Escorial Hotel

I went to this Hotel for 1 week on the 14th July; this hotel is fantastic I would give this hotel more than a 3 star rating.
The rooms were so clean the maids came round everyday to clean the rooms which was good, The rooms were basic with double beds a large fridge freezer, ensuite bathroom, The food looked fantastic but am a very fussy eater so I hardly eat in the hotel but the presentation of the foods was great.
There was plenty to do here there is a wellness centre which was fantastic also there is plenty for kids to do there is a basement type room with a bowling alley, free internet access, pool, snooker tables.
The hotel staff were quite rude, I found if you needed anything they made you wait a long time but that didn’t really bother me at all.
Overall I would give this hotel 10/10 I would defiantly come back here, loved it!

1 reader found this review helpful

I recently just got back from a one week stay in the hotel Escorial.
Firstly, I would like to comment on the rooms. They were basic but always clean and tidy and I was pleased with them.
Then there was the amazing facilities. This hotel may only be 3 stars but the wellness centre and gym were definitely 5 stars. This included sauna, vapour room, plunge pool, Jacuzzi and a relax room.
Also there was a stunning indoor pool and salt bath which was equally as beautiful. For the children there was also a games room which included free internet access, ping-pong, snooker and bowling.
My children spent hours on end down there playing snooker and meeting friends. There's also the outdoor swimming pool which is very nice.
My family and I were all inclusive and I really liked the food. Although most nights it was the same thing I think the food was appetising.
At the reception I found the staff made you wait if you wanted something, which I didn't really mind, but when I heard my children complaining that they always leave the children to last if they want something and always sort out the adults first, I was very angry.
Overall I am very pleased with my stay and would recommend it to all.

My partner and I went to Gran Canaria in August for an AI 2 week holiday.
There were no major complaints about the hotel - it was very clean and tidy. The staff were sometimes a little ignorant, where they would ignore you for a while before serving you and the receptionists always made you feel like you were giving them hassle and couldn't be bothered with you.
We had asked to book a taxi and were told that we'd be quicker getting one outside! but found it almost impossible to get one! And such like.
There was an entertainer on for majority of the day and she was just full of energy! She was great with the kids and had a Mickey disco every night - played water polo with the adults during the day - took part in karaoke/fashion shows etc etc. She spoke at least 6 languages, originally from Germany, and was just great!
The rest of the hotel entertainment was not the best but where you had free drinks all night, we happily sat out at the poolside and mingled with others or just got ready for a night out etc. There were some nights that the entertainment was very impressive - including the parrot show!
The main downfall of the hotel was the amount of German's there, not being funny in anyway but we found them to gang up in crowds and were very arrogant towards us - one man even came in the middle of a nights entertainment and stood directly in front of us.
With me being only 5ft 3 I couldn't see a thing, but was called for everything in German for asking him to move! We later found out that the hotel had only recently been opened to the British in 2005. The food and music was very much not to the British taste - but this helped us group together and we met some lovely people!
There was a lot for my partner to eat as he likes to eat meat where I'm not vegetarian, but do not like meat as much - although some nights even he was struggling for a plateful. The breakfast was always the same - and lunch very standard.
We did discover that there was a lunch menu where you could order food from the bar - which was either a hit or a miss! The aircon in the restaurant broke down whilst we were there and found it unbearable to sit in for any length of time, but again that was just unlucky in my opinion.
The drinks were great and the AI allowed us pretty much anything we asked for - although they didn't always understand us when we asked for the set cocktails - but most of them were great anyway! There were also soft drinks, tropical beer and water on tap all day until the bar shut at night which was handy as you didn't have to keep waiting to be served.
The bar also had pizza and chips on a hotplate throughout the day which you could help yourself to. There was meant to be ice-cream on tap also although whenever I went to get some the restaurant had been closed.
The hotel surrounds were lovely and the pool & area were cleaned everyday except a Sunday - everyone needs a day off! There was only twice where our room was not cleaned by the maids, which just so happened to be both Thursday - I wonder if that was their day off too?!
The hotel was close to the Irish clubbing centre which seemed to have a great atmosphere. It was also not far from the beach, although there were about 60 steps up and down to the beach which weren't so great in the heat. There some days that you just couldn't walk about until around 6pm as it was too warm (and I like the heat!!).
At the beach there were the whole water sports happening and we did the Jet Ski’s - they were 40euros per bike, regardless of who was on it but we decided to get the 2 anyway!
The holiday rep was great, very helpful and I would recommend that you go to the welcome meeting as they hand out maps and vouchers etc which were handy. We went on a catamaran ride with the rep with lunch and drinks provided and the bus ride to Puerto Rico as that is where the harbour is.
We also went to the water park, I am glad to say that I went but, we got round all the rides in about 1hr and got bored quickly after that. We met a couple who had taken their 2yr old along but the baby wasn't allowed on anything and was very much so a waste of their money! It was a shame!
We found it hard to change traveller’s cheques and the local shops did try to con us but we finally found a hotel which was about 15-20min walk from the hotel that changed these. The rates were better than what we had got at home so were happy enough to change there with no commission!
We ate out twice and both times were fantastic - and not too expensive. There were pubs in the Kazbar area that were very casual/usual pubs but at midnight turned into Spanish/Salsa etc - and the atmosphere and people were lovely. We had a few people come over and helped to show us how to Salsa and were very friendly.
I think I have bored you all enough but would definitely go back to the hotel and area as it was lively and had enough of a mixture to keep it different. I think next time, if we were to go back, we would go SC and see what else we had missed out on!
Have a great holiday if you are going & make the most of it!

