As a party of nine aged from four to sixty-five we found this hotel to be very nearly perfect for a week’s family holiday in the sun. I booked it directly online (as well as the flights and private transfers) and made a huge saving compared to the package holidays with a major UK operator that features this hotel.
Just walking into the hotel entrance produces a “Wow!” response – it’s huge and totally stunning!
The adults enjoyed the comfort of the hotel, the delicious food and the availability of sunbeds – even at Easter. The grounds are so beautifully maintained and our rooms had a partial sea view facing towards the town so we had the sunshine in the morning. This suited us and, in fact, we spent very little time in our rooms. The one drawback is that, as in so many other hotels in the Canaries, they don’t heat the swimming pools. We would have loved to swim every day but, despite the hot weather, the water was freezing!
The rooms are very comfortable, and here, as indeed everywhere in the hotel, it was spotlessly clean. The shower was over the bath, which I found a little hard to climb into, but the water pressure in the shower was excellent and the water was always hot. The toiletries are very good quality and towels were changed daily. We did appreciate having BBC1 on the TV in our room as we like to watch the news occasionally – though we only used the TV about three times. The minibar can be used for small bottles of your own water but the tap water is fine for brushing one’s teeth. Bar prices in the hotel are reasonable.
Unusually there are no safes in the rooms but there are safe deposit boxes (for a fee) in Reception so you need to be organised or it can be quite a trek at times!
The hotel is in a very quiet location, right on the seafront and a short taxi ride (4-5 euros) or long walk along the coastal park to the main town centre. The very helpful Reception staff will phone for a taxi for you.
We were slightly surprised that there were not more children staying here. There may well not be enough to keep teenagers amused but our little ones were perfectly content. The staff, especially in the restaurant, were also particularly good with the children and there was plenty on the menu for them to enjoy.
The children’s club during the day was adequate (though not secure) and the kids’ pool was lovely with lots of sunbeds around it so we could keep a close eye at all times. Also the Mini Disco in the evening was very much enjoyed and three weeks later the girls are still singing the songs and dancing around the house!
There is a water park about 10/15 minutes walk from the hotel which caters to younger children and is very, very safe. We all enjoyed a lovely day there.
Some of our party booked a two day surfing course and were collected each day from the hotel and taken to the north of the island. They returned a little tired and bruised but they had a great time!
Some days we had lunch in the hotel pool bar and other days we walked about 150 yards to the right of the hotel along the coastal path to a restaurant/cocktail bar called Marie’s. Both were fine and reasonably priced.
WiFi in the rooms can be purchased at an extra cost or used free in the Reception area.
We stayed here as a couple about 8 years ago and vowed to return. It didn’t disappoint the second time around. However, as we stayed previously for two weeks, not one, we did hire a car to see more of the island. Driving is very easy on Lanzarote and the roads are generally good, fairly quiet and well signposted.
I would advise caution, however, for anyone planning to stay here in a wheelchair. Access internally is good with lifts and no steps to the pool area. However the grounds have little humped bridges dotted around which are quite steep. There are also some stone steps from the pool exit to the coastal path (which is quite smooth). As I mentioned previously, I struggled a bit climbing into the bath. This is because I’m waiting for a hip replacement. I don’t know if the hotel has disabled bedrooms but they are easily contacted on their website at naturapalace@hipotels.com so I wouldn’t write it off before I’d found out a little more.
This is certainly a 4*+ hotel and if you’re looking for a quiet holiday in a quality hotel the Natura Palace is very hard to beat.
