"I stayed at Aqua Suites under rather unusual circumstances.
Originally, I was holidaying in a luxury villa, but after a close relative suffered a serious fall and was admitted to hospital, our travel insurance arranged for me to stay at Aqua Suites because of its proximity to the hospital.
I'll admit that I was a little apprehensive before arriving. When an insurance company books accommodation, you naturally assume they're going to choose the cheapest suitable option. Looking at the photos online, the hotel appeared modern and well-presented, but I wondered whether it might simply be a more budget-focused hotel. Those concerns disappeared almost immediately after I arrived.
The first thing I noticed was how easy parking was. There is plenty of free on-street parking outside the hotel, which is ideal if you have a hire car.
Check-in set the tone for the whole stay. The evening receptionist was absolutely lovely, explained everything clearly, and even welcomed me with a complimentary glass of cava. The reception area itself is modern, spacious, spotlessly clean and gives a great first impression.
My room was the first room on the ground floor, right next to reception. I suspect this was because of my circumstances, as it would have made access easier if my relative had been discharged from hospital. Initially I was worried about being so close to reception, but I can honestly say I don't remember hearing a single person outside my room during my stay. The sound insulation is excellent.
The room itself was brilliant. It had a large comfortable bed, tea and coffee facilities, air conditioning, TV, fridge, complimentary bottle of wine and bottled water (the water was replaced daily), plus a separate living area with a sofa bed and wardrobes. Everything was immaculately clean, well maintained and felt fresh. The bed was exceptionally comfortable, and even had a mattress topper which gave an extra feeling of cleanliness and comfort.
After my first night, it looked possible that my relative might be discharged from hospital, so I asked reception if the sofa bed could be made up. To my surprise, a member of staff was in my room within about five minutes getting everything prepared. In the end, my relative never needed to stay, but I was genuinely impressed by how quickly the hotel acted.
That level of service continued throughout my stay.
A few days later, I asked reception if they could print my boarding passes. Not only was this done without hesitation, but the receptionist remembered my earlier conversation and asked how my relative was doing in hospital. It was a small gesture, but it showed genuine care rather than just going through the motions.
When I checked out, another receptionist told me they had discussed my situation with the supervisor and gave me some excellent advice about arranging special assistance at the airport. Again, it was a thoughtful gesture that really meant a lot during what was quite a stressful week.
I was also pleasantly surprised by the hotel's approach to late checkout. Standard checkout isn't until midday anyway, which is generous, but they also offer complimentary late checkout where availability allows. I asked the day before, and after a quick check I was able to keep my room until 2pm at no extra charge, which made a huge difference.
Because I spent most of my time at the hospital, I only managed breakfast once, but it was excellent. There was a small continental buffet alongside freshly cooked breakfast options ordered from a menu. My cooked breakfast arrived quickly, was clearly freshly prepared and tasted great. The restaurant staff were equally friendly and welcoming.
Although I didn't get chance to use them, the pool areas looked clean and inviting, and I also noticed there was an outdoor pool table and a gym available for guests.
One thing I particularly appreciated was how well maintained the hotel seemed to be. Throughout my stay there were always little maintenance jobs being carried out. Nothing was ever disruptive, but it was obvious that if something needed attention, it was dealt with promptly. I suspect that's one of the reasons the hotel looks so smart throughout.
I should also mention something I hadn't expected. Before arriving, I wondered whether a more affordable hotel might attract noisier guests. That simply wasn't the case during my stay. Everyone I encountered was respectful and quiet, and by midnight the hotel was generally silent. Obviously every week will be different, but it made for a very relaxing stay.
The location is another strength. It's around a 15-minute walk from the hospital, which was ideal for me, and only about 5–10 minutes from the Puerto del Carmen seafront. You certainly don't need a car, but I'd still recommend hiring one if you want to explore the island, visit places like the nearby Lidl, or get further afield. The surrounding area also felt very safe, and even walking around alone I never felt uncomfortable.
There were only two minor negatives.
Firstly, the air conditioning is only in the main bedroom. The second room has ventilation, but it was very warm when I first arrived. After leaving the bedroom door open and running the air conditioning for a day or two, the temperature became much more comfortable, but it's worth knowing if you expect someone to sleep in the second room.
Secondly, the shower is a walk-in design with a very shallow tray, so water naturally ends up across quite a bit of the bathroom floor. It's not a major issue, and the shower itself was powerful and spotlessly clean, but an extra bath mat would have been useful as the one provided became soaked after a couple of showers.
Those are genuinely the only criticisms I can think of.
Overall, I left incredibly impressed with Aqua Suites. The hotel itself is excellent, but what really makes it stand out is the staff. I was having a difficult time dealing with a family emergency, and everyone I encountered showed kindness, professionalism and genuine compassion.
Although my stay was paid for by my insurance company, I wouldn't hesitate to book Aqua Suites myself in the future. It offers exceptional value for money, and I'd happily recommend it to anyone visiting Lanzarote."
