Barcelo Fuerteventura Thalasso Spa

A massive, contemporary resort, Barcelo Fuerteventura is a scene unto itself. The building zigzags along the waterfront, offering ocean views from several spots including the pools, a restaurant and bar, and several of the rooms. These units are split into blocks that are sprawling enough that guests can get lost. Hallway windows are set an inch away from walls to allow for a breeze at all times. The pools are the beating heart of the resort, and radiating out from them are several loungers. Thankfully, there are plenty of them to accommodate the hotel’s many guests. And throughout the hotel, the property’s sheer spaciousness is a virtue; there’s enough room for guests to find their element, whether they’re seeking a quiet place to nap poolside or a boisterous spot to splash around with kids. That goes for other areas of the hotel -- bars can range for subdued to lively, as can activities, and dining. Throughout, the Barcelo presents itself as refined and modern, with touch-screen kiosks in the lobby giving info about the hotel (a useful feature, given the hotel’s extensive amenities).

The Barcelo has the ideal location, set right by a broad and sandy public beach. The surrounding streets are full of vacation homes and other resorts. A shopping complex is on the corner of the resort's block, a minute's walk away, with shops, restaurants, and bars, plus a grocery store and pharmacy. There's also a medical clinic across the street. The airport is a short 12-minute drive away.

Rooms are split into Standard, Superior, and Superior with a Sea View, while Family Suites have two bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a separate living room. They vary a bit in terms of decor, but all share a warm color palette with sandy hues of beige and gold. Decor on the whole is contemporary, with details like glass-topped modular work desks, satin headboards, and boxy sleeper sofas. Unlike many of the apartment-style resorts in the area, rooms here are hotel-style (without kitchenettes). Standard amenities include 42-inch LED TVs, air-conditioning, safes, minibars, and free Wi-Fi. Superior Rooms don't add anything in terms of size, but they do provide a few more lavish perks such as robes and slippers, pillow menus, and electric kettles with supplies for coffee and tea. Guests in Superior Rooms also get welcome gifts and free access to the hotel's spa complex.All rooms have balconies or terraces furnished with loungers or a set of patio furniture, and a handful of Superiors have jetted hot tubs on their terraces. Views are of the grounds or the ocean, and some guests complain about noise from on-site entertainment or bars keeping them up.

Aside from its prime beachfront location, features are the true selling point of the Barceloa Fuerteventura. They’re broad enough to appeal to a variety of travelers and their interests, and attractive enough to contribute to the hotel’s overall upscale vibe.Top of the list is the resort’s four saltwater pools, freeform bodies of water with a front row seat to the beach just beyond. Two pools here are for children, and two are for adults, and while there’s no official quiet pool, the pool with a fountain feature tends to have a more tranquil atmosphere. More pools, a whirlpool, and a sauna can also be found at the elegant spa, which sits neighboring the resort’s main complex. Loungers and sunbeds surround the space, and a full menu of treatments including hydromassage and beauty treatments are on offer. Note, the spa is open to the public, and guests in Standard Rooms must pay a fee to access its facilities. This building also houses an up-to-date gym in a sunny, window-lined room.Because the beach is public, the Barcelo does not offer beachside service, and guests must bring their own towels. On our visit, this manmade beach was undergoing an expansion, which is scheduled to be complete by the end of 2016. Dining options are rather extensive. The poolside bar has a terrace by the pool and for all-inclusive guests, it offers a small buffet with hot and cold options. An a la carte restaurant serving dinner sits off the poolside bar. Twice a week they hold romantic themed dinners in a white-tablecloth atmosphere below a rustic, thatched roof. Just beyond that a “chill out” terrace gives a tranquil spot to sunbathe and look at sea views. Apart from its a la carte restaurant, the resort has a full buffet restaurant serving all meals. Rates run the range from "bed and breakfast" to all-inclusive.Apart from the poolside bar, guests can also get drinks at the lobby bar, which is just off an enormous stage with theater seating. Live music, singing, magic shows, and acrobats perform here on the regular. For children's entertainment, the resort has a massive kids’ club that feels more like a theme park diversion than a resort playground, with a pirate theme and a swinging skull that splashes water on kids below. It also has a putt-putt golf course. Animation is available for kids, and animation specifically catering to adolescents is also available in the summer season. Three giant interconnecting meeting rooms are on the premises for events, conferences, or weddings. (Basic wedding services are offered.) Other features include free property-wide Wi-Fi, an on-site tour desk, laundry service, a gift shop, car and bike rentals, and on-site parking, which can cost an extra fee for guests in Standard Rooms.