Hotel Suites & Villas — Hotel in San Bartolomé de Tirajana

We stayed for a week with a six year old, myself and husband and my in laws all inclusive.||Overall we had a good holiday but there were a few bits that let it down or didn't make sense. ||Firstly, the whole place is very clean. |The walkways, restaurant, pools and rooms were always spotless. There were also teams of landscapers doing different jobs every day cleaning and tidying up the greenery and gardens. No issues with cleanliness at all. ||The rooms were nice.|Had a family suite and a normal suite. Both were clean, airy and laid out nicely. The family suite was one bedroom and a pull out bed in the living room. Had a teepee and beanbag and arrived to find a teddy and activity book for my daughter which was a nice touch. The air con could have been stronger but still worked. Bottle of water replaced each day and there was a couple of milkshakes in the fridge when we arrived but the fridge wasn't on so they were warm. Overall very happy with the rooms. ||Pools were nice but a little confusing.|The main pool was big and had plenty of sunbeds around. You aren't allowed to reserve sunbeds which is good and only on our last day did we struggle to find 5 beds together. The pool was 1.45m which meant my daughter couldn't touch the floor. This isn't an issue for her as she is a very confident swimmer but other children would need aids or a grown up with them. In laws aren't confident swimmers and we're reluctant to go in as it was a little too deep for them. ||The family pool had a great splash pad which was fun and my daughter loved the pool itself. Although it was 1.65m, meaning again she couldn't touch the floor, or my in laws, so again a struggle for non confident swimmers. Seemed really odd to have such a deep pool in the family area next to the splash pad. Didn't have an issue finding sunbeds around this pool and spent a lot of time there. ||The food was okay.|Fair amount of choice and different themed nights each night which was good. Adults always able to find something to eat. Struggled with my daughter. Admittedly she is a picky eater but there wasn't a lot of choice for her, spending the week eating chips and pasta. Breakfast was the best with hot and cold choices and a good range of everything you could want really. Desserts all good, lots of choice, ice cream and chocolate fountain (2 nights) were highlights. ||We were all inclusive but it's wasn't fully clear what that did or didn't include and where and what to do to get food etc. Sessions for breakfast, lunch and dinner were set times in the restaurant which was fine, but there was an outside seating area with another food counter which wasn't clear who it was for, and we had tried to sit there as no tables available inside and sometimes we're able to and sometimes told we couldn't. There were snacks in the pool bar, told from 10am-8pm but we're available 12-5pm. There was an ice-cream machine that was free to use but also a freezer with other ice creams that was locked.||The entertainment was good.|Different show each night, highlight was the musicals night where the team performed a variety of songs. They really put a lot of effort in and we're very good. Singers, acrobats and dancers on the other nights were good too. Bit strange as the kids disco was at 5pm by the pool and wasn't the most engaging, my daughter didn't enjoy it and that is normally the highlight of her holiday. The evening entertainment didn't then start until 9.30 so was quite a wait and late for some with smaller kids. ||Daytime entertainment was okay. |Aqua aerobics was tricky due to depth of pool, my daughter wanted to join in so I had to hold her up and mother in law did it but struggled due to depth of pool. We did archery but was only for adults, wouldn't have taken much to have a kids bow as well. There was the kids club which we didn't use but the other activities didn't feel as kid inclusive as other places we've been. ||Staff weren't rude but weren't particularly friendly. |No issues specifically with the staff, they weren't rude or anything but they weren't particularly approachable or welcoming. A few were more friendly in the restaurant but not a lot. ||The main issue we had was with checkout. |Our flight wasnt until 8pm and normal checkout is at 12pm. Late checkout was advertised and we were given information about it on arrival and understood there would be a charge. The day before we left i went to reception to enquire about late checkout the next day, I was told it might be possible and they would take a note but I'd have to come back in the morning. I went back in the morning and was basically laughed at, saying they were fully booked and there was no way at all for a late checkout - surely they would have known that the previous day. Appreciate they were fully booked and it isn't always possible but the way it was dealt with wasnt great. ||The other point was the all inclusive food and drink on day of checkout. Checkout was 12pm so food and drink stopped at 12pm, which I understand. We were told we could pay for all inclusive for the rest of the day until we left for the airport, which was 25€ pp and 12€ for children. Two of us had upset stomachs and so weren't planning on eating but we were told either everyone had to pay or no one could. So we didn't bother.||We were given a courtesy room for 45 minutes in which to have a shower, which was something at least, but when we got into the room the towels were still wet from the previous use and so had to use the hand towels as there wasn't enough time to get fresh towels. ||Overall we had a good holiday and enjoyed our time at Dunas. But, we wouldn't return as we've had better experiences in...

