Sun Park Apartments

14 readers found this review helpful

I never imagined I would go back to Lanzarote and the Sun Park after my much too-close-for-comfort encounter with cockroaches during a 40°C heatwave. But I’m pleased to report that I didn’t see a single one for the entire 10 days! The majority of wildlife consisted of half-starved doves and stray cats.
We emailed the Sun Park a month or so in advance of travelling and asked for a specific room over-looking the pool. Needless to say we got the room we asked for and couldn’t have been happier. Other members of my family have stayed at Sun Park several times and have rarely had a bad word to say about the place. It’s basic, but comfortable. As a previous reviewer also wrote, the maid service is definitely ‘sporadic’. We had our towels changed once over the 10 days and rarely saw a maid. Then three came along at once. Nonetheless, the apartment was clean enough and the maid replaced our Teflon-shedding frying pan with a brand new one when asked.
Being self-catering we didn’t sample the hotel’s food and neither did we make use of the bar. The prices at the on-site shop were much higher than Netto down the road, but it was handy for odd bits and pieces, and the staff were always friendly.
The German children’s reps from 1-2-Fly had a fairly good grasp of English and tried to include the British kids wherever possible. However, they seemed none too enthusiastic. The pool areas were generally clean and tidy, and the garden areas are well looked after.
Now, if you get part way through your holiday and start craving a full english breakfast, head over to Lani’s snack bar at the Rubicon Marina. The Brit pubs and restaurants can’t compare. Other restaurants definitely worth mentioning are Cervantes on the main street in Playa Blanca (watch your eyebrows if you order an Irish coffee) and L’Artista for incredible Italian food (special treatment if you’re a Valentino Rossi fan). There is also a very good Chinese restaurant in the Papagayo Commercial Centre; very friendly, speedy service and tasty food.
Playa Blanca has continued to keep its charm as it’s spread across the south of Lanzarote. Its man-made beaches are clean and sheltered, and the stunning natural beaches of Papagayo are just around the corner. Not happy with merely snorkelling around the shoreline, I decided to learn how to scuba dive. You’ll be amazed at how many dive centres you find in one resort, but I definitely recommend Dawn Dives which is located within the H10 Rubicon Palace Hotel. They offer a range of different PADI diving experiences and also have a marvellous website: www.dawndiveslanzarote.com The instructor was really helpful and encouraging, and I intend to dive with the centre again on my next trip to Lanzarote.
All in all, you get what you pay for at the Sun Park for a comfortable holiday. Your holiday is what you make it in a resort like Playa Blanca, but for us there was never a dull moment.

5 readers found this review helpful

We booked a last minute holiday on the internet, some of the reviews for Sun Park were worrying. However we found the accomodation to be clean and suitably furnished. The centre itself was peaceful and all facilities were well maintained. A very peaceful and simple base for a brilliant short holiday.

30 readers found this review helpful

After booking at the Sun Park Hotel – Lanzarote for a week’s holiday I thought I should have a look at some of the reviews... I was a bit worried by some of the responses.
We have been back a few days now and thought I should write a review to give my point of view.

After being delayed for three hours at Birmingham we arrived in Lanzarote later than planned, we got to the hotel at approximately 23.00 absolutely shattered and desperate for a drink and a sit down. The hotel was deserted except for a night porter whose grasp of English was not the best. Unfortunately I had managed to leave behind the important piece of paper which had our reservation details. Luckily our information was on a list and he handed over a key and showed us where our room was. Asking us to return to reception in the morning when there was someone there to book us in. Although his English was not the best a smile went a long way.
We were in room 606, which was clean and tidy when we arrived. We dumped our bags and went on the hunt for the bar … we couldn’t find it … instead we found the little supermarket and settled for a few beers on the balcony.
In the morning a quick visit to reception where they scanned in our passports and asked for reservation details … woops! … although I had remembered over night I booked on line and had an email with the information on, they were satisfied with the email and no more was discussed about my leaving behind the most important piece of paper!
The man I dealt with on reception in the morning looked like he was sucking on a sour sweetie when I first tried to explain the issues, but after a few smiles again and he was happier and I got a hello from him each time I saw him. I think the main problem with the staff is that their English is not the best, the hotel is aimed at German guests and I’m sure they spoke better German.
Anyway back to the hotel review. The hotel is set out like a figure 8 with rooms round the edge and pools in the centre. One of the pools is a lot more hectic than the other with focus on children and their activities. Luckily for us our room was next to the quiet pool, the kids club “123 FLY” song could hardly be heard! Although we didn’t have any experience of the club there were British kids enjoying themselves alongside the German kids, I think the people running the club had a better grasp of language than the reception staff.
The room was on the ground floor accessed from the balcony area straight on to the lounge and kitchen; it was well equipped with a hob, fridge / freezer and microwave. The bedroom was at the back of the block which was great as it was cool most of the time. The cleaners came on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday, however their skills were usually limited to straightening sheets, issuing new towels and sweeping the floor. All the rooms as far as I could tell had a pool view; we were about 5 meters from the edge of the pool up five steps which was lovely.
Within the hotel there was a small supermarket which was not too expensive, but the problem I found was we were there for a week and the size of products they sell e.g. 2litres of washing up liquid was a bid ridiculous. Bottles of beer were about 80cents each and a can of coke was 60cents (if you buy the local beer be careful of sans (without) alcohol! We fell for that one.) We went to the local Netto (approximately 200meters from the front of the hotel… turn right) for food and drink for the week, the price of food was actually similar to the UK.
The grounds of the hotel were very well kept with some beautiful flowers in bloom. The pools were also well kept with a man cleaning them each morning. There was a pool bar which was also nice and over at the noisy side of the hotel. The pool looked lovely but was cold however after a hot day and the initial shock it was refreshing.
We were in a self catering room, but we did eat in the hotel a few evenings as it was close, easy and cheap, 16 euros each including alcohol 12 euros without alcohol.. The food was basic but hot and tasty. Mainly in the evenings we would head to the restaurants along the front there was plenty of choice all were about the same quality and price. Starters were about 6 euros and main meals 10 – 15 euros.
I know this has nothing to do with the hotel, but anyway... we hired a car one of the days which was a really good idea it allowed us to see the whole island which was magnificent and well worth the 30euros for the car. If you have to chose anywhere to drive on the wrong side of the road for the first time I would suggest Lanzarote, the roads are extremely well kept, wide and were generally very quiet. There were Island coach tours which were about 50euros for the day inc. lunch. Well worth seeing the island however you do it. We ventured up to Timanfaya National Park, (8euros) there are a few touristy things going on and a coach tour round the volcanoes which is well worth it. We then went to the El Griffo wine museum (3euros) which was interesting and there was wine tasting at the end. Next was the Ceasar Manrique Museum (8euros) this was amazing, there is a lot of public artwork on the island, most of it has been created by this man and a tour round his home was eye opening.
Generally we stayed around Playa Blanca and walked round the front from the ferry port in the west of the island, past the main town, round the hotels and restaurants to the Rubicon which was a more modern port area where there was a market on Wednesdays and Saturdays, just past the Rubicon there is an old castle which although not open the views from there are amazing. The hotel and resort was exactly what we wanted somewhere to get away for a week and relax.

4 readers found this review helpful

Had a fantastic holiday at the Sun Park Aparthotel, it is lovely and quiet and the gardens surrounding the pools are beautiful. You could hear a pin drop after 10pm, very peaceful. Short walk to the beach and bars and lots of great restaurants especially Jumbos Chinese, we were also close to the local mini super market, the prices were quite reasonable. We are definately going back to the Sunpark, the rooms where lovely and clean and the staff were very helpful and pleasant.

