Gran Canaria Princess Hotel

5 readers found this review helpful

We went to this hotel in July this year for two weeks. We stayed half board and enjoyed every minute. The cleanliness of the hotel is absolutely incredible, including the bedrooms which are cleaned daily and have air conditioning. The food was lovely. The only thing I think could be improved here is to have more themed nights. The restaurant is clean and the service is brilliant but depending on what time you go down for your meals you sometimes have to wait to be seated but the longest time we had to wait was about 5 minutes. One downfall in the hotel is the lifts. There are only 3 lifts and to say that the hotel is so big, it is sometimes difficult to actually get one and when the lift actually stopped for you, most of the time is was full with people anyway. Luckily we were on a low floor so were able to walk up the stairs instead of wasting time waiting for a lift to arrive. The Thomsons Reps here, Ross and Yvette, are two of the best reps we've ever had, and we've been on many holidays with Thomsons. Their knowledge about the resort is exceptional. If ever a problem arrived, and we only had one problem, they dealt with it immediately. They were a credit to Thomsons. We loved this hotel and holiday so much we are definitely going back next year.

The hotel was lovely and clean. The staff work extremley hard at there jobs. Except one. Bar manager Orlando. He is extremley rude and unhelpful. The waiters there are lovely and treat you with respect at all times. The only thing is, they are very tense because they are watched by cameras at all times and they cant seem to let there hair down at all. The only thing wrong was they put the all inclusives first and not the full paying customers which isnt right. It gets annoying when your shopping as hundreds of money grabbers are trying to sell your tack. The beach is lovely and the sand dunes are breath taking i highly recommend you see them. Sometimes it can feel like hard work as you seem to be rushed off your feet with everything. The food got a bit boring and your in trouble if you dont like meat or fish. But overall my family and i have had a brilliant week.

1 reader found this review helpful

We have just returned from Gran Canaria staying at the Princess Hotel.
The Hotel is very clean all areas are very spacious, with nice furniture.
The rooms are very nice, bathrooms are lovely. The beds however are single, no double beds in any rooms. I think for four star there should be tea/coffee making facilities in the rooms, but there are none, you can however hire a kettle but its cheaper to buy one.
The food was ok but gets a little boring when you are there for two weeks, its very repetative. ok if you like chips.The drinks are very expensive everywhere you go in the hotel. The reps were very helpful, giving good advise of where to visit, and which buses to catch. The entertainment was very poor, not much room to sit out around the stage or bars. The swimming pool was the best part of the hotel, very clean and warm, plenty of room for everyone. The beaches were nice, got pestered on way to beach by time share salesmen and ladies putting bracelets on you then wanting money.
Lots of entertainment close by, bars shops etc. Had camel ride at Maspalomas that was great.
Be careful on returning home at the airport in Gran Canaria, very strict with weight restrictions, loads of people were getting charged just for a couple of kilos over. 11 euros per kilo.

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8 readers found this review helpful

