We returned from this hotel on 16th February, a week's stay which we added on to the end of a week's cruise round The Canary Islands.
The general facilities are very good. The hotel is built into the rocks, and the public areas are full or marble, and are light and airy. The sixth-floor Reception is accessed from the road into the back of the hotel. The Reception staff (in fact all hotel staff) were very helpful and friendly. The Hotel has a private gate straight on to the beach.
Our room were cleaned and straightened every day, and we had no problems at all with the cleanliness. Bathroom towels were replaced regularly. The bed was large and very comfortable.
Breakfast and the evening meal were buffet-style in the restaurant at the base of the hotel. The range of hot and cold food was very good, and there was something for everybody. Yes, it was a large room, and there was a lot going on, but the dining tables were attractively laid out, and dining was a pleasant experience. Our only slight complaint was that extra cutlery was not very easy to find. Recommendation - if you want waiter-service, go somewhere else and be prepared to pay a lot more.
Late breakfast and lunch was served in the buffet-style restaurant on the same level as the swimming pool, and again, the hot and cold food was varied and tasty, and there was a different menu every day. I loved the variety of salads on offer. On one day, there was a lunchtime barbecue with home-made sangria, and on another, Spanish paella.
The included drinks were okay, with draught red/white/rose wine and draught, beer, cava, sangria , water and soft drinks, tea and coffee available all day. In the evenings, cocktails made with local spirits were a bit sweet and sickly. We had the "black band" upgraded drinks package which meant that we could have bottled wine on request, which could also be taken back to our room and chilled in the fridge. We also had cocktails made with premium spirits which were much nicer. The beer was the same whether you upgraded or not. Recommendation - If you only drink soft drinks or beer, don't upgrade. If you like a nice glass of wine (or two!), spirits or cocktails with a kick, consider the upgrade.
The entertainment was varied (in content and quality), with a featured act in the main concert lounge which became a disco later on. I have read reviews about the disco being noisy but we went to bed about midnight most nights and there didn't seem to be much noise to me. There is a also a Piano/Cocktail lounge with a talented pianist/vocalist, and a Sports Bar showing football etc. During the day, the resident duo played at various points round the Pool Area, which was very pleasant. Other activities (darts, shooting, table tennis etc) were organised during the day.
We booked a Royal Junior Suite, which was on the 8th floor, and (having sent an email to the hotel prior to our visit) were allocated room 8011 which had a lovely sea view. We paid an extra £133 each to Thomsons for this upgrade, part of which was for the upgraded drinks and extras, and the "Royal" bit which was to get a newly refurbished room on the 8th Floor. The sun didn't hit any of the hotel rooms until it came round mid-morning, but the sunsets over the sea were lovely.
The hotel itself is an S-shape, with all of the rooms facing out towards the sea, although the best views are from the high floors and those nearest to the sea. However, after the first excited views of the sea, we didn't spend much time on the balcony. We had the upgraded package with premium toiletries (didn't use them much), slippers (used them a bit), bathrobes (medium/large won't fit larger persons), large-screen TV (but we only watched BBC News and Sky News), fridge with a supply of bottled water (this was useful), fruit on arrival (nice but plenty of fresh fruit available on the buffet), and sunbeds on the balcony (which we didn't use at all). A nice extra was a half-bottle of the local honey rum and a small box of local chocolates, and a small bottle of wine to welcome us. From discussions with other visitors, it appears that all of the suites are similar shape and size, but some may not have been re-furbished yet. Some rooms will be nearer to the central water park - in February, this wasn't a problem, but there might be more noise in the peak, summer months. Recommendation - wait to see what room you are allocated, and upgrade if you need to. If you want certain extras eg fridge, sunbeds, etc wait to see if your room has them first, and then pay the extra for the things that will make your stay more enjoyable.
The pool area has two pools (when we went in February only one was heated but this was big enough for those who wanted to use it). There are loads of sunbeds but, as usual, despite the hotel requesting otherwise, everybody puts their towels out before breakfast, and some annoying people didn't come out to use them until after lunch! If only people wouldn't do this, there would always be enough sunbeds for everyone!
Overall, this is a pleasant, friendly, good-value hotel in which to have a relaxing holiday. Tarito Bay has been purpose-built for hotels and apartments - there isn't a community here with bars etc to walk out to, but most hotels here seem to be all-inclusive. There are lots of bars in Puerta Mogan just a ten-minute taxi-drive or bus away.
