Guanabara Park Apartments

Just got home today from staying at Guanabara Park. Great relaxing apartments, fantastic balcony views. Entertainment was good, although we was in town most nights. I recommend coming again and to others who are visiting Puerto Rico to consider staying here.
Thanks

Overall this complex is quite good, the only downside is the amount of steps you have to walk down to get to your apartment, that is if you are on floor B or C, if you are on A your fine as you don’t need to attempt to get your suitcases down several flights of stairs!!
Also there is a good few steps down to the shops, which leads onto the beach, takes about 15mins to walk but taxi's are only about 3 euro's so you can easily catch a taxi as there are so many of them!
The apartments are basic, but comfortable! You have to pay for TV and safe. We only saw one cockroach in our apartment which was good!!
The pool is lovely, my boyfriend and I spent most of our time there! The view from the pool and the apartments are lovely, all sea views!!
Another downside is the entertainer, although he is quite good, he always pesters you to come to every show they put on, which are repeated weekly. Going to a couple is ok, but he doesn’t seem to understand that there is more to your holiday than him and the shows they put on!!
I would definitely go back to these apartments, I had a pleasant stay and would recommend to couples or families.

We are a couple in our late twenties and know what to expect self catering in the Canaries so overall were not disappointed or on the other hand were not impressed by these apartments. Will try and give a balanced view!!
POSITIVES -
Great sea views over marina.
Large apartment and our room had a HUGE balcony.
Day/Evening reception staff excellent. Very friendly good English spoken.
Sunbeds always available and pool area pleasant enough.
Pleasant 30 min walk down hill to centre which built up a nice appetite.
Weather in September fantastic. Sunny every day.
Resort good, plenty of choice for eating. Ate different place every night. Try piano bar in centre. Staff fantastic. Atmosphere great.
Worth visiting Amadores beach - better than Puerto Rico's.
NEGATIVES -
Cockroaches!! Every night came home to find them on walls, floor and twice in bed. Sprayed room which brought them out and killed them but left awful smell. Tried to sleep with bedroom door closed but heat unbearable cause no air con.
Towels changed only once in a week. Linen not changed at all and began to smell last couple of days.
Regular bar man very unfriendly unless you are one of the ones who sits at the bar all day drinking and tipping him then you are his best friend.
Poolside food awful - flimsy plastic plates, tiny tiny plastic fork.
Avoided evening entertainment and queueing up for the meal cause it didn't appeal to us. Entertainer sat drinking, smoking and swearing at bar during the day and it put us off big time.
Pool very cold - best to dive straight in and back out again.
Couldn't walk back up hill, too steep, but taxi only 3 euros.
Would go back to Gran Canaria but definately not these apartments again. On the other hand if bingo and Elvis impersonations appeal to you you will love it.

Had a fantastic week of sunshine and enjoyed the island, but the apartments really could have been better. You know what to expect when you stay 2-3* self catering in the canaries and these apartments although basic were comfortable enough. Several things to be aware of though...
On arrival we had to lug our suitcases down 3 sets of stairs following the Spanish night porters very confusing directions. Found the room by pure faith! Pleasantly surprised by apartment's size. Was very spacious and balcony huge. Bedroom a bit small but we pushed our two single beds together (had faxed a request for a double bed prior to stay but heard no reply). As we arrived around 5:30 am wanted to go straight to bed. Pulled back sheets to find a cockroach in the bed!!!!
Next night came home from a night on the town to find 5 cockroaches crawling on walls/floor. Managed to catch them all and flush down toilet. Next day asked our rep and she got us a can of spray from reception. Sprayed whole apartment and left for a few hours as smell of spray unbearable. Came home to find a few dead on their backs or dying. Found another in bed later in week. This pattern continued up until last 2 nights when didn't have any. Bought our own spray and slept with bedroom door shut so they couldn't get in, but bedroom became so so hot!!
The view was fantastic. Right at top of hill. Enjoyed a pleasant walk down to centre every night. Took around 30-40 minutes by which time you built up a good appetite for dinner. Would not attempt to walk back... too steep. Taxi only 3 euros back up hill.
Ate at the pool bar one lunchtime and food was crap. Served on flimsy plastic plates with a tiny tiny plastic fork. The bar man who was there every day was very unfriendly unless you sat at the bar drinking and tipping him all day... then you were his best friend! Didn't eat there again.
Saw people queueing up for dinner at night and the entertainer sitting at the bar drinking/swearing and smoking. None of which vices I don't have or haven't had in the past but have to mention it as it certainly put us off him.
Pool was a good size and plenty of sunbeds (1 euro for a cushioned mattress per day).
Not heated though and water very cold in September. Best to dive straight in!!
Maid service?? Our two large and two small towels were changed once in a week!!!!
Same bed linen all week which was beginning to smell towards the end of the week as no air con and rooms quite stuffy at night, especially with doors closed to keep beasties out.
Day time receptionists were very nice, good English, and would happily phone you a taxi into town. Our Thomas Cook rep Sarah was also very nice. Got boat to Megan for market. Worth 10 euros return. Walked to Amadores beach. Beautiful man made beach with a line of eating places/shops. Much nicer than Puerto Rico beach. Recommended for beach lovers.
The resort of Gran Canaria itself was pretty good. Ate in a different place every night. Most places were lovely. Be careful to avoid bars full of under age drinkers if thats not your cup of tea. Try the piano bar in the centre. Staff are fantastic and a great atmosphere. Buy cigs/perfume in the centre also as cheaper than airport.
Sorry to say wouldn't go back to these apartments but would certainly go to Gran Canaria again.