I went to Gran Canaria for the first time last year and stayed with my boyfriend at the Gran Canaria Princess hotel, on a Half Board basis.
I have read through some of the reviews and think it is unfair that some people gave it such a low score.
It is a 4 star hotel and you get a 4 star service for your money.
The rooms were kept clean and were spacious and comfortable. The staff were helpful and accommodating and the hotel itself is gorgeous and well maintained.
The food, for the most part, was enjoyable (if not slightly boring after a few days - espescially at breakfast). There were no free drinks available with our inclusive dinner though, which was a bit of a shame.
The 'themed' nights dinners were interesting! Some were very nice, others not to my taste which meant there was little else for me to eat except chips and salad.
The desserts were delicious and varied - a sweet lovers dream!!
The pool side was always very busy and to get a deck chair you either had to get up early or get there late in the afternoon when people were getting ready to go out for the night.
The pool itself seemed a little small at busier times but was always clean and not too cold.
Daytime entertainment was repetitive - the archery was fun although you spent most your time lining up for your next go. Football and tennis was available although mainly children were playing.
The mini golf course was well maintained and fairly priced. Definitely worth a couple of goes although there are a lot of mini golf/crazy golf courses around in the area - even just up the road from the hotels entrance.
The evenings entertainment was varied... usually felt a bit 'thrown together' and slightly amateurish at times but always good for a laugh. To be honest, if you can get excursions for the evenings you should try get out a bit as most of the hotels evening acts are missable.
The location of the hotel is pretty central to shops, markets, clubs and restaurants and only a short taxi ride from the Playa Del Ingles beach. The beach is extremely busy, all the time, and getting a deck chair (which you have to pay for) is extremely difficult in the middle of the day.
Thomas Cook looked after us well, the reps were fabulous and knowledgable and extremely helpful at all times.
We went on the Camel Safari day out and the Aphrodite day cruise around the island - the cruise was the highlight of my holiday - the best day of my life in fact! Well worth the money as you are treated like royalty through out. Camel Safari was a great day (if not dragged on a bit) - meeting the camels first was nice but added a lot to the price so maybe if you want to ride a camel consider booking it without Thomas Cooks help as its far cheaper.
Aqualand which is only a short taxi ride away too is also well worth the money. Can get busy at about 12-1 oclock so try get there for opening if you can. Be sure to take extra money for a locker and a deck chair (nothing comes for free in Gran Canaria!)
When it comes to shopping, be sure to shop around a bit and haggle as much as you can. A LOT of the souvenier shops sell the same stuff and the price difference from one stall to another can be staggering. The staff at the shops can be quite forward but most are friendly and will haggle down the price if you go about it the right way. Be careful though as some shops will not accept haggling and they can get quite annoyed if you try!
Id say, all in all, it was a great holiday. The weather was warm most the time (especially after lunch) although slightly cloudy on some days which was a bit of a shame for early September.
I would recommend the Gran Canaria Princess to people who are using it mainly as a bed and breakfast - possibly going out on an excursion once a day or in the evenings.
I hope my review has been helpful - enjoy your holiday and ignore the people giving the hotel bad reviews for the sake of complaining - i think you get what you pay for and for the price i paid i am happy with what i got.
The hotel's overall price is 8/10 (it lost some points for entertainment and food)
Gran Canaria i give a 7/10 - was enjoyable but the weather wasnt warm enough for my liking and i probably wont go back.

1 reader found this review helpful

4 of us (ages between 29 - 33) travelled to the Gran Canaria Princess in May 2009 on an all Inclusive basis. I have been to Gran canaria many times and have stayed in other 4 and 5 star hotels in the resort, and after reading the previous reviews on this hotel I was looking forward to my stay.
As we arrived and checked in The hotel looked clean and well presented. Staff at the reception were Polite and friendly. we made our way to our rooms, one on the sixth floor and one on the seventh.
On entering the room it was obvious they were of a basic standard and had not been updated in a while, although they were clean and tidy. The maids made the room up each day and provided clean towels. My room was on the sixth floor and faced the rear of hotel. Although it did not bother me, entertainment provided on the outside stage is quite loud even with the balcony doors closed and plays to around midnight. In the mornings the corridors were also quite noisy from around 8am onwards. A fridge in the room can be hired for a daily charge along with a safe. There was no facilities for tea/coffee etc.
we stayed on an all inclusive basis. All meals in the restaurant were buffet style. There was a good choice on offer but I found that it was usually cold after a few bites.
However, being all inclusive meant that everything was self service. this was pretty annoying as those who were not self service got waiter service and were generally better treated than all inclusive customers.
The outside space is super. Excellent pool and lots of room for sunbathing. again all very clean and well kept.
Entertainment is provided but is of poor quality. There seems to be two resident singers who sing the same songs every night, and badly.
Compaired to other hotels of a similar rating I would not be returning to this hotel.

