Abora Buenaventura

We currently have 2 days left at the hotel and this is my honest thoughts.

2 adults, 2 Children ( 1 & 2.5 Years old), All inclusive Plus.

Food- Good selection, all you basics you would look for eg, Pizza & pasta. Some evenings they have had really nice meats and pasta which has been a good hit. The kids selection is small to one side, but there has been food in the middle section such as veg and pasta that has been ok for them. We have found the milk helpful in a morning to fill the baby bottle up with, but this is only on offer at this food session. Therefore, we’ve had to walk to a local shop to get milk. At an evening when I have asked the bar staff for milk they have helped out. We actually used the milk from the coffee machine in the day as this was warm. Breakfast starts at 8:00, lunch @ 1:00 and tea @ 6:00. The snack bar in my opinion isn’t great.. it does a job I suppose. Sandwich selection is a little ropey.. crab sandwich and an interesting looking chicken one. The snack bar really is just left over food from lunch and breakfast. There’s mostly scraps after an hour, but stuff is always there but probably not the best stuff you would’ve hoped for.

Pools- Strict rules! No lilos, no balls. Pool opens at 10:00 which with an eager 2 year old has been a challenge, but I understand. They did allow our baby float into the pool. Your little ones must bring pool shoes!!! The walk around the pool is so slippy, and not the safest. Crocs & pool shoes are a must. The baby pool is ok as long as nobody has an accident … the splash pad floor needs an update, but with pool shoes for now this is ok. We have been able to leave our towels down before we go to breakfast, but as of today we came back to a ynote on our stuff (as did everyone) with a time limit before they remove it all. Parasols are a little bit like gold dust this weekend, but has been ok in the week. Again just to note it’s slippy getting in and out, so care is needed.

Hotel room- we have been put in the family block on the lower ground, which I’m appreciative for. The double bed is to single beds that keep on pushing apart all the time!! This could do with an upgrade to just a double bed really… Travel cot on arrival, with two pillows at the bottom used for a mattress, but it’s worked so I won’t complain. We originally arrived to no toddler bed but after asking 4 times we got there in the end. This included animal bedding, but the bedding is so annoying!!! It’s just sheets on top of the duvets not actually duvet covers so it comes off all the time. I’ve asked everyday for bedding changes but it’s not happened. That’s a shame really. Bottled water in the room would’ve been nice, but I was told no. We’ve purchased bigger bottles from the shop, but you can get little bottles on the all inc plus at the bar. Little touches like the water would’ve gone a long way!! Aircon is ok.. not great but ok. Shower and bathroom ok. But stains on the toilet seat, so an upgrade there would’ve been nice. Hairdryer in the room. Tv has 1 English Channel.. Sky News.

All inclusive plus - was it worth it? I’m not sure… you get some staff who give it to you and some who can’t be bothered. You will get bottled pop at dinner and from the bar, but cocktails aren’t made of any branded alcohol? Except a real baileys that I have had. The cocktails are mostly machine and are very strong and sweet, but do a job. To note with kids: the juices they have unlimited off are very sugary. We did bring water bottles and squeeze squash and used their water to top these up! It’s been helpful, most families have done the same.

Location is good! Can’t complain, supermarkets and pharmacy’s 2 minute walk away and a very good supermarket as part of the hotel next to the barbers and tattoo shop!

Housekeeping- Not great. We have never had our bedding changed and the floors are so dirty!! We’ve had to ask and ask for fresh towels, this let us down a lot. We were told there’s only 1 woman cleaning for the whole hotel? I think this is a lie. Or I would like to hope it is, as that’s not achievable. We have had the do not disturb sign on our door when our children have had a nap, and people still knock and enter! This needs looking into @ abora.

Hotel Transfers - we were advised we would be a middle stop on the coach. Around 50 minutes. We got a mini bus taxi right outside for €50 and it had car seats!! We’ve booked the same for the return home for €45. It was definitely worth it after a long day of travelling with young children.

Would I return? Hmmm maybe.. but won’t be rushing. There’s a few bits to be done by the hotel and it really could be great!!

• special mention to Abdul E/M? In the restaurant who is so polite, always smiling and very helpful!! If I’m honest all the staff in the restaurant are fantastic, and definitely earn their money by chasing around cleaning up after everyone!

Hope this helps another family out.

The overall stay was OK…

Food - OK Room - OK Pool for the kids - Good Location - Good Cleanliness - OK

However… and it is a big, HOWEVER. This was spoiled by the last day experience.

On arrival, it was discussed our last day transfer was 8pm. Reception were helpful saying we could either extend our room (if available at extra cost) They then assured me this was not an issue as they have a courtesy room with a shower FOC to use.

Well, on the day before check out (which was agreed this is when you organise the rooms and your check out) i was met with ‘its not my issue’ when they said there was no courtesy room available. And the fact my children had nowhere to shower before our flight was ‘not my problem’

I was shocked by the lack of interest and willingness to help when all of these arrangements had already been discussed and agreed. I spoke with another couple who said they had a similar experience.

It is safe to say this has tarnished our stay here!

Been a lovely week for our second visit to Gran Canaria! First impression of the hotel wasn't great; as soon as you leave the main concourse, the decor is tired and run-down (ie. Woodchipped walls, old stained carpet & chipped MDF in the small lifts!). Nonetheless, our room was comfortable, clean and modern-looking. My 6yo son loved his wee stripey tent and had fun playing with his cars in it.

Food was decent enough & we could all easily enough find something to fill our bellies on; the cakes & ice cream were particularly delicious, we thought! Once the October holidays kicked in, however, the restaurant quickly became chaotically busy. All-inclusive cocktails were drinkable & easily served, often with table service for the evening entertainment, which was lovely.

Pools were decent enough & proportionate to the size of the hotel.

Entertainment around the pool was pretty good. Mostly, though, credit is due to the lovely Omar... a man of many talents! From leading pool games & fitness, dressing up as a "unicorn" (according to my daughter!), a cowboy, a 70s Disco Lady, & my son's favourite, Spiderman! He brought so much fun & energy to the week & is certainly a highlight of our stay. And seems to work non-stop! Evening entertainment was pretty good, but especially Pandora (?) with their many talents of dancing, acrobatics & command of rollerskates.

Customer service was helpful, warm & polite. And an issue with our room safe was tended to promptly.

Loved how close the hotel was to local restaurants, taxis for Aqualand, the weekly market, & the beach.

We also all adored the hotel cats, clearly cared for with little houses dotted about the shaded areas. And welcome little guests around the outdoor restaurant terrace, providing lots of entertainment!

Overall, would recommend. But they need to spend some money on a refurb of the corridors & lifts to improve.