The hotel we stayed at is called the Barcelo Jandia Playa and is the newish hotel just down the hill from the Barcelo Jandia Mar.

We stayed in adjoining rooms - our two teenage daughters occupying the room next door (not interconnecting, too expensive) and this worked well as we kept in touch via the internal phone system.

The hotel is built on a fairly steep hill and (as the brochure makes clear) is probably best avoided by the elderly and those with mobility problems. There is a 20-minute downhill walk to the beach, whilst the walk back takes a bit longer.

The rooms were clean and tidy and the air-conditioning worked well during the sweltering weather we experienced. There is a virtual daily maid service with towels changed as required.

There are no tea/coffee making facilities in the rooms but we knew this in advance and took a kettle (and tea - Liptons? No thanks) with us. We were warned that the tap water tasted none too pleasant but we had no problems brushing our teeth and making tea with it.

There was unlimited hot water for baths and showers. The TV had two English channels - BBC World and CNN - though my daughters had no problem enjoying the German language MTV.

Guests during our stay were mostly Spanish and German with a few Brits and a smattering of French. The reception staff were helpful and all spoke excellent English. The restaurant staff had more limited English but were always pleasant and helpful.

The food was uniformly excellent - varied and well-cooked with more adventurous fare for those so inclined - rabbit, squid. In addition it was always superbly presented.

Drinks with the evening meal (unlimited wine, beer and pop) were free as were coffee and juices with breakfast.

The evening entertainment wasn't to our taste and started too late for us and the kids at 10.00. The sound system in the room wasn't up to the job and the acts we saw were largely inaudible but I guess how important this is to you depends on how much you like evening entertainment!

It didn't bother us and we just did something else. There were no problems getting sun loungers provided you got to the pool by 10.00 a.m. All in all we were impressed with the hotel and what it had to offer.

I read many reports on this hotel before I visited it myself and was worried that the standards seem to have declined in the last few months.

What I found was a lovely hotel in a beautiful setting ( although no good if you like to be near the 'action'!). Large reception area, fantastic pool area and spacious well kept grounds.

The rooms are a decent size and include fridge ( mini bar )and free safe.

The ice cream parlour is great for kids ( although not open for long enough 3.30 - 6.30 ) and the Cervezeria Barley Bar serves nice beers in pint glasses ( Tropical, Dorada and Pilsner Urquell). The Mini Club area is good for kids although I personally wouldn't have left my child alone there due to the lack of staff monitoring their activities.

The beach is fantastic but don't expect any decent facilites in front of this hotel. Sunbeds are available - about a 10 minute walk.

That's the good stuff over with.

The rest is very poor.

Lukewarm food in the main buffet, along with chipped and dirty crockery ( when you could actually get hold of any crockery - a task in itself), drinks machines serving flat coke, lukewarm orange juice in a morning. Highchairs at a premium ( beware if you've got kids!) and waiters who are rude.
The speciality restaurants are a litle better but we had to wait 2 hours to get a meal in the Chinese one night.

We had no air con for 2 weeks and no-one seemed willing or able to fix it, despite repeated complaints to reception and the rep. The mini bar is NOT restocked every 2 days - there has been a policy chnage and now is supposed to be restocked every 4 days. In fact, it was only fully stocked ONCE during our stay ( it was full when we got there - 8 cans soft drinks, 4 beers and 6 water ).

Our room was dirty and had squashed insects on the wall, a piece of toast behind the settee that had been there for who knows how long. Patently not been cleaned properly before our arrival. Our linen was not changed for 5 days and then was only changed at our request. Beware - this place is FULL of mosquitoes - I got bit all over in places I've never been bit before.

The reception staff are rude and ignorant. The bar staff try their best but are fighting a losing battle - there are not enough of them , hence 20 minute waits at the bar. There is also a silly restriction of 3 drinks per visit to the bar.

The entertainment is average, can't comment on the sports facilites as I never used them but the guy in the sports centre was probably the friendliest member of staff in the hotel.

Things were so bad with loads complaining ( not just English!) that the First Choice resort manager was called in to try and sort things out with the hotel management ( who never seem to be there when you want to speak with them.

Admittedly, things seem to pick up in the last 2 days of our stay, probably because they'd had a rocket from the tour operators. First Choice have this down as a 'Premier' hotel. Don't be fooled.

All in all, a huge disappointment and NO WAY a 4 star plus hotel. If you want 4 star luxury, my advice is go to the Fuerteventura Princess across - it's half board but miles better than this place.

I won't be visiting again, and it's a shame because the infrastructure is there - it's the shocking service and dodgy food that let this place down.

This hotel is advertised as a four star plus in the first choice premier brochure, dont be fooled, This is not a 4 star hotel. The food is awful, the staff are rude and unhelpful and the choice of bars is very limited, only two open in the evening, with limited staff running them. We had to wait around 20 minutes to be served and then had our drinks thrown across the bar to us. We did not get to enjoy the entertainment as we moved hotels after 3 days of suffering this awful hotel.

Diabolical service. Lovely hotel and surrounding
food cold,

Had to eat in the themed restaurants every night which we got booked for us for complaining but even them at the end of our fortnight was getting worst because it was getting busier.

Example we went to the Mexican one night and it was really good however when we returned to it on our last night it was a lot busier and where we got corn on the cob and a jacket potato with our ribs on the first visit. On the second visit we got half a potato, and tinned corn.