4 readers found this review helpful

We got exactly what the previous reviews had stated.
We had a last minute deal (as we lost our planned 2 week holiday to Cyprus as we were due to travel with XL say no more).
We were there for 1 week ,our room was big enough upstairs view , large terrace balcony.
The patronising German 1-2-Fly club reps were very irritating even when there were no kids in sight still blasted out this 123 song (with the tune of come on and do the congo).
The cleaner for our room was not good, we had not had our room swept out at all, bed was made twice and one of those times the under sheet was screwed up how pointless.
When we arrived, the area under the TV Stand had 1 peice of broken glass, 2 crisps, 1 pair of (I pressume the previous occupants) white sandals, the inside of a bottle of pump action spray thing , feathers, a leaf from outside and a dollop of what looked like washing up liquid.
This muck was still there when we left one week later!......NOT ACCEPTABLE AT ALL.
We did find a few cockroaches mainly in the bathroom, and one ran away one night when I opened the patio door.
I never tried the food or used the bar as the people around it seemed unwelcoming when we said hello and aloof perhaps it was our southern accents.
The complex and pools are quite nice and the place was tidy.
I could not fault Playa Blanca itself, it had plenty of bars and restaurants.
Would not recomend this place for the clubbers but we did not want rowdy bars anyway. The sea was warmer than the pools and there are some nice walks at night along the promanade.
Will definately return to Playa Blanca although probably not to the sun park as the german entertainment/reps were too in your face and patronising for us.
Overall we found our cleaner let this holiday down for us, I wish she would have left us her broom so we could have at least swept up the endless birds feathers and leaves that kept blowing in.
We found the bars drinks around Playa Blanca to be less than we pay at home, some were the same but we do live in Kent.
Overall though, we enjoyed our holiday.

3 readers found this review helpful

Like many, I found some of the reviews on here a bit worrying. But as others have since said, it turns out I also had nothing to be concerned about.
I'm not going to say Sun Park is fantastic, but it's not bad at all.
We had an upstairs apartment with a great pool view. It was clean, and kept clean and had all the usual facilities. I don't know if there was a fault with the telly, but it was permanently showing E1.40 credit, therefore meaning it was free to watch. Maybe they've all been adapted to make it thus.
The grounds were nice, as were the pools which were cleaned every morning without fail, including the morning it was raining.
I saw no cockroaches and had no problems keeping the room on on departure day for the already quoted price of 20 euros.
We didn't have much in the way of dealings with the staff, but when we did they were perfectly polite, reasonable and co-operative with us.
I can't judge the quality of the food as we were Self Catering, and those who comment about the entertainment being geared towards the Germans obviously have a point. But it didn't affect us so again, no probs.
Maybe it was an unusual week, but us Brits were in the majority when we were there, so if that is the norm, I'm not sure why they have that attitude. Maybe the Germans are more responsive to that sort of thing.
I thought the on site supermarket was a bit dear, but that was easily solved by not using it. Still nice to have the option though, especially with it being open 'till midnight, long after Netto has closed. Netto incidentally, bears no resemblance to the slightly tacky version of the shop that we have in the UK, so don't worry about having to use that either.
The resort of Playa Blanca is lovely, though the island itself, less so. Lanzarote is a bit errrm.....stark is perhaps one way of putting it.
The promenade path (traffic free) goes on for some time in both directions, so make sure you see it all. Nice beaches, and lots of places to eat and drink.
I wouldn't say eating out was expensive, certainly cheaper than back home. But for us personally it was comparatively dear due to the fact we usually go to Greece, where it is usually a fair bit cheaper.
All in all, a more than satisfactory holiday.

