Best Luxury Hotels in Playa Blanca, Lanzarote

The 305-room H10 Timanfaya Palace is an upscale, adult-only hotel catering to couples seeking some peace and quiet. Its two large oceanfront pools have a serene atmosphere, and while there is a daily entertainment program, activities are generally mellower than at other resorts in the area. This all-inclusive stands out for its excellent cuisine, which includes a wonderful main buffet, a Mediterranean a la carte restaurant with Arab influences, and a poolside snack bar serving tapas and a small buffet. The fitness center features a good array of cardio and strength-training machines, a sauna, and two massage rooms, but there is no full spa on-site. The indoor pool is a great perk for a rainy day. Rooms are spacious, clean, and stylish, and feature LCD TVs, mini-fridges (stocked in Superior and Privilege Rooms, as well as Suites), and balconies, some with sea views. There is an ongoing renovation plan, but for the time being most bathrooms are a little dated.

The 255-room Volcan Lanzarote is a luxury resort known for its striking architectural style and lovely sprawling grounds. Its rooms are large and upscale, with jetted tubs and separate showers (in most), free Wi-Fi, balconies, and small living areas. Though charming for some, decor in blue hues may be a tad dated to others. The hotel offers a slew of amenities for families -- including five pools, a kids’ club, and a full entertainment program -- but there is also a quieter adult-only section complete with a pool, a lounge with free drinks, and a private breakfast restaurant. The spa is relaxing and pleasant, with a hydrotherapy area, treatment cabins, and a hammam. Built on stilts over the main pool, the buffet restaurant has an eye-catching design, but food gets mixed reviews. The location adjacent to a lovely marina lined with restaurants and shops is convenient, but those looking to stay closer to the beach may want to compare rates at Princesa Yaiza Suite Hotel Resort.

The 195-room, four-pearl H10 Sentido White Suites is a quiet all-suites property located a short walk from a sandy beach and lively Marina Rubicon in Playa Blanca. Rooms are spacious and contemporary, with solid amenities such as Nespresso machines, LCD TVs, minibars with free water, and iPod docks, plus separate living areas outfitted with sofa beds. No rooms, however, have ocean views due to the hotel’s height and location a couple of blocks from the beach. Many loungers are around the pool and the whirlpool, and there are an elegant spa and modern (if small) gym. Dining generally gets good reviews, and the hotel offers a variety of rates, from bed-and-breakfast to all-inclusive, which covers most imported drinks and all snacks until midnight. Those looking for something more bustling and with more entertainment options may prefer Hotel THE Volcan Lanzarote.

The 584-room upper-middle-range H10 Rubicon Palace is a sprawling all-inclusive property with all the bells and whistles expected from a big beach resort. It features eight pools, two buffet restaurants, three a la cartes, a full entertainment program, and an excellent kids’ club for children ages 1 to 16. Rooms are spacious and airy, with amenities such as flat-screen TVs, mini-fridges (minibars in all but standard rooms) and balconies or terraces, some with ocean views. The spa is pleasant and relaxing, with lovely outdoor areas overlooking the ocean, several massage rooms decorated with candles, and a spacious hydrotherapy area. The fitness center, though, is only free three hours in the morning. Food is varied, but some guests have found it somewhat underwhelming in the a la carte restaurants. The hotel can feel a little overrun with kids, so those seeking a more peaceful vacation may want to compare rates at adult-only sister property H10 Timanfaya Palace.

The upscale, 329-room Gran Castillo Tagoro is one of the best family-friendly hotels in Playa Blanca. It has several huge pools, an outstanding kids’ club complete with areas for babies and a sleepover room, a small water park, and a fun mascot that participates in the entertainment program. Rooms are some of the largest in Lanzarote, and even the smallest ones have spacious living areas with sofa beds; some have sea views. Although families are the main market here, adults can also find plenty of things to do: The spa is adult-only save for a couple of hours a day, and there is a pool for guests 18 and over, complete with cabanas and a bar. The main restaurant has a separate adult-only courtyard with a more serene atmosphere. Still, those seeking a quiet, child-free property closer to a sandy beach may want to compare rates at the H10 Timanfaya Palace.