Hotel Grand Teguise Playa

The majority of hotels in this part of the Canary Islands ride the line between pleasantly modern and dated, and the Hotel Grand Teguise Playa is no exception. Resembling a bright, vine-clad mall food court, the atrium lobby is a fine enough welcome, though it does offer a clue as to the mixed bag of styles that run throughout this resort. Dated peach couches sit next to more modern tan chairs, and palm trees rise all around, dotted between ponds and wide expanses of polished tile floors. Like any Lanzarote all-inclusive worth the money, almost every service is on offer here, and the hotel runs a largely entertaining animation program. The vibe is lively, but not wild, and things are decidedly quiet when everyone is trying to sleep -- which is a welcome feature in a hotel of this size. The huge saltwater heated pool complex and the lobby are the hotel's major gathering spots, while the beach is just beyond that. With a buffet restaurant, cocktail bar, sports facilities, gym, and wind-down wellness services, the resort is geared toward families and couples seeking a reasonably-priced way to relax.

The resort is located in the buzzing tourist town of Costa Teguise. Surrounded by other resorts, the Hotel Grand Teguise Playa has direct access to the golden sands of Las Cucharas Beach. Restaurants and shops are right out the hotel's front door, and lively Plaza Pueblo Marinero -- a square with a quaint selection of Spanish restaurants, cafes, bars, and evening market stalls -- is just three minutes away on foot. For guests wanting to explore the Costa Teguise coastline, the seafront promenade walkway leads past the five main local beaches. The 18-hole Costa Teguise Golf Club is a nine-minute drive from the resort, and for those wanting something a little more exciting, the town is known as the main hub for wind-surfing in Lanzarote, with equipment and schools along Calle la Corvina, a five- to 10-minute walk from the hotel. Lanzarote Airport is a 15-minute drive from the resort.

The Hotel Grand Teguise Playa has 314 rooms with variety of layouts and configurations, including Junior Suites that have separate living rooms and bedrooms, as well as many rooms with ocean views. Keep in mind that style is inconsistent here, and you will get what you pay for. Superior Rooms and Suites have a modern, fresh, blue-and-white color motif that looks bright and smart. Their balconies have dark-wood tables and chairs with white cushions. Unfortunately, lower-category rooms, like the Sea View Double Room that we visited, are much less modern. Details include orange drapes, tired-looking rattan furniture, printed bedspreads, white-plastic balcony furnishings, and tube-style TVs. Superior Rooms and Suites have mounted flat-screen TVs, and all rooms have mini-fridges and air-conditioning. In-room safes, additional beds, or cribs all cost extra. Bathrooms are spacious across the board, with shower/tub combos and generous vanity space. Wi-Fi is available -- for a fee -- only in the higher-end rooms. Despite the hotel's lively daytime and evening vibe, rooms stay quiet at night and all get good natural light throughout the day.

Without a doubt, the star feature of the Hotel Grand Teguise Playa is its location right on Las Cucharas Beach. Rows of lounge chairs are arranged on the sand, but the beach isn't the largest and there are some rocky areas. The hotel has a large pool complex with a heated pool and a children's pool. Pool towels will cost extra. Animation teams are on hand to get everybody involved, and there are plenty of other activities available, from water sports to tennis and soccer -- there are fees for a good number of the activities, so it's worth checking ahead. All rates are all-inclusive, but those who want premium liquor will need to pay more as there are two levels to the all-inclusive plan. The hotel has a main buffet restaurant offering predictable Mediterranean, European, and American fare. There is also an a la carte restaurant that serves Spanish-Mexican cuisine that's well-liked by past guests, but reservations are a must. There are two bars -- one in the lobby and another by the pool -- that occasionally host live music. Though the atmosphere is lively, everything is kept at a reasonable volume and winds down early enough in the evening to make most guests happy. Those wanting a nightclub vibe will want to look elsewhere.Families are well catered to, with a kids' club and babysitting available for additional fees. There are also three conference rooms for meetings. The hotel's fitness room has a range of cardio machines and weights, and there's a treatment room for massages. While this is an all-inclusive resort, that does not include Wi-Fi.