Aparthotel Caleta Garden

From the outside, this
hotel is bright and cheerful, and the yellow, terraced building embodies the charming
image of a Canary Islands retreat. The low-priced, all-inclusive deals here
draw families and tourists looking to party. That charm rapidly fades
upon stepping inside, however, as the spacious lobby is lined with unfashionable,
dark tan tiles and sagging, outdated furniture. There are game machines, toy
machines, and vending machines at the back of the lobby, amplifying the hotel’s
low-budget vibe. Star-shaped cartoon stickers are pasted to many of the windows
-- a motif that repeats itself in guest rooms, as well, and the hotel’s bars and
restaurants aren’t particularly attractive, with cheap furniture and bizarre
wall art hung upon faux-stone and bright coral-colored walls. The pool bar terrace is dotted with wicker furniture, including small tables for holding cocktails and beers, but there are no umbrellas, and the vibe -- with yellow balconied walls on either side -- is somewhat cramped and claustrophobic. Interior hallways do have some charm by way of colorful, sea-themed tiling, but the entire property could use a refresh. 

Situated on a street
lined with tourist-ready shops, the hotel is within Caleta de Fuste’s commercial
district on the east side of Fuerteventura Island, the Canary Islands’
second-largest land mass. A major perk of staying at this hotel is the easy,
10-minute walk to the town’s beach and seafront promenade, which are lovely. Like
the rest of the Canary Islands, water sports are huge here and there are dive
centers and wind-sailing outfits throughout town. Lively Pieros Cafe, which
has nightly entertainment including karaoke, is a 10-minute walk from the hotel. The HiperDino Express grocery store is just across the road, convenient for stocking up the kitchenettes
in the guest rooms. The island’s main Fuerteventura Airport is only a 10-minute
drive from the hotel.

To be frank, guests looking
for a chic and stylish island getaway should look elsewhere. Rooms are brightly
painted, with green tile floors and pops of color in framed wall art, but these
are budget apartments furnished on the cheap. Ranging from Studios to Two-Bedroom
units, all apartments include telephones, small flat-screen TVs, and safes, as
well as kitchenettes with microwaves, mini-fridges, and electric ranges. Every
room also has a spacious terrace, many of which overlook the central courtyard
pool and bar, meaning noise can be an issue throughout the day. Most aspects of
guest rooms look outdated -- from frilly motel-style comforters on the beds to the pastel patterned curtains and floral-print bamboo furniture shower/tub combos. Daily housekeeping is
included and while rooms are reasonably clean, there have been some
reports of upkeep issues at this property and cockroaches have been spotted. Guests
should also note that there is no air-conditioning in guest rooms and though
fans are available, there is a fee to rent them. Kettles, toasters, and hairdryers also incur extra fees.  

The hotel’s main feature
is its courtyard pool and hot tub that are surrounded by a stone terrace and
old lounge chairs. Adjacent to the pool area, there is a large indoor and outdoor bar that stays open well
into the night and has a small stage for
live entertainment and bingo, and a billiard table. The on-site restaurant
has little
in the way of ambience, and it offers mediocre Spanish and continental fare. All-inclusive
options are available and breakfast has a decent selection, though is only
included with some bookings, and guests may find better meals for lunch and
dinner by exploring the options in town. The hotel has an outdoor plastic playground on-site for guests with children, as well as a game room with air hockey and a pool
table, though it's hard to tell whether the disproportioned murals are meant to
be kid-friendly or outsider art. The hotel has one tennis court on-site
and a nice rooftop terrace with a hot tub, and though Wi-Fi is available, it is
not free.