Grupotel Orquidea

Having spent 2 weeks here we seen a lot. Positives:

• Beautiful views looking out to sea.
• TUI Blue entertainment team are beyond amazing. They really do work hard and are amazing with the children.
• Plenty of loungers….(keep reading for negative)
• Pools are big and clean.
• Housekeeping excellent, rooms cleaned everyday.
• Food plenty of choice for all.
• Transfer 15 minutes from the airport.
• Pool over at playa Feliz is much quieter and a lot more parasols
• Lifegaurds always on the look out so felt safe.

Negatives:

• even though there are plenty of loungers there are nowhere near enough parasols. For a family hotel that cater towards young families parasols are must. People would be waiting for the pool to open to grab a lounger with a parasol and you could guarantee by 8:15 they’d all be gone.
• clientele. I understand it’s not the hotels fault but the second week into our holiday there was definitely a shift, big groups of Spanish families and. Children who have no respect or consideration for other children especially babies, barging past them on the water slides.

1 big British family arrived and were very loud, during the England game they were apparently asking for class A drugs (c) and were very drunk trying to climb up the balconies.

• Cocktail mixes are pre-made and there doesn’t taste like there is alcohol in them. Some cocktails are hit & miss and taste nothing like they’re supposed to. Short drinks are far too strong. Also plastic cups are bigger at playa Feliz too.
• Hotel doesn’t seem like a 4* it needs updating.
• Split level rooms are ridiculous when you’ve got little children it’s an accident waiting to happen. Who’s ever idea it was to put steps in the room need their head looking at. Not safe for babies at all. We ended up using the cot as baby gate as our 18 month old constantly try going up & down them.

Would we return to Gran Canaria again? Yes absolutely. We would return to this hotel again? Unfortunately not.

A really lovely hotel experience whilst we were onsite, quick transfer from the airport, and good reception despite our late arrival.

The rooms are spacious and have really good air conditioning, however the shower temperature was temperamental at times.

The TUI staff are incredible, particularly Joaquin, and the pool area is really nice, if busy at times. We found out towards the end of the trip that the pool at Playa Feliz is much more chilled out. Our main downside around the pool was some of our daughters items going missing, and nothing being handed to lost property. A recurring theme sadly.

The food in the main restaurant was probably the best food we've had at an All Inclusive, with fresh omelettes every morning and fresh meat/ fish grilled each evening. The snack bar however left a lot to be desired, with little to no menu variation. On 8 of our 10 days staying at the hotel, the snack bar was the same burgers, pizzas, and salad options with the only daily change being what deep fried item the chef had decided to cook today, luckily if you have the time the main restaurant is better than this for lunch, and the bar drinks are good (though we're not cocktail drinkers).

The primary downside to this stay however was after departure, and it left a real stain on our experiences. Following our return home we realised a bag of makeup had been left behind in the room by mistake. On contacting the hotel this had apparently neither been found by the cleaning staff nor handed in by subsequent guests. The hotel has been contacted to ask to put this in writing multiple times but have ignored both emails sent, and TUI have merely responded to my complaint about the hotel response with a "standardised" response that doesn't help us get the hotel to respond. A very disappointing end to the holiday.