Lopesan Baobab Resort

This was our first trip to Gran Canaria and the hotel. The hotel is enormous, well laid out with wonderful hidden animal sculptures that you might miss if you don't look. We had a room that was in the block at the far end of the resort, opposite end to the beach end. It was a good walk to get to and from our room for Dinner and Breakfast but once we got our bearings seemed no time at all. The room was excellent, beds comfortable, an enormous bathroom area with complimentary shower and hand gel, a very lovely product. Plenty of hanging and drawer space, loads of hangers. Balcony with chairs and a clothes rack area. It was very hot when we first entered but the air con had been off for a while, once back on for a few hours it worked well. As mentioned in numerous reviews, the one negative is paying for the safe. The safe is electronic and is used by entering your own 4 digit code (as with all hotel safes these days) but unlike all other 5 star hotels that I have stayed in, including London UK, you have to pay to use the safe at the Lopesan. This is a very unnecessary charge that needs to be removed. (I could understand in past years when you paid for a safe to ensure you did not lose your key but not now) Dinner & Breakfast was buffet style with fresh cooking and you had the option of 2 restaurants, we chose to use the Marula as it was quieter than the main one. We were impressed that when we ordered water, it came in bottles, not plastic and they were large bottles too. There are many pools to choose from with no lack of sunbeds regardless of the time of day and the lazy river is not to be missed. You can go to the various bars for drinks or catch the eye of a waiter who will serve you and bring it back to your sunbed! All the staff were welcoming, friendly and helpful and when arriving for meals you were taken to a table. Bar staff were always attentive and the cocktails varied.The only negative is the lack of spirit choice. the menu listed Whiskies and Bourbon but there were no bourbons on the menu, just Jack Daniels, which is not a bourbon. The Gin and Whisky choice was also very limited, with two gins of choice Gordons or Beefeater. I would expect a far higher level of spirit choice from a 5 star hotel. I have to add that this did not make our stay any less enjoyable but was a comment I had already fed back and it might also help those of you reading this that enjoy a drink or two when relaxing. There is an underground exit out to the local shops, pharmacy and a few bars, you can find it by walking away from the left of reception (when facing it) and keep going until you see a few stairs but the lift is just to the left of you. You press a button to get out but you need your key card to get back in. This is also the best way to get to the beach. The overall ambience of the hotel is wonderful and would make a great choice if you decide to visit GC.

Spacious bedrooms but in Africa " the continent of darkness". Lighting is really bad, sufficiently to prevent me to return in spite of interesting resort with convenient bars,lounges, restaurants and swimming pools.