Service with a smile in Lanzarote

Ian Cooper checks out the new Radisson Blu Resort Lanzarote, in Costa Teguise

Bad news and good news:

Bad news – Lanzarote, March 2020, Covid has struck and like everywhere else, all hotels have closed. Nobody was going anywhere. Tourism, dried up on the island and so did the income at a much-loved hotel, known then as the Coronas Playa.

Good news – After months of closure, and uncertainty, a visionary company called Canarian Hospitality came to its rescue with substantial financial investment and expertise. Now, after an extensive renovation, design remodelling and rebranding, the hotel has been saved. Finally, this contemporary 225 room resort hotel, with great environmental credentials has re-opened, relaunched as the Radisson Blu Resort Lanzarote, saving the jobs of many.

My mission: To spend a week here with my wife to check out its hospitality, service and facilities.

Here is what I found.

Guest service

From the moment our taxi arrived and we were welcomed and helped with our bags, to the hugs we were given as we left, the personnel couldn’t do enough for us. The team, who have worked together for years are the ‘soul of this hotel’. There is nothing formal or pretentious. Guests are greeted everyday with an effortless, genuine smile and treated like family and friends. When my wife had a diabetic emergency, a staff member opened the restaurant, to personally squeeze her an orange juice. Everyone is made to feel special. Hotel general manager, Mario Fijalkowski, told me “We employ for attitude, rather than just for skills. Many guests return just because of our staff. To many they are like old friends”.  

Dining

My questionable strategy each day as I entered the extensive hotel buffet, the Tremor restaurant, for breakfast and dinner, was to select a bit of everything I fancied. That was most things, so not a great plan for my waistline. I told myself it was my journalistic duty to test as many dishes as possible. Apart from the international cuisine, with a mix of local specialities, there were many things about the buffet which impressed:  

  • Choice – not just an excellent balance of meat, fish, vegetarian and vegan options, but there were even 7 different types of milk offered at breakfast.  
  • Dietary flexibility –gluten or sugar free food was available for those with special dietary needs. 
  • Organisation – high level of restaurant supervision by staff. No dishes ever ran out and there was always someone to ask if you had a question.  

Additionally, the hotel also offers an Italian a la carte restaurant, Sesto Senso, at an extra charge and a selection of poolside bars serving snacks.  

Accommodation

Despite some design eccentricities the rooms are very large, stylish, and air conditioned. All have a ‘wow factor’, are spotlessly clean, with a pool or ocean view and which ooze comfort. Here is what you can expect:

  • Choice of two singles, or a plush king.
  • Living area with comfy corner sofa, convertible into a bed.
  • TV, free wi-fi and safe big enough for a laptop.
  • Lots of plugs, USB points and 23 light switches … not sure what they all did!
  • Fridge
  • Tea / Coffee making facilities.
  • Separate toilet and shower rooms, with open plan bathroom.
  • Large balcony, or terrace with table, chairs and sunbeds, with towels.
  • Some suites have two rooms: some even have a private plunge pool.
  • Two presidential suites for extra luxury, one with its own jacuzzi on the balcony!

Atmosphere & Facilities

The hotel is peaceful, low rise, and very relaxing. It is suitable for those in wheelchairs and showcases modern interior design, with high ceilings, using natural elements throughout.

Amongst its many facilities are:

  • 4 heated swimming pools, one of which has a sloping entry ramp and rail making it easy for the less mobile.
  • A purpose-built theatre, for live entertainment.
  • A fitness and wellness area with a gym, sauna, massage and treatments.

Location

Just 15 minutes away from the airport, the hotel has an imposing position on the seafront overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. Guests can step right onto a flat promenade that goes on for miles. We took a daily walk trying to decide which of the many excellent cafes we would stop at for a coffee. The walk into the resort centre of Costa Teguise takes around 15 minutes, with several places to stop along the way.

The island

If you can be tempted away from the hotel, then there are many places in Lanzarote to visit. Here are three I would recommend:

  • Timfanaya National Park: The volcanic landscape is only accessible on a special guided bus tour. Its ‘otherworldly’ terrain resembles the surface of the moon.
  • Cesar Manrique’s Foundation house and studiosManrique was Lanzarote’s most famous artist, sculptor, architect and influential nature activist. This is where he lived and worked for 20 years and it is now an inspirational visitor attraction.
  • Cueva de los Verdes – Green Caves – Situated in the north of the island the whole guided tour is underground. It is a fascinating area of natural beauty with a secret you will have to discover by going there.

Overall verdict

A stylish, sophisticated, modern hotel with great levels of comfort, facilities and outstanding guest service. Perhaps, as you would expect from a Radisson, not the cheapest hotel on the island, but its premium facilities, comfort, food and service put it at the top of its class. It definitely gets the Ian Cooper ‘Service with a Smile award!

Travel Facts:

For information and bookings please call Silver Travel Advisor on 0800 412 5678. Prices vary according to several factors and our advisors will be happy to discuss all the options.

  • The hotel will be adults only from 1st May 2023.
  • Nice cafes / restaurants to try in Costa Teguise: Peskera, Surfwings, or Villa Toledo, just a short walk from the hotel:

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Ian Cooper

Retired professor, author & speaker

3 Responses

  1. Ian, I really enjoyed reading this article and despite not being massively into either Lanzarote or chain hotels, I thought it was engaing, informative and well written. Thank you.

  2. We stayed here at the end of February 2023. I fully endorse Ian Coopers report. There was still refurbishment work going on whilst we were there, but it did not disturb us. Ian’s comment “Despite some design eccentricities the rooms” certainly resonates. The toilet has an opaque glass door, which is really rather odd. But beds were very comfortable and there was a spacious balcony with a glass screen to protect from the persistent wind which was quite cold. I guess this was hardly surprising as it was February. We will definitely return, but after Easter when it gets warmer.

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