Calle de las Retama 3, Playa de San Agustin, San Agustin, Spain | (251) 219-4428
Family-friendly resort hotel with all-inclusive options
Direct access to long, sandy swath of beach
Two pools for adults, including lagoon-style and heated pools
Mediterranean rooms with flat-screen TVs and minibars
Two buffet restaurants, bar, and pool bar
All-inclusive options include three buffets per day, plus drinks and snacks
Kid friendly with children's pool, kids' play area, and more
Activity areas include tennis and squash courts, mini-golf, and observatory
Spa with private saunas, jacuzzis, and five treatment rooms
Live entertainment from acrobatic to DJs
Free towel service, parking, and property-wide Wi-Fi
Hotel and room decor feels tired
Two miles from Playa del Ingles (can be a pro)
A la carte and top-shelf drinks not included in all-inclusive option
Only "Level" guests get access to exclusive lounge and other extras
Gym is tiny
The 279-room, upper-middle-range Melia Tamarindos is a family-friendly, beachfront resort hotel with three pools (heated, unheated, and children's), direct access to a sandy beach, well-manicured gardens, a spa, live entertainment, and activities like a kids' area, mini-golf, and squash and tennis courts. Rooms feature tasteful Mediterranean decor, though it can feel dated, and amenities like flat-screen satellite TVs and minibars, plus some have balconies with sea views. The resort has several eating and drinking spots, including buffet restaurants and a pool bar, and inclusive options include all meals plus snacks and drinks. Towel service, Wi-Fi, and parking are all free -- items that aren't always included at resort properties in the area. By comparison, Hotel Caserio has chicer decor and is closer to Playa del Ingles, but lacks direct beach access.
Scene
Family-friendly, beachside resort hotel with all-inclusive options
Meliá Tamarindos is a resort hotel with all-inclusive options situated right along the beach. There's little to note about the building itself -- it's a standard, eight-story resort-style hotel with inset balconies, and the interior, while tasteful enough, isn't quite luxurious, with a slightly dated pairing of tiled floors, light wood accents, and white wicker furniture. But the grounds are outstanding and exceptionally maintained dotted with thatched canopies and palm trees. Winding paths lead down to a long, sandy beach, activity areas, and the pools, including a huge lagoon-style pool surrounded by a big terrace with tables, chairs, and loungers. The hotel is squarely geared toward leisure travelers, including couples and families traveling with children.
Location
Quiet area right along San Agustin beach, two miles from Playa del Ingles
The hotel is located right along the dark sandy beach of San Agustin on the south coast of Gran Canaria. Several shops and eateries are in walking distance, as is public transportation, but the immediate neighborhood is mostly resorts. Most of the action, including bars and restaurants, is about two miles away at the lively Playa del Ingles (a four-minute drive away). Gran Canaria Airport is within a 20-minute drive and airport transportation can be arranged through the hotel. Limited parking is available on-site, free of charge.
Rooms
Simple Mediterranean rooms with satellite TVs, minibars, and free Wi-Fi
The property's 279 rooms are mostly doubles (though there are suites), including classic and upgraded "Level" rooms, which offer extra amenities. Decor is a bit of a disappointment to some guests -- there's a tasteful Mediterranean vibe (terra-cotta tiled floors and blue wrought-iron furniture), but it's not quite luxurious and can verge on dated with patterned wallpaper or matching bedding and drapes. Still, rooms are spacious and even some entry-level rooms have balconies with sitting areas. Bathrooms are simple, fully tiled in blue or beige, most with separate rooms with toilets and bidets, combo showers and tubs, magnifying mirrors, hairdryers, and free individual toiletries.Rooms are air-conditioned and include flat-screen satellite TVs, safes, and free Wi-Fi. For all-inclusive guests, minibars come stocked with freebies like water, soft drinks, and two beers per day. Room service is available. Guests with upgraded "Level" rooms get extras like robes and slippers, Nespresso coffeemakers, balconies with sea views, turndown service, and daily newspapers, among other extras throughout the resort. Guests recommend opting for sea-facing rooms -- the views are better and it's quieter than rooms facing the road.
Features
Buffet dining, bars, pools, and live entertainment, plus a pretty inclusive all-inclusive option
The resort's main attractions are its three outdoor pools (one unheated, one heated, and one children's pool) surrounded by palm trees and loungers, beautifully manicured gardens, and direct access to a sandy beach. There's also mini-golf, a tennis and squash court, a children's play area, a small game room, an observatory, three event rooms, and nightly live entertainment, ranging from acrobatic to DJs. Wellness facilities include a small gym (it has weightlifting and cardio equipment, but it's limited -- there are only two treadmills) plus a full-service spa with five treatment areas, two private saunas, a Turkish bath, jacuzzis, and relaxation areas.The hotel's dining options include the Roque Nublo Restaurant, which serves a decent, extensive buffet for breakfast and dinner; the Tara Snack Bar, which offers a lunch buffet and a la carte options, though the later aren't included in the all-inclusive option; the Jameo Bar, open until late with live entertainment, as well as a nice pool bar (Tara Pool Bar and Tara By Night). Most feature outdoor dining options. The all-inclusive option at this resort hotel is fairly extensive, including three meals, snacks, and drinks. Buffet breakfasts and dinners are served at Roque Nublo Restaurant, snacks and a buffet lunch are served at Tara Snack Bar, and afternoon and evening drinks at Jameo Bar (some drinks are excluded). A selection of daily minibar drinks are also included in the rate. Like at many resort hotels, all-inclusive guests must wear a wristband. "Level" guests get added benefits, including, among other freebies, access to an exclusive lounge and solarium with a jacuzzi, both of which feature free snacks and drinks.Reception is open 24 hours, room service is available during limited hours, and the hotel can arrange for airport transfers, laundry service, car rentals, currency exchange, and more. Towel service, Wi-Fi (except at the pool), and parking are all free -- items that aren't always included at nearby properties.