Bull Costa Canaria & Spa

"If you like sociable daytime activities, quality evening entertainment with great shows and the opportunity for dancing most evenings, if you like good food, friendly and helpful staff, and a lovely indoor spa at no extra cost, then this is the hotel for you (but don't tell anyone else!) We have been coming to this hotel for a number of years (along with many other returners, which in itself is an indicator of a great hotel) and are very happy to continue doing so into the foreseeable future. There will always be reviews from unhappy people who grumble about having to wear long trousers for dinner etc etc, or the sun lounger system which though not seen anywhere else that we've stayed, really saves the hassle of scrambling for new ones every morning of your stay. We have tried other hotels in the past, and researched countless others, but this is the only one which ticks all our boxes."

"First impressions were great. Lovely, clean hotel which smells divine on entry. Beautiful grounds and gorgeous pool. You are given a tag to put on a sunbed which is then yours for the week - strange, but seems to work. However, this hotel’s policies are very outdated and I would go as far as to say discriminating. It’s slightly irritating to keep being “told off” First for not showering before entering the pool, then for having a coffee round the pool ;which was removed as it wasn’t in a plastic cup - I wasn’t offered a plastic cup, However the most upsetting part for me was being turned away from the buffet restaurant because the men in the group were wearing tailored shorts (with shirts and looked very smart)! We were told there was a ‘no shorts’ for men policy in the evening. We were not told about this on arrival neither were we informed by the travel company. Women, myself included were wearing shorts (denim/bum cheeks out/scruffy) etc and were allowed to come and go as they pleased! The first night we saw two men in shorts who were clearly not challenged. I feel this is outdated and left a very bad taste in my mouth. I will not be staying here again."

"Well, what can I say? On arrival, first impressions are great. But as they say, don't be fooled by first impressions! Whilst on the surface, the hotel is clean, the hallways smell beautiful and the breakfast is divine, this hotel's outdated and gender discriminative policies really let the whole thing down. We came here as a couple along with another couple (4 in total). I have to agree with previous reviews that the hotel is not necessarily geared towards families of four. Not many tables set up for four etc. but nothing to cry home about. The pool bed reservation system is a bit to get used to, but works I guess. But totally geared towards our cousin's across the sea in Germany. I would say this is a recurring theme for this hotel, it doesn't seem very open to all cultures and is highly geared to just the one. Be sure to shower before entering the pool at any rate, the pool guy is quick to insist that you do and tell you off. Another example of a silly, authoritarian rule which seems to be the top of this hotel's priority list for some reason. Let's talk about the trousers rule. So, I completely understand looking smart for dinner, no vests, no swim shorts or flipflops. However, I don't agree that the staff at this hotel target only men for this very rediculous rule. If this was the Ritz, I'd understand, but it's a buffet dinner. (With very limited choices I might add). One night, after observing a gentlemen at dinner in his shorts the night before, my group are directed to leave the buffet dinner as we had entered in our tailored shorts and shirts. Refused entry. On speaking with reception staff, we inform them that as we are on holiday, we only had the trousers we travelled in, we were told tough, it's hotel policy. A policy that was neither shared by your operator or the hotel themselves on check in (photo of the poster outside the buffet room) . Furthermore, to view numerous ladies in short skirts, sandals, and short shorts!!! Being allowed to waltz in and out without any challenge by any of the staff is a real insult and begs belief. In fact, when I raised this and said if I had come down in a dress would I be allowed in, I was told yes?! Rediculous. Outdated. Discrimination. It's a real shame because the hotel is beautiful, and most staff are friendly. I just don't understand why they insist on being so rigid with some very outdated principles. Won't visit again."