Playa Blanca Marcastell

The grounds have a great tropical feel, with beautiful tropical plants and mature trees, and the ambiance is excellent. There are four spotless pools, two for children and two large ones for adults, plus plenty of deck chairs. Taxis are extremely cheap, and reception staff were professional and helpful. In fact, all the staff were pleasant and professional, including the cleaning team inside and out. They have a huge effect on your holiday. We were four adults and all very happy, apart from not being able to buy food around the pool. We didn’t try any food because we understood only breakfast and lunch buffets were available at a set price, so things like cheese toasties or a burger and chips weren’t on offer. The shop on site was handy, as was the Aldi up the street, though that was a little pricey.

We had four apartments and were given ground-floor rooms beside each other. Each had a veranda, and the garden flower beds were kept lovely. There were two pools, including a bar at the larger one. We were room-only, though we had lunch on the first day and found a good selection. Taxis were cheap, and the main strip was about a 10-15-minute walk away. Playa Blanca is a quiet area, but the restaurants we tried served top-notch food. The apartments were laid out well. The living area had a kettle, tea and coffee facilities, a fridge, an unused TV, a sofa bed and plenty of cups and glasses. The bright bedroom had sliderobes, and the bathroom was a good size with an amazing shower. Our housekeeper did a great job and came every day. We couldn’t fault the apartments.

The views were magnificent, whether looking at the volcanoes in the morning or out over the pool. Our room was spacious, great and clean, and both TVs and the free WiFi worked well. The staff were kind, friendly and helpful, and the facilities were clean. Food was 10/10, with great variety at breakfast, lunch and dinner. Beer, wine, soft drinks and coffee were free and unlimited with lunch and dinner. There are four pools in different shapes and sizes for adults and children, and the public toilets were spacious and clean. There’s a lot here: a lift, an on-site gym, basketball and football courts, an arcade, pool and table tennis, plus a supermarket and restaurant. From arrival at THB Royal to the day we left, the experience was 10/10, and I’d highly recommend it to anyone visiting Lanzarote. I’m looking forward to coming back.

The room was cold at night when we visited in December, even though the days were mostly nice. The junior suite was adequate but nowhere near four-star quality. Its only couch was an uncomfortable, cold, leathery tub that also served as a pull-out bed. The living area was sparse, and it isn’t suitable if you want to prepare your own food. There was a little fridge that was somewhat dirty, and a stain on the bedroom ceiling looked like a roof leak that hadn’t been painted over. They ask you not to put toilet paper down the loo and provide a bin. Yeah, right. Breakfast had a few good points: the coffee machines were okay, there was a good choice of breads and rolls, and the cheesy omelette was quite good. The bacon was mostly fat, the sausages and mushrooms were horrible, the fruit was all canned, and the cold meats were mostly processed. Staff from reception to maintenance dealt with the few issues we had quickly, though breakfast restaurant staff could smile more. There are a few English-language TV channels, and there’s even a TV inside the bedroom wardrobe. The shower was powerful, but the drains sometimes backed up. Parking was great, though the hotel was quiet while we were there. The coin or app-operated laundry, with one washer and one dryer, worked well. There’s a free safe in the room and two balconies.