THB Tropical Island

Honest Review of Our Stay at THB Tropical Island, Playa Blanca

This is the most honest review I can give of our stay at THB Tropical Island in Playa Blanca.

I am not writing this to slate the hotel or be negative for the sake of it. I believe if something is good, it deserves praise, and if something needs improvement, it should be mentioned honestly. My intention is simply to give future guests a balanced account of our experience so they can make an informed decision before booking.

Location & Transfers

Firstly, Playa Blanca itself is beautiful. The scenery, views, restaurants, and atmosphere are genuinely lovely. However, anyone who is used to Puerto del Carmen should know that it is a very different experience.

Puerto del Carmen has everything on your doorstep. Playa Blanca is much more spread out, and you will rely more heavily on taxis and transport.

To give people a realistic idea:

• Taxi from the airport to THB Tropical Island cost approximately €65.
• The return journey was roughly the same.
• There is a bus service available, but it is a long journey and not ideal for anyone who suffers from travel sickness.

That is not a criticism of the hotel, simply something visitors should be aware of before travelling.

Arrival & Initial Room Concerns

Upon arrival, we went to our allocated room and immediately noticed several concerns.

The front door felt worn and unstable, with a visible gap showing signs of age and wear. It did not inspire confidence from a security point of view.

As we were travelling as two adults and one child, we opened the sofa bed and found items left underneath it. At that point, we decided not to unpack and returned directly to reception to request a room change.

At the same time, we attempted to contact Cassidy Travel, through whom we had booked the holiday.

Cassidy Travel Emergency Contact

Unfortunately, the emergency out-of-hours number provided by Cassidy Travel did not work when we attempted to contact it.

As a result, we were unable to receive immediate assistance while abroad and had to wait until the next working day before speaking with anyone.

When I eventually got through, I spoke with Sarah, who was excellent throughout the process. She listened carefully, explained everything clearly, reviewed the information we provided, and escalated the matter appropriately.

Sarah deserves recognition because she handled the situation professionally and genuinely tried to help.

Room Upgrade

The hotel staff were polite and attempted to assist us.

However, we were informed that the only available alternative was an upgraded room at an additional cost of €100.

Because we were only staying for five days and wanted to start enjoying our holiday, we agreed to pay the fee.

The upgraded room was noticeably cleaner, better maintained, and presented to a much higher standard.

Ant Infestation & Second Room Move

Unfortunately, after returning from a day out, we discovered an ant infestation in the upgraded room despite all doors and windows being closed.

I fully understand that Lanzarote is a warm climate and that ants can occasionally occur. The ants themselves were not necessarily the issue.

The issue was that after already paying an additional €100 to move rooms, we then found ourselves facing another problem and having to move yet again.

Staff responded and we were ultimately moved to another room.

Having multiple room changes during a five-day holiday inevitably disrupted the overall experience.

Hotel Management Response

This is where I want to be completely fair.

Manuel, the manager, dealt with the situation professionally and respectfully.

Most importantly, Patricia, one of the directors of the hotel, was absolutely exceptional.

Patricia is a genuine credit to THB. She took the time to sit down with us, listen to everything that had happened, understand our concerns, and deal with the situation in a calm, professional, and caring manner.

She never made us feel like we were being difficult. Instead, she focused on finding solutions and ensuring our concerns were properly addressed.

As a result of Patricia’s involvement:

• The €100 room upgrade fee was refunded.
• Complimentary breakfast was provided as a goodwill gesture.

Her professionalism and approach genuinely changed how we felt about the situation.

Breakfast Goodwill Gesture

As part of the goodwill gesture arranged by Patricia, we were invited to breakfast.

We were genuinely grateful for this.

However, when we arrived and presented the arrangement, the member of staff on duty appeared confused and looked us up and down as though she was unsure why we were there.

This may simply have been a language barrier, and I do not want to make more of it than that.

Once we explained that the arrangement had been authorised by Patricia and management, everything was sorted.

It was only a small issue, but it did slightly take away from what was otherwise a very thoughtful gesture.

Facilities & Refurbishment Works

During our stay, we discovered that several facilities were closed for refurbishment, including:

• Indoor pool
• Sauna
• Jacuzzi area

While refurbishment work is understandable and often necessary, this information was not clearly communicated to us before arrival.

Knowing this in advance would have helped us manage our expectations.

Pools & Grounds

The outdoor pools were extremely cold.

