Blue Sea Lagos De Cesar

Blue Sea Lagos de Cesar is a value, all-inclusive property housed in a long, six-story gray building fronted by a pool terrace one floor up from street level. The lobby is nothing special -- just a simple room with polished tile floors, mirrored columns,  and a few plush chairs and with coffee tables -- and guests are better off hanging out on the hotel grounds, where there are a couple of small grassy lawns and a wooden swing bench. Sunbathers can head to the central pool or upstairs on one of the two rooftop sunbathing terraces, the larger of which is adult-only and features Bali beds and a seasonal bar. The hotel attracts a mix of families and couples, and gets a predominantly Polish clientele (with British travelers coming in a distant second).

Lagos de Cesar is located in Puerto de Santiago on the southwestern coast of Tenerife, about a half-hour drive north of Playa de las Americas and Los Cristianos. It's right on a main strip with a handful of restaurants and shops, and just a few minutes' walk from a large Lidl supermarket that sits on a hilltop overlooking the town. The overall area is quiet, and there's not much in terms of nightlife. It's about a four-minute walk to the black-sand Playa La Arena, while Playa de los Gigantes takes about seven minutes to get to by car. Mount Teide at the center of the island takes about an hour to reach by car, while Masca Valley, popular with hikers, is about a 35-minute drive away. Tenerife South Airport takes around 45 minutes by road to reach, traffic permitting.

All 116 rooms here are more or less identical, with 50 square meters (538 square feet) of space and dated decor. Although referred to as Junior Suites, they actually have separate living spaces and bedrooms with big closets and two twin beds pushed together instead of doubles. Doors in the bedrooms and living rooms lead out to longish balconies with with plastic tables and chairs; some have sea views, but these cost a few Euros extra. Simple, old-fashioned decor consists of printed floral drapes and matching bedspreads, worn sofa beds for two, a few pieces of wooden furniture with a green finish, and oak-finish wooden wet bars that have mini-fridges with freezer compartments. All rooms have split air-conditioning units, but they lack coffee- and tea-making facilities and TVs cost extra -- to get them to work, guests have to plug coins into a machine in the living room. Wi-Fi is available for a fee in rooms (though it is free in the lobby). Off-white-tiled bathrooms are simple, and have shower/tub combos, bidets, hairdryers, and basic toiletries. Some minor wear and tear is visible in rooms.

There aren't any striking features at this hotel -- it offers just about the minimum for a property of its category, and not a whole lot more. The pool is a decent size, albeit unheated, and features a few rows of shaded lounge chairs and a poolside bar where drinks and snacks are served. The Piano Bar -- equipped with retro-modern furniture is open in the evenings and has a stage for live entertainment. All three meals are served buffet-style in the hotel's big restaurant, with themed dinners some evenings. Breakfast is included in room rates, and half-board (breakfast and dinner), full-board, and all-inclusive packages, which include drinks and pool bar snacks, are available. Right next to the restaurant is a lounge area with tables and chairs, books that guests can borrow, and coin-operated massage chairs. A small door off to one side leads to a kids' club, where one hour of activities are offered every day, free of charge. Other activities include a mini-disco (on most nights), as well as adult animation including karaoke, bingo, and yoga. At the time of our 2017 visit, the hotel's fitness center was out of commission, though they did indicate plans to get new equipment and reopen it to guests. There was, however, a ping-pong table and a pool table available to guests on an outdoor patio area. Note that the hotel does not offer any on-site parking facilities, but there's usually plenty of free street parking to go around in the immediate vicinity. Although the hotel doesn't get many business travelers, there is a small meeting room with chairs and a podium. Wi-Fi is free in the lobby and available for a fee in the rooms.