I have to agree with the previous comments but would add that this Hotel is SOLELY geared for German Guests. Even the reception staff are now German and not very "English friendly".
I disagree about being able to hire the room for 20 euros, even though there was nobody in our room at the time of departure (or about 20 others) we were just told that it was not free, nor were any others, which was amazing as she did n't even look on the Computer.
The "eine, zwei drei club" are just plain annoying, with english kids bypassed unless their german is fluent.
We heard bad reports from other guests, who were all inclusive, about the food being poor and poor value for money, but as we were S/C, I cannot confirm.
Hotel grounds are nice, pools are good, not much to do locally for teenagers.

1 reader found this review helpful

I was a bit worried reading some of the reviews below but it was great we stayed for one week basic apartments but perfect for a couple getting away ( I am 23 and partner is 29).
The kids club theme tune does get a bit annoying after while if you are round that pool side "ains zwei drie de dar de de.. its still in my head now haha you can set your clock by it 10am 12pm 3pm.... but there are quieter pools.
I would not recommend this hotel to english families even though it states it is a family friendly hotel and there is a full entertainment package for kids it is in German and alot of the english kids did not have a clue what wast going on.
the resort centre is a good 5-10 minute walk but it is a lovely walk quite a quiet resort with many people generally just having a resturant meal and taking a pue for the night for after tea drinks there are a few bars to choose from but not quite what I am used to they are spread out defo not some where you would go with the girls
There are lot's of resturants to choose from even a burger king if you like that sort of thing lots of fresh fish resturants chinese indian, italien and spanish.
If you get chance you must take a walk down the promenade many people get sso far and think thats it there are some fantastic views if you keep walking.
Overall great!!

The general area is fine for young people. The nightlife seemed pretty standard but enjoyable and the beach was lovely.
However, in comparison to everything else Playa Blanca has to offer Sun Park was shocking. The four pools advertised in the brochure really excited me and my sister but when we got there two of them didn't even have any water in and that didn't change for the rest of the fortnight. The food at breakfast was disappointing and unappetising.
If you go here go self catering and without overly high expectations.

2 readers found this review helpful

Got back this morning from a week at Sun Park aparthotel, in Playa Blanca. Was very anxious about what it would be like after reading reviews on here. BUT... it was great!!!! The apartment was very clean (room number 753), upstairs room with own balcony, large double bedroom with plenty of wardrobes, kitchenette and dining/lounge area. The kitchen didn't have a toaster, but had large fridge, microwave, coffee maker. The bathroom was big, with a decent shower, small bath, plenty of towels (which were changed twice in the week); it didn't have a hairdryer but luckily we'd packed one.
The complex has 4 pools and beautifully maintained grounds - lots of trees and mature shrubs. The gardeners were out every day keeping the place tidy. There are lots of sunbeds and brollies, and we didn't see any sign of people reserving their sunbeds at the crack of dawn - we never had a problem getting sunbeds at all. The pool by our apartment which was a large deep pool, was chilly, but as the air temperature was about 90 degrees, it didn't take the water long to warm up and we swam every day.
Check out on day of departure is 12noon, but for 20 euros more you can have your room until you depart. Just ask at reception.
There were a lot of german tourists staying at the complex, but they were all really nice and friendly and everyone mixed really well.
On our last day we found a great english cafe in the centre, called Cafe34 - great for traditional english grub if that's what you are looking for. There are lots of great designer shops, offering great discounts for genuine items (such as sunglasses and clothes). Be aware of the electrical good shops - avoid them like the plague whatever they tell you - their items will not work in the UK and do not have valid guarantees!
The best canarian restaurant we ate at is Tipico Canaria - there are two of these restaurants - one on the sea front, the other is located a short walk from the apartments (turn right at the Netto supermarket and follow road for about 1/4 mile). Great service and the cheapest food in the resort.
We travelled with Thomas Cook. Leg room is appalling and if you haven't opted for a hot meal then all you can buy is crips and snacks (although travel agent told us they sold sandwiches on the plane, but they don't). We opted for 15kg baggage allowance. Arrecife airport allows you to be over allowance by 1kg each on your return flight. After that it's 9 euros per kg.
We can't wait to go back!