In our opinion, they were cold enough that many guests simply chose not to use them.

This significantly reduced our enjoyment of the pool facilities.

However, the grounds themselves deserve a great deal of praise.

The resort is enormous and can initially feel overwhelming because of its size, but the grounds are exceptionally well maintained.

There is clearly a huge amount of work, effort, and investment going into the landscaping, gardens, and upkeep of the outdoor areas.

The exterior presentation of the resort is excellent.

Renovation Programme

I understand that THB Tropical Island is currently undergoing a major refurbishment programme and that many rooms are being upgraded to a much higher standard.

Having experienced one of the upgraded rooms, I can genuinely see the direction the hotel is heading.

Based on our experience, I would strongly recommend requesting one of the upgraded rooms if available, as the difference in quality was noticeable.

Some of the older accommodation clearly still requires attention, but I appreciate that these improvements cannot happen overnight.

If the remaining rooms are eventually brought up to the same standard as the refurbished accommodation, I genuinely believe the resort could become something very special.

The potential is absolutely there.

Important Context

Just to be clear:

• We understand that ants can occasionally be an issue in warm climates.
• We understand that the hotel is currently undergoing refurbishment.
• We were not expecting perfection.

The main issue was the combination of the original room condition, the additional €100 upgrade cost, and the disruption caused by having to move rooms multiple times during a short holiday.

We simply expected a more consistent standard from the beginning.

Positives

• Beautiful location in Playa Blanca.
• Excellent grounds and outdoor maintenance.
• Strong refurbishment programme underway.
• Helpful and professional response from Sarah at Cassidy Travel.
• Manuel handled our concerns professionally.
• Patricia was outstanding throughout our stay.
• The €100 upgrade fee was refunded.
• Goodwill gestures were provided.
• Management genuinely listened and attempted to resolve issues.

Negatives

• Condition of the original room was below expectations.
• Front door showed signs of significant wear.
• Items found underneath the sofa bed on arrival.
• Ant infestation requiring another room move.
• Multiple room changes during a short stay.
• Indoor facilities unavailable due to refurbishment.
• Closure of facilities not clearly communicated beforehand.
• Outdoor pools were extremely cold.
• Cassidy Travel emergency contact number did not work when needed.
• Communication regarding the breakfast arrangement could have been smoother.

Overall Conclusion

This review is not intended to criticise for the sake of criticism.

It is simply an honest reflection of our experience.

Based on our stay, we would personally rate the experience as three stars at this moment in time.

However, we can clearly see the potential of the resort.

The grounds are excellent, the location is beautiful, and the refurbishment programme appears to be moving the hotel in the right direction.

Most importantly, Patricia and Manuel gave us confidence in the future of the resort. They listened, acted professionally, and genuinely cared about resolving the issues we encountered. They are a real credit to THB and give us confidence that the improvements are in very capable hands.

Despite the issues we experienced, I do not want this review to come across as saying we would never return.

The reality is that we can see the improvements being made, and if we were guaranteed one of the upgraded rooms similar to the final room we stayed in, we would absolutely consider returning.

In fact, for future visits to Lanzarote, we would likely split our holiday between THB Flora in Puerto del Carmen and THB Tropical Island in Playa Blanca. That would allow us to enjoy both sides of the island while also returning to two locations that each offer something different.

The key point is that we would want to stay in one of the upgraded rooms, as the difference in quality was noticeable and made for a much better experience.

This review is simply intended to provide an honest, balanced account of our stay, highlighting both the strengths of the resort and the areas that still require attention.

Stayed with my 9 year old for 7days breakfast only. We had a lovely time in this resort. Its clean and the grounds are lovely, lots of wildlife and a fish pond. My child had so much fun in the pool and using the slides and splash park. He made loads of friends easily. The resort was mostly French, English and Spainish. The breakfast was really nice with a huge section of fruits, cold meats and bread. The hot food was nice aswell. The life guards are always watching and looking out for the children so I felt very safe knowing they are doing their job properly.

There have been lots of reviews about the entertainment/ animation crew. And sadly I didnt experience anything amazing. Apart on the running mat on the pool there wasn't much else going on during the day. The evening entertainment was dissapointing. Do not bother going to watch the magician, it was a sad sad show that we left after 15mins because it was so bad. There is also a huge que for drinks so get them before the show starts to avoid waiting.

Overall we had a great holiday and would recommend.