The staff could not cope they were running round like slaves they didnt even have any butter left for the bread with the soup when we asked for some they just said no we havent got any. All they had to do was run over the way and get some from the other restaurants but no that was too much trouble for them. It took you about half hour to get a drink in the pool bar and at night it was dreadful.

I have been to many all-ins all very good mainly the Riu chain and I will never return to a Occidental again.

The animation team well, we didnt even get to know them like we usually do they just posted the games up on the board that was that. They didnt come round asking.

All in all rubbish.

Lovely complex although out of the Mai resort centre, taxis are cheap the setting of hotel is good. Food in resturant was very rarely warm although plenty of choice had excellent meal in the chinese resturant.

Main problem with hotel is there is not enough staff and you had to queue for drinks also tables in bar areas were not often cleaned.

Entertainment is not the best if the management put a few of these things right it would be a good hotel.

Just returned from the Occidental Grand,24 may 2006 and have to say this is the worst all inclusive holiday we have ever been on.

After reading good reports about this hotel we were really looking forward to it.

However firstly there is no staff to cope with demand,the food is garbage the place is just to big to cope with.

The facilities are limited and if you can get a drink on a night then good luck. We have honestly stopped in better 2 star, some may think I'm harsh but apart from the location and surroundings this hotel needs a serious wake up call.

No matter what anyone says this is not 4 star plus !

We stayed all inclusive at this hotel and have to say it is the worst all inclusive hotel we have ever stopped in.

The hotel and rooms and location is spot on,however thats it. Dont be fooled no way 4 star plus.

Holiday Date: 22 April 2006 to 6 May 2006

Having stayed at the Occidental Grand just outside Fuerteventura back in 2004, we were so impressed with the hotel, we wrote and posted a review here on our return.

In the middle of March we decided that we needed a holiday quickly, and we went through where we would most like to go at this time of year without a seven to twelve hour flight.

We decided that we would return to the Grand as we thought that we would be able to have a relaxing and enjoyable holiday.

How wrong we were.

Before our departure, we e-mailed the hotel asking if possible for the same room, we had back a polite but standard response, saying thank you for your request etc, but this cannot be guaranteed. On our arrival we were allocated a room in the same block and floor but a more restricted view.

We arrived early evening and went for dinner, the food that evening was ok but nowhere near as impressive as our first visit two years previous, so we felt a little disappointed, asking the restaurant manager if there was a cheese platter available we were informed NO in no uncertain manner, this did not bode well for the rest of our two week stay. Coffee machines were regularly out of order, a chronic lack of tables

When we arrived at the hotel reception we thought wow, our rooms were in the main block and were beautifully decorated and spacious. We travelled with 3 children, 2 under 5 and the room was ready with cots etc.

The hotel facilities are very good the pools are clean with plenty of sun loungers and shady areas.
The hotel food was lovely and fresh with a wide selection that suited everyone in our family.

The hotel is a 20 minute walk from local shops and bars and about 10 minutes to the beach which is breathtaking.
Whilst we were there the hotel seemed to be working really hard with all members of staff to improve the standard and quality of service, during our stay we experienced difficulty in getting a table for dinner and also long waits at the bar (no table service).

Although there is a very good childrens playground there were very few organised activities and the kids disco was a bit hit and miss sometimes starting late and lasting only 10 minutes.

Although we enjoyed out holiday we would not return unless the level of service was equal to the standard of the facilities.

Stayed last week in a standard room. Rooms are large, bed is 2 metres wide and firm but comfortable. Bathroom quite large too, all clean and well appointed. Fridge and safe in rooms. Air conditioning just cools - but not a problem except in deepest of winter maybe.

Swimming pools cold except for one which was heated to an acceptable temperature. Music played most of day includes liberal doses of Phil Collins and Santana. There were masses of sunbeds with no bagging before 9am. Pool towels available for deposit, could be changed every day. Plenty of sporting activities if that takes your fancy.

Entertainment includes a film every day at 5pm and a show of some sort at 9.30pm.

Hotel was only about 2/3 full, mainly Germans, but aimed at the mature end of the market. It is not a Club 18-30 venue. Despite all the drinks being included, we saw no sign of drunkeness at all.

Food in main buffet restaurant was good for all meals. Tables were comfortably spaced apart, and it was roughly divided half and half into smoking and non-smoking areas. The building has a high roof and ventilation is good. The specialist restaurants were also good. None of them could be called poor - the Mexican was relatively mild if you are an afficianado. The Chinese has a really nice ambience and good food. The Italian was OK (not my favourite food) and the Barbeque restaurant served excellent steak, fish and other dishes.

Staff throughout the hotel were friendly and helpful. We took a travel kettle so that we could have early morning tea in bed, otherwise there is always somewhere to eat and drink open all day.

All drinks were available, not just wine and beer. Cocktails, gin and tonics, etc. were readily served in all bars. The house wine was pretty good, especially the rose. Coffee quality was high everywhere. Soft drinks were plentiful too, and the room fridge was filled up every other day.

The on-site shop was a typical hotel type, selling a poor range of things that no-one really wants at over-inflated prices. The hotel is away from anything else, but a regular bus service every 30mins took people into Jandia town - cost 1 Euro each way.

All in all an exellent holiday with virtually nothing to complain about. Good value and with a positive attitude to customer care.