We stayed at the Escorial Hotel in Playa del Ingles from 20th August 2006 for fourteen nights. We had a great time. First class hotel. We went all inclusive and it was great value for money. Breakfast consisted of full English and Continental.
Freshly squeezed oranges, delicious. Snacks can be ordered at the pool bar. Pizza and chips on offer from 10.30 to 3pm. Lunch and dinner were also lovely. No complaints at all with regard to food. The bar opened at 10.30 till midnight. The Tropical beer, water and soft drinks were "help yourself". You could also fill up bottles of water for your room.
When you arrive at the hotel you are handed an A4 sheet giving a list of all the drinks on offer including cocktails, local and international drinks, bottles of red or white wine and liqueur coffees/hot chocolate. Internet access is free. The hotel is well situated for all the nightlife - not far from the Tropical Shopping Centre.
My husband took ill whilst we were there and the hotel was on hand to give him oxygen and organised a doctor and ambulance to take him to a clinic. He was allowed out that night.
In the room there is a large fridge, a ceiling fan, a hairdryer in the bathroom, 2 double wardrobes plus a wardrobe with shelves, a wicker settee on the large balcony with table. We were in room 825 which got the sun about 6pm - great for topping up your tan! Air conditioning was available in each room for only 2 euros a day (just over a pound). It was very hot and the air conditioning in the bedroom was fab. There was a full gym in the basement with a sauna etc.
My only complaint was that there was no air conditioning in the dining room. Entertainment was also a laugh and we got involved in the daytime activities. I would class this hotel as a four/five star and I really don't know how they make any profit.

We stayed at this hotel for 2 weeks in August 06 and found it satisfactory, but like anything it’s the bad points that always stick in your mind. Firstly on the plus side the hotel is very nice with marble floors throughout reception and bar area.
Our room was very spacious with 2 single beds together, we also had a living room area with sofas as well as kitchen area with cooker etc and a separate large bathroom, however we had friends there as well who got a much smaller room (luck of the draw I think).
The rooms were cleaned and fresh towels left every day. The hotel has a huge fully fitted Gym and wellness centre area (Sauna, Massage etc) leading down marble stairs from reception area which is very nice. The hotel is situated at the start of Playa del Ingles and is approx 10mins walk from the main Kasbah clubbing area which is great as there weren't really any young groups of lads or girls it was mostly families or couples.
Like any buffet that is on every day every week its hard to change it constantly so naturally after the first week to 10 days it gets a bit the same but quality and selection is very good only bad point about food was that there were often little flies hanging around climbing over the salad bar. During the day snacks such as hot dogs, pizza, toasties can be ordered from the bar.
Some of the bad points were that a lot of people mostly those on ground floor complained of having a several cockroaches in their apartments over the 2 weeks and we even seen one walking along floor in reception, we were on the second floor and only had 1 in full 2 weeks so that was not to bad as in most of these places its to be expected. You have to be down early in morning around 8am to get decent sun beds at pool and if you leave them for any length of time the receptionists come round removing the ones with no one on them.
The pool area is full of sun beds however this is not enough as one half of the pool terrace is in shade by aprrox 2pm. There are however plenty sun beds spread out in gardens of hotel it just means you would be a short walk away from the pool area however the gardens have a big jacuzzi to cool off in. The pool is of a decent size compared to some hotels we seen and the pool area is cleaned every morning as well. There is also a tennis court, table tennis and 2 pool tables in gardens. There is also a small crazy golf course inside hotel.
The drink selection is pretty good and the measures are whenever they decide to stop pouring, it’s just the local beer that takes a bit of getting used to but its not that bad.
The staff at reception do tend to leave you standing from time to time while they potter about around desk and through back but they do eventually get there.
The advertised entertainment was virtually non existent the first week however after several complaints from few people to be fair the hotel sacked the guy responsible and quickly got a new person in and the second week was much better with table tennis, pool competitions etc arranged during day, kids mini disco at night and an evening show almost every night about 9.30 which lasted appox an hour.
All in all the hotel is very bright and clean and would recommend it providing the above does not bother you to much. However should we return to gran canaria we would probably try a different resort as a change.

1 reader found this review helpful

The hotel staff, especially reception, were extremely rude and unhelpful. My friend and I were shouted at on numerous occasions by hotel staff for simply trying to seek help.
The food was very average and often cold. On one occasion we were horrified to find ants on the food and therefore opted to eat out every night which added to the cost of our holiday.
The room was nice and was cleaned every day. However, the maid continually left our balcony door open which we felt was irresponsible as burglars could easily get in. Our fridge didn't work and we had to ask reception several times before anyone took and notice so was only working for the last couple of days of our holiday.
We were very disappointed with the pool area as we felt there was a lack of sun beds around the pool and was not enough space for the ones which were there so it was a hassle to get to them.
We will definitely not be returning to this hotel and would not recommend it to anyone.

The Escorial is a very clean and tidy hotel, it has everything you need, the rooms were cleaned every day and the food was really nice, there was so much to choose from. My only complaints are that the reception staff and bar staff especially are very unhelpful.
They leave you standing there waiting for them to serve you. It is also clearly stated in there information that you get international and local drink with all inclusive but when we arrived there was very limited drink you could have so therefore I had to pay for my drinks.
We enjoyed our holiday but would not return to the Escorial or recommend it. You expect your hotel to be helpful but definitely not that.
Before I booked this hotel I looked at reviews on it and a few people said the same thing, I just wish I took their review into count.