Just returned after staying at Lanzarote Princess for one week. We found the food to be varied and tasty. Staff were friendly and helpful. The entertainment is the same as you would get in any hotel - seen one seen them all! Having said that there are plenty of other places to go within easy walking distance, and the team do work very hard.

Didn't use the kids club as our child is too old but all the little ones seemed to enjoy it.

We have been staying at the 'Princess' annually since about 2000/2001.

The hotel is spotless, the staff are friendly, the food is good but not as varied as it used to be. However, the 'Princess' has become a tired old dowager and no amount of a make-over will cover the cracks.

There are discoloured ceilings where the water has come in through the flat roof, fittings hanging out of ceilings, holes in walls where items have fallen off or have been removed, plaster has fallen off in places and the damage not made good before the paint was slapped on and more worryingly I saw quite large cracks in some walls & supporting pillars.

The furniture & fittings are old & tired with the bottoms hanging out of them (They still have the same cushions as they had 8 years ago except that they are now thin and tired).

Carpets are worn through to the flooring underneath and black where drink has been spilled in many places in the bars & entertainment rooms.

Rooms are being refurbished - during our stay (we were on the ground floor) the floor above was being worked on with drills & hammers being used from 8am until 6pm - not too bad if you were out all day but awful in the room itself. (Thomsons never warned us about it).

I had a quiet look at the work one night and they appear to be ripping out the marble floors & replacing them with ceramic tiles !!!!

The hotel itself is very 60's in it's decor and to be honest I now feel that it no longer merits its 4star status - it might just make a 3star on a good day.

Sadly - we will not be returning.

Bearing in mnd we has stayed at the Barcelo hotel in Fuerteventura whih was excellent we therefore had some reservations based on some of the previous reports.
On arrival the chck in was OK but we were sent to the wrong part of the hotel for our room and the keys weren't activated. However the room (no 68) was spot on, we were in a ground floor room with a ptio and wall whgich was good for kids safety. It overlooked the pool and had the sun all afernoon. If your room was on the other side then you would be in the shade all afternoon.
The kiddies pools were heated but the main ones were cold. Plenty of sunbeds and the little kiddies play area was OK as was the crazy golf. Pool bar was good and the barman very helpful on local info. we booked half board and overall the food was good but breakfast hot food was basically deep fried. Evening meals were varied and of good quality. We had a wider choice at the Barcelo hotel. We never saw the evening entertainment as it started at 9.30 which for the kids was too late. The hotel location for the beach is excellent with a supermarket and bars, the walk to the main resort was about 15 mins and a good range of shops, bars and restaurants. It is worth the 20 min walk to the new marina area as it has its merits.
Overall not bad considering we had some reservations.

Location is very good only 5 Min's from nice sandy beach and not far out of town. Food was very good on Christmas day and staff work very hard and most had a smile for the guests. Entertainment could do with improving as the music in the piano bar was just the same 2 guys who never spoke to each other or the hotel guests all week, the music they played was good but no communication. On Christmas night the carols was fun as they played the first few notes then started again but some of the guests started singing right from the first notes, we found this to be so funny with the words on the song sheet well not quite the right words as well it kind of like a comedy sketch but like I said we had a good time. Would ask for a room away from the night club next time as it would be a big problem with the noise. Some rooms are being done up and that could be good as our room was clean but very date with the tv not much use and the radio kept making funny noises even in the middle of the night when not in use. We found that the hotel had far to many children that were a problem at meal times for some of the other guests. Hotel entertainment team needs better training as waiting to play most of the games took far to long.

We had a lovely stay at this hotel. I booked 2 days before we went. We stopped over the Christmas week hotel in fantastic location close to everything. the Chinese buffet was brill and the Christmas gala meal was fantastic free top up on your drinks through out your meal which was 7 courses yum missing it already hotel is being renovated at the moment so will be even better when finished.

Look out for the happy porter I've never sin anyone so happy lol. The only thing that let this place down was how cold the pool was cmon get it heated shame because it is nice to have a dip.

Everything else just perfect thank you lanzarote princess would deff go back

We have just come back from this hotel and we had a great time, although we looked on 'holiday truths' before we went and we were unsure what we were getting ourselves into!

We are used to going to 4/5 star hotels twice a year and this year we decided to squeeze in one last holiday before Christmas. We hadn't visited this hotel before and we thought the hotel is upto a 4 star standard, it is an old hotel but you can see that it has had a 'face lift' in many areas, we booked a family room, which was very clean and airy and had light coloured wooden floors (warmer underfoot), large flatscreen tv and a huge double balcony with two sun loungers and a table and 4 chairs, which overlooked the main pool, I think we must have had one of the modernised rooms as it was a lovely room, quite trendy and spacious too.

The dining area was also very clean, light and airy, the food was good, it could probably do with a little more choice, but overall it was ok for the 1 week we stayed there.

The location is perfect, close to the town and in easy reach of the local doctors, chemist and dentist (not that we needed any of them) some great shops and a saturday market which overlooked a beautiful harbour.

The staff were excellent in all areas, the mini and maxi club teams kept our 10 year old and 6 year old entertained all holiday (first time our children had wanted to go to the clubs ... they loved it) they had plenty to do with a wide variety of activites every day .... very well organised.

The entertainment was good in the evening, although we have seen a couple of acts before, we still enjoyed them.

We would visit this hotel again, it seems they are getting their act together and modernising the place. The time of year that we went was perfect too, it was nice and relaxing with a good mix of couples and families and the weather was perfect all week, what more can you ask for.

