Barcelo Margaritas Royal Level

"My wife and I stayed seven nights at the Royal Level (adults only) on half board, in a Junior Suite Deluxe. Overall it was a positive experience, and what we valued most was how calm it was. The other guests were quiet and the atmosphere was relaxed throughout our stay. Check-in was very good. Everything was explained clearly, and we were given a map of the hotel with all the information we needed to find our way around from day one. The room was comfortable and had the basics you would expect, including TVs and a coffee machine. A pleasant surprise was that the door opens with a chip built into the wristband, so there's no need for the usual key cards. It's a simple, practical system that other hotels could easily adopt. The room was cleaned daily, apart from one day that I think was missed. The building is well maintained but clearly not new, and you can hear guests in the neighbouring rooms. Our neighbours were quiet, so it didn't affect us, but light sleepers should bear it in mind. We were not far from the evening entertainment area but were never disturbed by it. The adults-only pool was clean and there were enough sunbeds for everyone. We didn't see people reserving them with towels. One thing we really appreciated was that there was no entertainment team pushing you to join in. A few activities were on offer, but taking part was entirely your choice. We had breakfast and dinner at La Palapa. The food was OK and there was enough variety, though not as much as at other hotels we have stayed in. There were several theme nights, we never had to queue, and the staff did their job well. Note that drinks at dinner are not included on half board. We also tried the A Fuego themed restaurant twice and enjoyed the food. On our first visit we waited more than 30 minutes between the main course and dessert. On the second we arrived a little earlier and the service was smooth, so going early seems to help. The location works well. The free shuttle to the beach is convenient, and we also walked back from Maspalomas beach. We went out for a walk every evening after dinner, and the hotel made a good base for an excursion around the island. The WiFi was free and worked well both in the room and by the pool. We didn't attend any of the evening shows, so I can't comment on them. In summary, this is a good choice for couples looking for a quiet, adults only base with no pressure to join in. The main weak points are the potential noise from neighbouring rooms and a buffet that is adequate rather than memorable."

"This is the 4th time I have visited this hotel and the standards have dropped considerably in what I can only assume is a cost cutting programme. The food quality and choice has been diminished. The staff numbers have been reduced and I have never encountered such a bizarre and complex process when trying to get a towel for the pool. The restaurant El Feugo is not worth your time. The service was very slow and no better than the food in the self service buffet. The rooms were nice as are cleaner daily and the reception staff are generally friendly and helpful - the opposite of the pool/bar staff who are rude and obnoxious. There is a gate which needs your room key/fob for security to enter the hotel. Unfortunately it does not work and the staff have told me they know it doesn’t but it will not be fixed. I had to rely on people coming out of the hotel to let me in on several occasions. I am very disappointed with my current stay and will not be returning."

"Just back from a week staying at the BARCELO Margaritas Royal Level. Thoroughly enjoyed our holiday, the hotel and especially the rooms were fantastic. Lovely and spacious, really comfortable beds and all the amenities you could possibly want. Also had a safe where we could store bits and pieces. The pool was really good and no fighting for sunbeds at all. We didn’t book any of the Bali beds but didn’t need to. The pool service to order drinks was fine, it generally took about 10 to 15 minutes to get drinks. The restaurant and food offered a great variety, we especially enjoyed the à la carte lunches. Staff in the restaurant were so helpful and really made us feel welcomed. Even after we had finished eating, it was lovely sitting in the area having a few drinks. There isn’t a lot of entertainment here, but this didn’t really worry us. We visited the Yumbo Centre a couple of evenings after dinner, which is only a short walk away. We also caught the shuttle down to the beach, but also walked to it as well so really wasn’t too far away. The only concern we had during the whole holiday was when we had to seek medical advice, we spoke with someone at reception who appeared at first very helpful, but unfortunately gave us the wrong information. We did manage to find the local hospital in the end. All in all we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and will be more than happy to return."