Bull Reina Isabel & Spa

With its prime beachfront location and beautiful sea views, Reina Isabel Hotel is a solid beach option. Despite decor that's not exactly refined, it's still the kind of place where you'll see guests dressed up. In fact, this was the only property that we visited on Gran Canaria where we saw women in evening gowns, and were greeted by a fully-suited valet at the entrance. It’s a more formal tone to be sure, but without sacrificing the leisurely atmosphere found at other beachfront hotels. In the evenings, the busy outdoor terrace turns into a romantic candle-lit affair, complete with a light sea breeze, warm night air, and the sound of ocean waves. At 225 rooms, the hotel is large, but not impersonal. That fact is attested to by the number of repeat guests who stay here, including those who’ve been returning for decades. Named after Queen Elizabeth, Reina Isabel was originally built in the 1960s to accommodate English tourists visiting the island during luxury cruises. Curiously, despite a lack of resemblance to authentic English architecture, historical features of this now period-listed building (such as the tall marble columns) were built to appeal to English guests. Today, the interiors are definitely looking a bit old-fashioned and gaudy -- with clashing primary colors, tacky mirror accents, and mismatched marble surfaces. It’s a minor complaint, however, in the context of the hotel’s other standout qualities. A variety of different guests frequent the hotel: we saw couples of all ages, business guests, and occasional families during our visit. 

Reina Isabel Hotel is situated right on the beachfront with direct beach access, yet also within easy reach of city shopping and sightseeing. The city’s picture-perfect beach, Playa de las Canteras is right out of the back of the hotel, while local Canarian hangouts, such as Santa Catalina Park, are just a three-minute walk away. It’s a 10-minute walk to El Muelle, the city’s largest shopping mall, and the harbor is just one minute farther on foot. Calle Triana, a pedestrian-only street with boutiques and cafes, can be reached via a single bus connection from the Parque Santa Catalina stop, a 20-minute journey. The city’s charming old town is farther south and can also be reached via the same route, a 25-minute journey. Budget around 20 minutes to reach Gran Canaria's airport by car or cab, and there’s a taxi stand just outside the hotel for those who need it.

The majority of rooms of this hotel (including Junior Suites) have a classic style with rosy wood furniture, orange tub armchairs, and neutral curtains, while suites have a more traditional English feel. Across the board, though, the look is basic and a bit spartan. All rooms have balconies -- roughly half of them with sea views and the other half feature city views. They come with free fresh fruit, still and sparkling water, AC, flat-screen TVs, mini-fridges or minibars, free safe access, and free Wi-Fi. The majority of bathrooms are modern and have immaculate marble surfaces, bidets, and large walk-in rainfall showers. Most rooms are divided into two main categories: Double Rooms, which have two twin beds, and Single Rooms, which have a single queen-size bed. Rooms with sea views cost extra, but are worth it. Junior Suites have separate living rooms and large balconies, some of which are sea-facing. The hotel’s 12 Suites are housed over three floors in an adjacent building. All are enormous, with king-size beds, separate living rooms, generously sized balconies with sea views, and more traditional decor. Some of these have extra bathroom perks, such as enormous walk-in marble showers with standalone jetted bathtubs. 

This hotel has a wealth of facilities, and the best part is access to them is free for all guests, though of course fees apply for food and treatments. This includes the beautiful heated rooftop pool, which has gorgeous sea views and is a guest favorite. Spa facilities are free to access, including a Dead Sea floating pool, hydrotherapy pool, salt room, and even a separate sauna and lounge area with floor-to-ceiling panoramic sea views. Even the gym looks out to neighboring Tenerife Island. The sunny rooftop sunbathing terrace faces the sea, and the hotel has free sun loungers and umbrellas on the beach. The first set of beach towels are provided for free.The rest of the hotel’s public spaces have been strategically designed to take full advantage of its beautiful beach setting: the immaculate poolside bar, a relaxed and breezy space decked in chic black and white, has floor to ceiling panoramic windows looking out to the pool and sea. It serves drinks as well as light bites. The rooftop restaurant is no different, with gorgeous panoramic views, a stunning balcony with tables overlooking the sea, and an a la carte menu serving modern fusion cuisine with an emphasis on fresh, locally sourced produce. The ground floor restaurant serves the hotel’s breakfast buffet, a vast spread of hot and cold choices which includes fruit, smoked salmon and herring, eggs and omelets cooked to order, bacon, sausage, a variety of cereals, and even vodka or champagne to wash it all down. Bed-and-breakfast, as well as half-board options are available, and dinner is a buffet layout with live cooking. Some guests have complained about a lack of fresh items at breakfast. The outdoor terrace cafe links directly to the beach promenade and serves coffee and desserts. It's a great space for people watching. There's also a good handful of meeting spaces with various capacities for business guests. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel and the connection works well. Free valet parking is available at the hotel, a lifesaver after some inevitable hectic city driving.