Barcelo Margaritas Royal Level

"We stayed at the Barceló Margaritas Royal Level in Gran Canaria in April/May for a couples’ holiday. Overall, we had a really lovely stay and would definitely recommend the hotel, although there were a few things we felt could be improved. Arrival and Check-In Our arrival wasn’t quite as smooth as it could have been. There is complimentary parking for Royal Level guests, which is a great benefit. However, when we first arrived, we accidentally drove into the wrong side of the hotel and were trying to work out where we needed to park. Unfortunately, the security guard was quite rude and miserable towards us, which wasn’t a particularly nice welcome. He insisted that we needed to pay for parking, although I knew it was included with our Royal Level booking. Thankfully, a helpful receptionist explained that we needed to drive around to the other side of the resort to access the Royal Level entrance. I appreciate that we had arrived at the wrong entrance, but there really wasn’t any need for the security guard to be so unpleasant, particularly when guests are arriving somewhere for the first time and simply need a little guidance. Once we reached the correct reception, the experience was completely different. The staff were absolutely lovely. We were offered a welcome drink, given our wristbands and made to feel very welcome. Check-in was easy and pleasant, and from that point onwards, everything went smoothly. Room and Accommodation Our room was a decent size and perfectly comfortable, although I do think the accommodation would benefit from some updating. The room felt a little tired and dated, particularly the bathroom. That said, the room was perfectly adequate for our stay, and it certainly didn’t spoil our holiday. I just feel that a little refurbishment would make a noticeable difference to the overall Royal Level experience. Food and Restaurants Generally speaking, we really enjoyed the food at the resort. There was a lovely selection, and we found the food very tasty throughout our stay. The one disappointment was the outdoor à la carte barbecue restaurant. Unfortunately, we didn’t particularly enjoy the food there, and the whole dining experience felt rather rushed. It wasn’t somewhere we would recommend or choose to visit again. However, this was very much the exception, as we were otherwise really pleased with the dining experience. Swimming Pool and Atmosphere One area where I feel the Royal Level could improve is the atmosphere around the adults-only swimming pool. We had chosen this hotel for a relaxing, romantic couples’ holiday, so we certainly weren’t looking for loud music or rowdy poolside entertainment. However, there was absolutely nothing happening around the pool. No music, no gentle background entertainment and no activities whatsoever. While peace and quiet can be lovely, it did sometimes feel a little too quiet, and almost rather boring when spending a whole afternoon relaxing on a sun lounger. I think some gentle background music, perhaps a little jazz or relaxed Ibiza-style chill-out music, would make such a difference. It wouldn’t need to be loud or intrusive, just something to create a pleasant holiday atmosphere without taking away from the relaxing adults-only environment. We didn’t really venture into the family side of the resort, so I can’t comment on the facilities or entertainment over there. Location If we returned to Gran Canaria, we would probably choose to stay in a different area simply because we discovered that this particular location wasn’t quite right for us. However, if Playa del Inglés is somewhere you enjoy, I think Barceló Margaritas Royal Level would be a very good choice. Overall Despite a slightly disappointing arrival, a rather dated bathroom and a lack of atmosphere around the adults-only pool, we really enjoyed our stay at Barceló Margaritas Royal Level. The staff at the Royal Level were lovely, the food was generally excellent, and the hotel provided a comfortable base for our holiday. I think a refurbishment of the rooms, particularly the bathrooms, and a little more thought about creating a gentle poolside atmosphere would really elevate the experience. The outdoor barbecue restaurant could also benefit from some improvement, both in terms of food and the pace of service. Would I recommend the hotel? Absolutely. Would we return? Probably not, but that’s mainly because we would prefer to explore a different part of Gran Canaria rather than because of any major disappointment with the hotel. For anyone who enjoys the Playa del Inglés area and is looking for a comfortable adults-only escape, I think the Royal Level is a lovely option and one that’s well worth considering."

"The Royal Level at this hotel is great, fantastic rooms and great dining options. Very nice friendly staff, very clean, great pools. We would recommend it and would stay there again. "

"The rooms are spacious and spotless . Very quiet despite being near the lift on the second floor Grounds immaculate. Loads of spare sunbeds and cabanas. Good choice of all inclusive drinks but poor choice of waiters and managers. The app at the side of the sunbeds is hard to use in the sun so it is easier to go to the bar . Too young men were courteous and charming virtually everyone else was rude. The food could have been better. One day the male chef completely destroyed the fried eggs but still put them out . Next day the female chef got them right Lunch was good but for our fussy friends the choice never changed. In Royal level some of the food was cold even when just put out eg rice and veg soup We ended the holiday in the other block where the food was better to be honest A beautiful hotel let down by the staff"