5 readers found this review helpful

Stayed in this hotel as a young couple (18+19 years old) and would highly recommend whether you are a couple, family or even a single traveller.
Staff are very helpful and polite and cannot do enough to please you on your stay.
There is plenty of choice for food and fresh meat and eggs in the morning are being cooked in front of your eyes at the dining room. Unlike previous comments what do you expect with half board, this is what it means breakfast and dinner at any hotel, you only get lucky soemtimes when they supply water, and in the morning coffee and juice is free anyway.
The room we had was huge it was stitaued at the end of the corridor and had a balcony that went all the way round the room.
The only downside was that you couldnt go all inclusive like the germans did, but this year thomson have changed this and you can now book all inclusive, which is recommended as the prices are now sky high in gran canaria. WE have booked again to go this year and cannot wait.
And the animation team do not like the germans better everyone is treated the same.

2 readers found this review helpful

It's hard to be too critical of the GCP Hotel, as it is, as many have said, clean, safe, comfortable, well-apportioned and close to the beaches and shops.
However, one (perhaps) petty, but annoying complaint we had during our seven day stay just before Easter was the escalating hidden, extra and downright misleading costs associated with the stay.
"Half board", we discovered, does not only mean two meals each day, it means *No liquids* included in the meal. Water at the table? Two euros. Juice, soda, coffee, etc? Three euros and more. Wine, beer? Don't even ask.
For reasons unexplained, German guests were able to book "All inclusive" holidays via Thomson, so they could drink at every meal (this was policed by the staff in a buffet restaurant) and enjoy ice cream, soda, beer, water, etc all day long at the pool-side cafe and bar. This would be tough to explain to your children as they saw other kids stroll up to the poolside bar and scoop out a double-cone.
Also, despite the misleading website, certain facilites (like the tennis court) were charged by the hour. Even though the court *right next to it*, used for five-aside football, was not. I had to pay 30 euros to use the court 5 times in a week. Not much, yes, but not what I had planned. Six euros per hour is very, very expenisve for a basic court.
Another extra cost was internet access: there's no WiFi network in the hotel, so you must use the hotel's four terminals. They cost, also, six euros per hour.
By the time you eat a couple of meals in the town, play some sport and surf the net, you could drop and extra EUR250 in a week. This was a frustrating discovery.
Again, the resort itself is nice - not spectacular, but very nice - and efficient and friendly, but the hidden and extra costs kind of left a sour taste in my mouth.
If you're booking with Thomson, check the fine print.

1 reader found this review helpful

hotel was spotless and food great for adults,not much for children. BAD POINTS ....3very small lifts could not cope with demand in march so no chance in high season. book lower floors as you will be using stairways all the time !! had boy aged 9 ,he couldnt do 90% of activities , football, volleyball, archery etc,. had to be 12. Mini-club for kids was ok for 3 to 4 year olds. Staff were very friendly but favoured the GERMANS!!!!! GOOD LOCATION FOR BEACHES and supermarkets.

1 reader found this review helpful

Just spent a week at the Gran Canaria Princess and we would highly recommend it.
The Hotel is spotless and the staff are very efficient.
The swimming pool is great and plenty of activities going on there and the entertainment at night is not bad...a lot is geared for children early on and then something for the grown ups later.
The food in the restaurant is amazing with plenty of choice and served buffet style.
The Princess is in a good location near to the plaza and the yumbo shopping centres although the shops are full of tack some of the bars are very good.

2 readers found this review helpful

I visited the Gran Canaria Princess hotel in august with my mum and sister (we are both 20) we was a bit put off by some of the reviews we read but we enjoyed our holiday alot, the staff are so friendly (especially the bar staff, particually Gregorio who was a favourite will all the girls!) always entertaining you.
The food was lovely, so much choice and it changed every night.
The hotel entertainment was great with a different show every night for the whole 2 weeks!
I cannot fault this hotel 1 bit, if i had too it would be that you need to wake up early to save yourself a sunbed otherwise its hard to get one near the pool, but you could always get one.
Also we did wonder how safe we would feel all being girls as it was our first holiday away with just us but that wasnt an issue whatsoever, we felt compleatly safe all night.
The rooms were very nice and clean, nothing was to much trouble for the staff.
As you can see i loved this holiday and really want to go back!!