Bluesea El Dorado

The big problem for us was the air conditioning. It was advertised as air con and it was there and running, but it seemed to be turned down or off. Even on the lowest setting, it blew warm air. I mentioned it to reception twice and nothing happened. Other guests told me they had the same issue. I paid for the place partly because of the air con, which is critical in summer. Our two weeks in June were simply too warm in the apartment, tiring and enough to put everyone in a bad mood after a few days. Otherwise, it’s a wonderful place. The location near the old village and beside the biosphere shopping centre is great, with lots of shops, coffee shops and good restaurants nearby. There are two swimming pools and a snack bar; both pools were clean, neat, tidy and well maintained. Our room was clean and tidy too, and the maids came most days to clean and change towels. All the staff were lovely. I’d recommend it for winter, but if you don’t like heat in the apartment, think carefully about summer. It would have been four stars for us without the air con problem.

The grounds were kept up constantly, with staff touching up the paintwork and spraying the plants. The pool area was power washed every night, and the pool was cleaned in the morning. From arrival until we left, everything suited us: the staff, cleanliness, safety, pool and location. We’ll definitely return.

There are ramps and steps all over this hillside property, so it’s unsuitable for wheelchairs or prams. Our rooms on the west side were surrounded by bins and the smell was awful. The hotel is right next to the old town bars, so expect noise all night. The apartments were the worst we’ve stayed in in Lanzarote. Cats everywhere, cat poo all over the place, and cockroaches. The buildings had water stains, and the footpaths were generally dirty and needed a deep clean. The rooms were dated and dirty, and need a full refurb. It’s not a nice place. Avoid.

We booked this break at the last minute and found a large but very quiet complex. The gardens were lovely, with well-kept plants and flowers. There are two pools and a toddler pool with supervision, plus plenty of sunbeds, though we’re beach people. The apartment was partly modern and partly dated. Reception and caretaking staff were very friendly, and the location is excellent for both town and beach.