Altamar

This hotel is a decent 3 star hotel. I won’t mention stuff that’s beyond the hotels control

40 minutes by private taxi, we arrived up the huge hill. Check in is at 3, but we arrived and went for lunch and they called me when the room was ready.

The rooms was great. Comfy, well furnished air conditioned room. With lovely balcony overlooking the sea and pools. Each has a table & 4 chairs. 2 sun beds and parasols. Nice big fridge to keep stuff or cold water from the onsite shop (that doesn’t rip you off)

The hotel is on the face of a mountain. If you have any mobility issues or can’t walk up any steps - do not come here.

There is nowhere to walk outside of the complex that doesn’t involve a steep walk or a taxi (of which there are plenty available outside)

Food - is good quality. Unbelievable selection which people moan is the same. But we experienced cook breakfasts; steak, chicken fillets, lasagne, traditional dishes, nuggets, chips, fresh salad - you name it. I thought it was excellent. The daily pizzas are absolutely superb!! If you don’t be a pig and just be modest with what you have, you won’t run out of options after two days and then moan.

Drinks are ok. Small cups. Take your own plastic pint cup. We then filled it up with self service lager. Some cocktails are also free. Drinks are fine. There is one bar. This is a joke, but you can always get a beer.

Swimming pool. There are two, but policed and no inflatables allowed at all. Including balls. Until 6pm when the Life Guard goes home and it’s a free for all. When he’s on his days off - balls are allowed. One pool has no bar next to it. They’ve clearly converted the old bar to a beauty salon which isn’t used and a total waste of space. It does mean people often can’t be bothered to walk to the other pool area where the bar is. So probably saves them a fortune. The provide you with a pool towel that can be refreshed for €3

Entertainment. Is varied. Don’t expect to be thrilled each night. Take it for what it is. People are trying their best. Have fun, be polite and watch it.

Overall - a lovely hotel. But the hills are a bind, and the two lifts that look like an A Level Technology project do break down, and the wait can be a while.

Staff are great. No complaints and they work hard

Trips: Taxi to the beach. €7 Anfi beach €10 - nice to visit. Time Share man desperate to talk to the English and doesn’t like it when you tell him to go away. Little Venice - €18. Nice port and pretty bars and places to eat. Worth going. Europa shopping - walkable and full of tat shops and seedy bars. Entertainment sounded brilliant at night - and dodgy men hang out to sell you anything extra you’d like. Beatles Tribute sounded amazing. Has a fantastic crazy golf to play at night for €7 each and a nice cheap bar.

If you want an excursion. Go to Europa and use the sales stand by the big TV’s. English lady serving and very knowledgeable. Stew’s Excursions.

Overall - lovely all inclusive week away. Wouldn’t go back due to the hills and steps. But glad I went.

Stayed at this hotel all inclusive for 10 days in July this year. I have stayed at so many all inclusive hotels over the years during peak school holiday times and always ended up in queues for seating in the restaurant, at the bar etc. Never queued here once. You help yourself to lager and wine. If you do want a drink from the bar the staff are very efficient - even the pre-mixed cocktails are lovely as was all the food. The hotel itself was very nice - each room having its own balcony and sun loungers with beautiful views. The location is on a high hill so its difficult to walk anywhere but there is a taxi rank right outside the hotel, never had to wait long for one. You can take a ten minute walk to the Europa Centre which has lots of bars and shops. The pools were nice but as usual you needed to claim a sunbed by 8.00am to get one - I think this is very standard in most hotels unfortunately. There are 2 lifts, as the hotel is on a steep slope, they were both funicular type lifts but his wasn't really a problem. The only thing that let it down for us was that our original room was impossible to find when we got there very late at night, I had to go back to reception and ask a member of staff for help - we would still have been there now looking for it. Other people I spoke to had the same problem. After 2 days we asked to be moved because our room was up a large flight of stairs then down 2 flights to get anywhere. They obliged and gave us a room right by the lift which was much better for us (both in our 60's). Wouldn't recommend this hotel for anyone with mobility issues. We went with our daughter and her family, the kids enjoyed the entertainment (pretty standard for AI) All in all a really nice hotel - Grand Canaria is beautiful .Beaches were amazing - a visit to Port Mogen is a must!