Just back from our week long stay at the Guanabara Park Hotel and had a very enjoyable time there. The rooms were nice and very clean. The hotel itself has some stunning visuals as it is situated on the top of a mountain- you can get real snap happy!
The swimming pool was good if not always freezing. The bar was fairly cheap and food always good. The staff were a bit moody but not too bad.
Hotel entertainment revolves around one man PAUL SANTANGELO who hosts the nights 3/4 times a week (some nights there was nothing on in the evening which means you have to go into town). Paul is your classic 'club circuit' English entertainer and he was a good laugh including the legendary 'knock back quiz'. However I might suggest some variation as towards the end of the week it all got a little bit tedious.
Some places I would suggest would be the restaurants by the Netto, 5 minutes walk down from the hotel, and in Puerto Rico itself, where there are McDonalds and English pubs/clubs (ill recommend Snoopys for all you clubbers!) We got really into mini-golf while there as you come across one every 5 minutes. You can always find a taxi to get you around and are very cheap.
Overall we had a great time and would come again!

I went to Gran Canaria with my partner and our 5 year old son. We found Guanabara Park to be right at the top of a very steep hill which was not explained to us when we booked so we were a bit disappointed with that. We were given our key straight away and found our room to be basic but clean although we did see an awful lot of cockroaches crawling about the place and had a couple in our room at 1 point.
There were sweets and a bottle of water waiting for us on arrival which was nice. We found the local staff at the apartments to be quite rude and dismissive when talking to you, as if they didn't have time for you. The evening entertainment was very good especially Paul Santangelo! There were a couple of BBQ's a week which was good values at 10 euros for adults 5 for kids.
We went out of the apartments a lot as there was not a lot to do and we went to the restaurants just a little way down. The taxis are very cheap, a couple of euros to the main centre,which has lots of eating places and bars.
Overall i would say that Guanabara is not a place for young children as it can be very tiring for them walking up and down the steep steps. I would go back to Gran Canaria as the weather was gorgeous and the island was beautiful. I just wouldn't go to Guanabara Park again!! Try and go to Playa Amadores beach it is lovely and only a few euros to get there in a taxi.

I visited the Guanabara in july with my girlfriend for 2 weeks, i found the staff very welcoming and kind and even if they spoke little English they helped in every way they could.
The rooms were very clean although the bed sheets could have been changed more often. The pool was very nice and also very clean and the pool bar was also nice.
The entertainment was basic on most nights of the week but also quite funny with your host paul santangelo haha, the elvis show was good and joules mason was outstanding.
We ate in the hotel restaurant once in the 2 weeks and it was the best t-bone steak i've tried.
I reccommend this apartment to anybody 10 out of 10.

My boyfriend and I have just got home from a week at the Guanabara and I have to say it was excellent. The rooms were brilliant, and had everything you'd need for self catering, and the view from the balcony was amazing.
Paul Santangelo was the entertainer and was so good, he got everyone involved and had a good laugh. You can either walk or get a taxi down to the Harbour, and eat at the Restaurante Gran Canaria on the beach - the tuna was lovely.
The Commercial Centre is exactly that, very commercial and aimed at the tourists. Everyone tries to get you into their restaurants/bars, but you just need to ignore them. Same with the street sellers, they don't get nasty, you just need to walk away. Overall a very enjoyable holiday in near on perfect apartments.

We've just come back from the lovely place. The apartments were great so simply laid out basic but really nice. The only thing that let it down was the cockroaches in the room making there racket all night long.
The staff were very friendly and bend over backwards to help make your stay a pleasant one. There's a bottle of water for when you arrive. Lets face it everyone wants a cuppa after a long journey. Overall a really nice place, I would go back again but would be more prepared for the cockroaches this time.

My girlfriend and I went to Guanabara Park at the end of last year. I have been there before but I stayed at a different complex.
One quick word of warning about this hotel; it is located right at the top of a very steep and long hill. When we were leaving they were building steps up. Taxis are only about 3-4euros from the apartment to the town centre. You can walk this in about 15 minutes.
The actual apartment were better than I had expected. They were cleaned almost every day as far as I can remember. Clean sheets and clean towels. All of the rooms have their own little balcony which is used privately for each room.
Rooms consisted of a large lounge with a kitchen. Separate twin bedroom and bathroom and a sink for cosmetics etc also separate. When we arrived there had provided us with a couple mini bottles of wine and some sweets. A very nice touch.
The pool area is fairly vast. Its 1e to rent a mattress for the sun lounger which is reasonable. The bar seems to be of average price but to be honest we did not drink much at our residency. On a couple of nights they have entertainment and also a big bbq.
Please try and avoid the onsite shop. VERY expensive and the stock is not very good at all. There is a Netto (GC equivalent of Tesco!!) down the hill.
In conclusion I would recommend this hotel and I personally would return there given the choice.