VIK Hotel San Antonio

Housed in seven four-story buildings with white facades and a small covered driveway, the San Antonio feels a little bit like a hospital from the outside. The hotel was built in 1972 and, despite the 2013 updates, interiors don’t seem to have changed much. The lobby is a sunny, airy space with beige floor tiles, plants and lots of wood -- but mirrored surfaces, white wicker accents, striped upholstery, and a few golden details make it look straight out of the '70s. Other common spaces such as the restaurant and the bar are also showing some age. The most appealing area is, by far, the pool section, with a large free-form pool with tons of loungers, and an upper deck with a second pool offering ocean views. Most guests are couples, who gather around the pool during the day, though plenty of families with kids also stay at this property. 

The hotel is located directly on Pocillos Beach, a long stretch of sand between central Puerto del Carmen and the airport. The area is mostly residential, but there are plenty of restaurants, bars, and shops within a five- to 10-minute walk of the property. For a livelier atmosphere and more dining options, central Puerto del Carmen is under a 10-minute drive away. Lanzarote Airport  is a 10-minute drive away, and famous Timanfaya National Park -- home to several volcanoes -- can be reached in about 20 minutes. There's a taxi stand across the street from the hotel.

The hotel’s 331 room are clean and spacious, each with a desk, a double bed or two twins, and a couple of chairs. Floor-to-ceiling windows open onto furnished balconies overlooking either the gardens or the ocean. Some were renovated in 2013 and have laminate floors, fresh layers of paint, and white bedspreads. But most are dated and drab, with blue carpeting or grey floors, thin bedspreads with flower prints in yellow, blue, and green, and basic wooden furniture. The largest rooms are the Junior Suites and Suites, each of which has a separate living area with a double sofa bed, while Family Rooms can sleep up to three adults and one kid, or two adults and two kids. Plasma TVs, hotel-brand toiletries, minibars with water, and free Wi-Fi are standard amenities. However, note that guests on meal plans other than all-inclusive will have to pay extra for use of mini-fridges and safes. Tea and coffee can only be ordered from room service for an extra fee. 

The VIK Hotel San Antionio has two pools, both heated year-round and located in the area closest to the ocean. The main pool is a rectangle ringed with blue loungers and thatched parasols; the other one is on the upper deck and has a waterfall and great ocean views. A black stone wall separates this pool from the kids' section, complete with a playground and a kiddy pool. Additionally, during the summer and school holidays, the hotel offers a kids’ club and entertainment for children. The pool bar serves snacks throughout the day and has a shaded area with straw umbrellas and tables. Drinks are also available at the main bar, which offers live shows and entertainment for kids at night and during the day. The restaurant has a decent buffet for all three meals, but guests seem to like the breakfast spread the best. There are also microwaves in the buffet area for guests, particularly families with kids, to use as needed. The fitness center has a handful of cardio and strength-training machines, as well as a sauna, a steam room, and a treatments cabin. The hotel also has two tennis courts, free parking, and three meeting rooms. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout.