going for longer this time.
The trips we made were to the volcanic grill which was so outstanding and not to be missed, the restaurant was a little warm but with it being on a volcano it was not going to be any other way really. The experiments you get shown were simply magical and it makes you appreciate what an important part of history it is.
On our last night we went to the Music Hall Tavern and have not laughed so much in a long time. The night was well worth the money and the coach driver made sure we were dropped off and picked up on time, from my point of view being escorted back to the coach by Oliver was worth every Euro.
The resort had plenty to offer loads to all the ages and the sea breeze helps you to enjoy the sun without it being overpowering. We never had any trouble with street sellers and if we said no they respected that and left us alone.
As I said we will be going back and can’t wait.

2 readers found this review helpful

This hotel is in a fantastic location, only about 3 minutes from the beach.
Our room was clean and roomy. The main pool area was very busy but we used the smaller pool which was usually very quiet.
Loads of nice places to eat - Teguise has expanded in the three years since we last visited. Windy as always but it helps the kids cope with the heat. Trip to see the volcanoes shouldn’t be missed - its awe inspiring.
Didn’t like the camel ride as the camel behind mine drooled over my shoulder all the way!
Teguise is a lovely family orientated resort. This was our second visit and it's still lovely.

1 reader found this review helpful

I was appalled when visiting the Galleon Playa. The food was disgusting and however many people you ask they will all tell you the children’s buffet area or play facilities were never available.
Our room flooded on numerous occasions. The sheets were changed once. We had to request towels. I forget how many times the wardrobe door fell off.
We tried to get a early flight home and no one was willing to help. Reps were useless and to say the least they can’t be proud to be offering the accommodation as it has been removed from the brochure.
When I went to quirey why they said it wasn’t up to the standard.
What more can I say?