BelleVue Aquarius Aparthotel

The view and location are great, and for what you pay it’s a decent hotel. But it needs proper care, a thorough clean and much more comfortable beds. We stayed for a week self catering, and there wasn’t even a bowl, so we ate cereal out of the pot. The kitchen had just one plug. To use the kettle or microwave, we had to keep unplugging one and plugging in the other. The beds were really stiff and uncomfortable, though I suppose your back gets used to them. The floors were stained, and a vape package from the previous guests was stuck in the wall, which made the cleaning seem pretty slapdash. The cleaners only came twice, even though there was always a trolley around as if they were meant to come every day. They didn’t leave clean towels unless we asked reception, and it was practically first come, first served. The pool was in a state too, with missing tiles and dirty water. You get what you pay for, I guess.

The rooms were clean and perfectly fine, even if they’re not brand new. Housekeeping came daily and were always helpful. We stayed with our family at BelleVue Aquarius – Puerto del Carmen from 2-7 February 2023, and found it a calm, family-friendly base with shops, bars, the beach and town all close by. The pool was okay, the bar was nice, and the prices were good. Most guests were older, so it might not be the best fit if your kids want lots of other children to play with. But for a relaxed stay near everything, it worked well for us. Good value, good vibes, and we’d recommend it.

We had a lovely time and would stay again. Our room was a decent size for two, and we got the top floor we’d requested. Just be aware it’s quite a climb because there are no lifts, which could be an issue with mobility problems. The hilltop setting gives you a lovely view over the harbour and ocean. The pool area needs a lot of work. There were plenty of missing tiles inside the pool, and the gritty floor around it wasn’t pleasant under bare feet. The room also had a few cosmetic repairs that needed doing. Self-catering facilities were very basic, with two hobs, an oven and not many utensils, though that didn’t bother us since we prefer local restaurants. There are ceiling fans in both the bedroom and living room, but no air conditioning. That was fine for our winter stay, but the room would probably get very hot in summer.

The staff were incredible, especially Kadir, who was the first to welcome us when we arrived. We stayed for the week of Christmas and loved the location and the views. The room was comfortable. It’s an old place, but the price reflects that. My only small gripe is that I would have liked a brush for sweeping the apartment. I like to clean my own place when I’m away. Great staff and location!