We visited as a family of 5, 4 adults and 1 child (age 14) and had a fabulous week and would recommend the hotel. ||Good points:||Location - on the sand dunes side of Maspalomas with a free shuttle bus from the hotel back and forth to the beach (at set times). Although if you walked it was about 10-20 minutes depending on the pace/heat/tiredness and in a straight line following the dried river bed. The area down by the beach had a mis of shops and restaurants which were sufficient for us. The area the other side of sand dunes near Playa D'Ingles looked better but was not easy to get to a taxi would definitely be needed. Location is easy for day excursions and most organisers offered hotel pick up which worked really well either from right outside or from the bus stop at the end of the road (2 minute walk). ||Cleanliness - The whole complex was exceptionally clean and tidy. Every morning there were gardeners/maintenance on site all actively doing work keeping it beautifully tidy.||Accommodation - The bungalow was also very clean and worked for us with 2 bedrooms and a sofa bed. The only thing we felt it was missing as a kettle to enable us to came a hot drink early mornings, later in the evenings. Apparently some units do come with them just not ours!!. Small fridge provided so we could store our own bottles of water etc. ||Food - We were half board so had breakfast and dinner. Drinks where included with breakfast but not with dinner. Not sure why seemed strange but they weren't expensive to buy. Every day the breakfast offering was huge with so much choice. Again the dinner had a different theme every night (Chinese, Canarian etc). Choices where vast but not necessarily great for a fussy eater. 1 of our party had their plate piled high with every offering, and another just had chips!!, but overall everyone ate sufficiently and never went hungry. Desserts where the best part they where delicious and so delicate and light. Ice-cream & chocolate fountains for the kids too. As we where half board we didn't get any lunch included but this wasn't an issue for us as we planned to be out and about in the day time anyway, and if we ever where there at lunch time we could buy food from the beach bar area (burgers, chips, sandwiches, salads, slushies etc) and it was very reasonable (I don't think we paid more then 4 euros for a meal) and is much cheaper then upgrading too all inclusive which was £30pp per day!! (there is no why a person would eat £30 of food/drink a day). You can either charge it to your room and pay when you leave or can pay cash/card at the bar. If you where all inclusive then this was all included. ||Pools - There where 2 pools 1 with a kids splash zone area (3 if you include the adult only pool). Both where lovely and always plenty of sun loungers & umbrellas (although could maybe do with a few more). We never had an issue getting a sunbed and they cant be reserved in the typical early am sunbed rush. We did go in June so out of the main school summer holidays so this would be why it felt quieter by the pools.||Entertainment - There was entertainment throughout the day, with lots of it in the day time being based by the pool. No pressure to join in (we didn't), and a mix of activities suitable for kids and adults. There was a different show on every night ranging from Flaminco Dancing to Theatre type show songs/dances. What we saw was good. ||The Suites & Villas also shares its location with another hotel called Hotel Maspalomas Villas by Dunas and you can walk between the 2 and share their pools they had 2, and an astro football court/kids play area. There was also a supermarket right outside if you walked all the way through which was handy for small snacks/drinks although it was expensive (but it is there for the tourists so I guess it would be). ||There is a bar which serves drinks near the reception but this is not included in all inclusive/half board. We did have some pre-dinner cocktails several nights and they were very nice.||Checkout is 12noon, I am glad I checked as I thought it was 10am. We tried to book a late check out but where told you have to come back the morning of your leaving day to request but it is very unlikely the will be able to offer and seems other holiday makers where also told the same thing so it is a shame that the offer it as a service but then cant/don't provide it. They do offer a courtesy room though free of charge you just have to book your time slot, we were offered an hour which meant we could still use the pools. get lunch etc and then get showered change when we needed to for our hotel/airport pickup. This was great and really helped. ||Overall the stay was lovely and I would definitely...

We stayed at the Villas and Suites by Dunas during the UK February half term 2022. We initially booked one of the 'villas' located towards the rear of the hotel which, though marginally roomier than the 1 bedroom suites, are very dated and do not live up to their '4 star' billing. They do however possess a kitchenette which may be a consideration for some. The villas' location do mean they are quieter due to reduced footfall and they also have more or less exclusive access to the 3rd pool right at the end of the property which may also make them attractive to couples without children.

In any event, we were very dissatisfied with the villa and immediately requested a change to one of the cheaper but refurbished suite rooms only to be told rather rudely that there was no availability and that we should have known whilst making the booking the villas were unrefurbished (there was no way of finding this out from the Dunas website). When we persisted with our complaint, guest relations led by Tamara promptly swung into action and ensured that we were moved to a suite room as soon as one became available a day or two after we arrived.

We stayed half board- the breakfast and dinner selection reflects the more modest price point in comparison to H10 for example, but had decent, if slightly monotonous, choices with live food counters and themed nights during the week. Entertainment was poor with several non events like Bingo, Karaoke featuring in the weekly programme. There is however the odd decent live performance though understandably not quite up to the lofty standards of more pricey resorts- its worth mentioning that the property is located right next to the 3* Dunas Maspalomas Resort so many facilities/activities such as entertainment programme, kids club etc are shared- so you'd have the opportunity to watch any entertainment you missed over at the resort if so inclined.

There are 3 pools at V&S Dunas as well the pool at the resort which guests can also use. The hotel claims all 3 are heated- the main pool was approaching bathwater warm but the other two, though useable for those with a hardy disposition, could be described as tepid at best. We did not try the pool at the resort but inquiries suggest it's well heated. Pool towels require a €10 deposit in cash but this was waived for us on occasions when we ran out of cash.

There is also a fitness centre, consisting of a treadmill, 2 static bikes, 2 elliptical trainers, a single set of dumbbells and a semi functional cage, overlooking the pool. I always found it overrun with 6-7 year olds who had no business being there, less so unsupervised, so don't expect to use it for heavy duty workouts, if at all.

The hotel does offer a laundry service at outrageous prices as expected but there is a coin operated laundry over at the Maspalomas Resort that guests from V&S can access. There is also a supermarket right outside Maspalomas Resort selling holiday essentials such as drinking water, inflatables, postcards and fridge magnets.

Despite our rather mediocre experience certainly at the beginning of our stay, the hotel did grow on us and I'd still rate it a 5/5 primarily for its fantastic guest relations manager, Tamara and the fabulous animation staff, Kristian in particular, who my kids fell in love with and talk about till this day! Keep up the good work guys! If you have small kids and want one of the newer rooms, I'd recommend the ones bordering the 2nd, smaller pool- they are the same dimensions as the villas but refurbished and also come with a dedicated pool facing sun lounger/bed as an...