Atis Tirma

Everything you need is within a five-minute walk, and it’s a great place to stay.

Apartment 202 is the only one this review is about. We stayed there for just over three weeks over New Year’s, and it was the worst apartment I’ve had in nearly 20 years of coming to Gran Canaria for the holiday. The extra star is for the pool and the friendly neighbors. The pool water was good and had very little chlorine, and there was a new sofa and double bed. The place badly needs renovation. The bathroom and toilet seem as old as the building, and the toilet kept running because the seal was apparently worn out. The doors looked like they’d been salvaged from a junkyard. They were made of cheap material, and both the bathroom and bedroom handles had only two of their four screws fitted. Paint was peeling beside the shower and on the balcony, while the living room table was peeling at almost every edge and corner. The TV had no receiver and could only pick up 23 Spanish channels, so we ended up watching on our phones in the evenings. There was just one large blanket, and the spare bedding in the closet had no covers. The kitchen had very few dishes and pieces of cutlery, meaning you had to wash up after every meal. The kitchenette was sticky and even the bottom plates were dirty when we arrived. Our towels weren’t changed during the 23 days. There was a washing machine, but it was broken. We were offered a repairman, though we didn’t want anyone coming into the apartment during our holiday. Instead, we did laundry in the room behind the building, where the machine costs €4. There was also only one large blanket for the bed. I’ve had fully renovated apartments by the beach near San Agustín for the same price. Apartment 202 isn’t worth a single star. I’ve put two pictures with this review, and the rest are in the other photos folder.

The place was quiet, but my stay from March 1 to 16 cost about €1800, and I won’t be coming back. There’s no staff, and guests have to wash their own bed linen and towels, take out the rubbish, and do the daily cleaning. Then there’s also a move-out cleaning fee, plus €200 in the diplomatarium, which you get back.

The beach is close enough to walk to, and there’s a communal pool. The apartments are very nice and have been renovated recently.