The hotel is lovely and big and we did get lost a few times!. always kept nice and clean, such a shame though as the rooms are desperately in need of refurbishment. Our room which was 2 beds and 1 camp bed was clean but very "tatty". my mum and my sister's rooms were singles and very very nice and modern. Im my opinion the walkways were a bit dull and the rooms desperately need re modernising. I did complain about our room after seeing my mum's and my sisters but was told that only single rooms and family rooms were the re modernised one's. how true this is I do not know. Talking to a lady who had the same type of room to me she said that she had a modern room. can't complain though as the food was excellent, entertainment a bit dull, suggest maybe a karaokee, quiz and disco night. at least there was something, been to some hotels and there is nothing. Location is good, near the beach and shops. the staff were lovely, especially the bar staff, our favourite was a young lad that worked in the bars, so nice and friendly. can't fault the staff at all. I would go back after a few years when I knew the modernisation had taken place.

Ok - here goes....

Hotel is in need of refurbishment - I would estimate that it is about 15 years old and was probably very grand then but it is looking tired now.

Don't think we were in a refurbished room although it was ok. Quite roomy - ample room for 2 single beds and a camp bed. We also had 2 double wardrobes that was very handy - although the other family we were with only had 1. Daily maid service and bedding and towels were changed regularly.

Pool area was good - with plenty of sun loungers - there really was no need to get up at the crack of dawn to reserve one! For 60 cents per day you could hire a mattress and a beach towel. Have to say though the unheated pool was far too cold. On overcast days the pool remained virtually empty as it was unbearable - even for the kids.

Restaurant - word of advice - if you don't want to stand in a long queue waiting for a table to be cleared try and get there as early as you can. Evening meal started at 7.00pm. By 7.40 there would be a queue waiting outside and yet there would be numerous tables inside waiting to be cleared - probably could do with more staff. ( This applied to breakfast times too ).
Variety of food was good although meat was not always cooked for as long as I would like it to be ( steaks were always rare and pork looked a little pink for my liking ). One thing that was very off putting for our party was the number of chipped and cracked crockery and also virtually all of the serving dishes had big chunks out of them - not very hygenic!! You also had to check the underside of your plates as quite often they were still covered in food - not what you expect from a 4* hotel.

Entertainment was ok. The mini club was brill. Both children in our party enjoyed going to both the morning and afternoon clubs where lots of activities were arranged for them. There was also daily adult activities although we did not participate. Evening entertainment was a kids mini disco followed by either a 'professional act' ( or not as the case may be!!! ) or the hotel entertainers put on their own shows. These were often better than the brought in acts and they all worked very hard at keeping guests entertained. One thing we did find off putting though was if you got to the bar before the entertainment started the entertainers would come and sit with you for a chat. This was ok the first couple of nights but by the end of our holiday we found ourselves avoiding the bar before the entertainment started to stay away from them. They had obviously been briefed to do this but to be honest they started to become a nuisance!!! The bar could definateley do with more waiters as most nights there were only 2 or 3 serving the tables. At busy times they could have done with double this.

Music in the piano bar was very loud and for the first time ever I found myself having to ring reception to complain and ask them to lower it - and we were on the second floor.

All in all our holiday was ok. Unfortunately for us the weather could have been better but Playa Blanca is beautiful and the hotel is in an ideal location. Is the hotel worthy of it's 4* rating? Not sure really. We always stay in Thompson rated 4* hotels and I think it is fair to say that this is the worst one we have stayed in. Would we return - only if we got a really good deal and the price was right!

Our party of 3 adults and 2 children, aged 13 & 7 spent two weeks H.B. at the Princess, (16/07/ to 26/07)...with VERY little to complain about, when comparing it to other hotels we had previously used. The staff continually keep it very clean, as do the room staff who constanly change sheets, towels, etc. regularly. Waiting staff continually attend to you in the restaurant/s and the bars. A variety of meals were constantly available, to suit most tastes...especially on the carvery...both at breakfast and dinner.

One word of warning though....be sure to check that any chicken pieces cooked on the carvery are really well cooked through. I showed some uneaten, badly cooked pieces to the head waiter, who promptly advised the cook to cook it for longer. All other carvery roasts were delicious.
One other complaint was to the chief waiter in the outside "La Choza Restaurant", next to the pool, regarding a rather limp and improperly cooked pizza. He said that no charge would be made and gave us a free drink in compensation. Fair enough!
Usually lots to do for the 'kids' if they wish to participate. Evening entertainment in the 'Papagayo Night Club/ Dico Bar is a bit ameaturish....but after a few beer, who cares!!! Hic.!

The hotel is in an excellent position for both town and beach and are accessed via a gate at the 'rear' of the hotel, (using your room keycard).. beyond the pool area..... If you need advice, look for Michael, the very cheery porter.

Morning papers, water,etc. can be had from the small supermarket across the road. The town it'self has a fair variety of shops both on the main street and promenade.

I might not offer the hotel the full 4*, but it comes very close. All members of our party thoroughly enjoyed staying at the Princess.

We would not hesitate in using the Princess again....Go on...give it a try.

The food at this hotel was good with plenty of choice.

The location was good 5 min walk to Marina and a 5 minute walk the other way to the harbour the staff were very friendly and helpful.

The entertainment was not brilliant but the kids liked it would definitely go back if we went to Lanzarote with no hesitation.

Room was a good size a family one overlooking the pool (which is cold). Weather could have been better cloudy and windy some days but then again when the sun came out it was really hot. The beach is great and very clean and safe.