Hotel Reina Isabel
Calle Alfredo L Jones 40, Las Palmas, Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, Spain, 35008
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#3 of 5
expert-rated hotels in Las Palmas- Recommended for:
- Couples, Families with teenagers, Families with younger children, Foodies, Mature travellers, Nightlife, People watching, Relaxation, Shopping, Sightseeing
Expert review of Hotel Reina Isabel
Playa de las Canteras beachside spot with a gourmet restaurant and great breakfast buffet.
Walking along the promenade on a sunny day always lifts my spirits, and this is my favourite of the city’s beach hotels. Even if you’re in Las Palmas for the cultural attractions or the music, staying in a beach hotel is the icing on the cake. Of all the beachside hotels, Reina Isabel definitely enjoys the best food and setting, including a panoramic pool on the rooftop. I’m a fan of the superb breakfast buffer and dinner in La Parrilla, the gourmet, a la carte restaurant. The staff are friendly and the facilities are fine, even if there’s no spa at present.
My biggest reservations are that the hotel is looking dated and sorely in need of refurbishment. Even so, the Reina Isabel remains an appealing choice if you want to combine an urban beach break in the capital with outings to the city museums, concerts, or even shopping in the malls.
Location:
Set on top of Playa de las Canteras beach, on the north-western edge of Las Palmas, the hotel overlooks the golden sands and the promenade. The beach is sheltered by La Barra, a natural rock barrier, which breaks the incoming waves. At low tide, this turns the sea into a warm, shallow lagoon and good beach for swimming. The surfing beach is at the southwestern, where the golden sands peter out into black, volcanic sands.
This urban beach scene is lively all-day long, and popular with joggers, roller-bladers, swimmers, surfers and strollers – as well as with diners eating at one of the many cafes and fish restaurants that line this pedestrian route. Although the weather can be cloudier compared with the southern resorts, this still makes a good beach break. If tempted to visit the hotter beaches in the south of the island, then the bus station is ten minutes’ away. Services run to the airport and to the beach resorts of Maspalomas and Playa del Ingles.
Apart from the beach, the location is handy for restaurants, nightlife and music. The Auditorio Alfredo Kraus concert hall is a walk along the promenade. It’s the venue for classical concerts as well as ballet, jazz, flamenco, soul, pop and rock. Vegueta, Las Palmas’ lovely old town, is a cab ride away but unmissable. Vegueta is not just my favourite district but the most beguiling old quarter anywhere on the Canary Islands. It boasts the most eclectic nightlife scene, from sophisticated restaurants to quirky bars and happening tapas joints.
Bedrooms:
The hotel’s signature look is of a once glamorous grande dame who has slightly lost her looks. This played out in the bedrooms in particular, which are often looking in need of a facelift. Expect a rather floral, chinzy look, redeemed by parquet floors, and some renovated bathrooms. Even so, the bustling views of the beach and promenade are enough to keep you rooted to your balcony. Definitely request a room higher up as views from the lower levels are impeded by buildings on the side. Number 229, for instance, has a view pof the sea, palm trees and a roof garden below.
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Public areas:
There’s plenty of space and an airy, palm-lined lobby leading to the beach. The look is gracious but dated, as elsewhere in the hotel. Business guests will find plenty of functional meeting rooms.
Eating and drinking:
Buffet breakfasts are among the best on the island. Expect omelettes made to order and orange juice squeezed in front of you (even mixed with vodka or Spanish cava). Special diets can be catered for too. Half-board guests eat all meals in Roma, the main buffet restaurant, next to the lobby. Instead, La Parrilla, the a la carte restaurant on the 8th floor, boasts one of the best beach views in town, and is an elegant setting for a gastronomic feast on such dishes as breaded prawns, sea bass, and Canary-style steaks. Next-door to the rooftop pool, the Fiesta Bar, which looks surprisingly snazzy compared with the rest of the hotel, designed in a faintly Art Deco style. This is the place for drinks, as well as cocktails overlooking the sunset.
Leisure facilities:
The most appealing area is the rooftop, with its views of the beach and promenade. The hotel also has a fitness centre and sauna. There is currently no spa but plans are afoot to revamp the gym and create a spa, but don’t expect it any day soon.
Las Palmas itself is the biggest `leisure facility’ so explore the Vegueta cultural quarter, as well as Las Canteras, the urban beach scene around the corner. Lining the seafront are enough bars, restaurants and ice cream parlours to making a day at the beach deeply enjoyable. As a contrast to the beach scene, explore the more stylish bars on the Marina, further south.
Service:
Service ranges from businesslike to personal and friendly.
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Who stays there:
Germans and the British form the core clientele, and are mostly there for leisure. The hotel is suited to families as well as couples, with mature couples predominating. Reina Isabel could also make a laidback business option as the central business and shopping area are nearby.
Price advice:
Check the price of half-board against B&B and if there’s very little difference, then consider opting for half-board as the food is good. On the other hand, the promenade is lined with enticing restaurant terraces so eating out here is a pleasure.
Pros:
The beachside setting, overlooking Las Canteras beach
Superb breakfast buffet and gourmet a la carte restaurant
The sea views from the higher floors
Strolling and dining in restaurants along the promenade
Cons:
The hotel is looking dated and in need of refurbishment
No spa but apparently one is on the cards
Not within walking distance of Vegueta, the old town
More information on Hotel Reina Isabel :
- Type:
- Hotel
- Address:
- Calle Alfredo L Jones 40, Las Palmas, Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, Spain, 35008
- Free tags / Keywords:
- beachfront, Nightlife, business, Foodies
- Amenities:
- Fitness Centre, High-Speed Internet, Parking, Restaurant, Room Service, Swimming Pool
