Indulge in Luxury: A Stay at the Arrecife Gran Hotel & Spa

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Beach and City Flair in Arrecife

Lanzarote - most people think of holiday resorts like Playa Blanca and Puerto del Carmen. However, you can also spend your holidays in the small island capital Arrecife with its approx. 60,000 inhabitants. The Arrecife Gran Hotel & Spa, with its five stars and prime beach location, offers excellent conditions for this. 

High up

The 56-meter building dates back to 1974 and is the tallest on Lanzarote. It was the first five-star hotel on the island. It was completely renovated in 2004 and is now one of the best hotels on Lanzarote. Located directly on the well-kept sandy beach of Playa Reducto, it offers the best conditions for a beach holiday and exploring the bizarre island of Lanzarote. There is also a bit of city flair, even though Arrecife is more of a small town than a metropolis.

Living like a King in the Infinity Suite

My spacious, very comfortable Infinity Suite on the 14th floor stood out for its modern furnishings and magnificent view of the city, sea, and mountains. I couldn't get enough of it. The highlight was a glass shower cubicle. Nespresso machine, free water, and ultra-modern light switches completed the amenities in this fancy luxury hotel. 

the best views of arrecife

The gastronomy at the Arrecife Gran Hotel & Spa is also impressive. Generous buffets in the restaurant on the first floor (with a sea view) and culinary delights are high above Arrecife in the Blue 17, which offers a unique spectacle, especially at sunset. I could sit here for hours, drinking local wines and enjoying the view.

Delicacies in the Alarz Bahía Club

But gastronomy is topped even more in the Alarz Bahía Club on the ground floor. Here, the young, award-winning chef José Francisco Medina and his team serve innovative dishes for the most discerning palates (including vegetarians). "We reinvent a classic concept to offer our guests a journey through the great flavors of Spanish gastronomy," says Medina, who is on the list of the 100 best young talents in Spanish gastronomy. Besides a charming service, you can enjoy a fantastic view of the Atlantic Ocean at the Alarz Bahía Club. Delicious was my wild asparagus with celeriac puree and sweet potato juice. Sea bass is served with mango aqua chile, and homemade patacones (fried plantains) - what an exciting combination.

La Buena Vida - Siiiii!

La Buena Vida is even more casual. While some guests are having fun in the covered pool, you can enjoy a cocktail and snacks here and lounge on one of the sunbeds with a sea view. On Saturdays and Sundays, "Tout Arrecife" meets here for brunch. In the evenings, there is excellent live entertainment with sea breezes. 

Relax!

A chic wellness center, the Aqua Plus Spa, rounds off the Arrecife Gran Hotel & Spa facilities.
After a day of exploring, what could be better than splashing a warm jet of water down on your back, followed by a massage with a sea view?

In addition to Ayurvedic and Thai treatments, you can enjoy a massage with warm volcanic stones from the island. There are plenty of them on Lanzarote!

Have a closer look at the Aqua Plus Spa.

Sustainability at Arrecife Gran Hotel & Spa

The hotel is certified according to environmental practice 14001. Besides digital menus, the geothermal heating system of the Arrecife Gran Hotel & Spa deserves special mention. The heat comes from the volcanoes of the island.

Lanzarote - much too spectacular just for bathing

"Our international guests don't just come to Lanzarote to go to the beach. They also want to experience the island," says Gladys Becerra, responsible for PR at the Arrecife Gran Hotel & Spa. Incidentally, the passionate diver tells me that Lanzarote has excellent diving grounds. "In addition to numerous species of fish, with a bit of luck, you might also see an angel shark here." As tempting as that sounds, diving is not my thing. Just squeezing into one of those skin-tight neoprene suits makes me feel claustrophobic. In my next life, I will explore the mysterious underwater world!

Fortunately, there is also a lot to discover on land in Lanzarote. Due to the island's manageable size with its 845 square kilometers, you can reach all the places worth seeing from the Arrecife Gran Hotel & Spa in no more than 45 minutes. During my stay, I visited the spectacular wine-growing region around La Geria, the impressive Jameos del Agua cave, and the Mirador del Rio at the north end of Lanzarote. You will soon find an article on these and all the other sights of this spectacular Canary Island on my blog. I recommend renting a car. Parking is available directly at the hotel, and the reception can help you with special rates.

A word about Arrecife

To be honest - this small town does not have any major sights. The endless beach promenade - one of the most beautiful in the Canary Islands - is worth seeing as it stretches to Puerto del Carmen. It leads past Playa Honda, a tourist resort with a wide beach and pretty holiday homes. I treated myself to a smoothie in the Orilla Beach Bar right by the sea - life is good!

Right next to the Arrecife Gran Hotel & Spa is the Islote de Fermina, a jetty designed in the 70s by the legendary artist César Manrique, at the end of which is a saltwater swimming pool and a glassed-in building with a cafeteria. From my room on the 14th floor, I had an impressive view of the islet (open from 10 am to 5 pm).

Suppose you walk (or cycle) a little further. In that case, you will pass the lovely music pavillon and  the small Castillo de San José with its museum of contemporary art and then reach the old fishing harbor Charco de San Ginés, which was redesigned by the grandiose César Manrique and is now very popular with its cafés and restaurants, especially with locals. On Wednesdays and Thursdays, there is a small market with various odds and ends. You can end your stroll in the marina opposite the Charco. I was impressed by some art objects and chic restaurants, probably among the best in town.

Special offer for my readers

Suppose you now fancy a holiday at the Arrecife Gran Hotel & Spa. In that case, I can offer you the following special offer from the hotel management:

With the promo code KHLAGH you get a 5% discount on the current rate on the hotel website. This offer is valid for at least two-night stays in all room categories from June 28, 2023 to April 30, 2024. It's a word! 

Things to know about Lanzarote

The northernmost Canary Island is the closest to the African mainland. It impresses with bizarre landscapes, pretty villages, and impressive beaches. Sustainability has been practiced here for several decades, thanks to the superb artist and visionary César Manrique, who saved "his" island from major building sins.

Lanzarote is in season all year round. Easter, Christmas, and July and August are high seasons. Temperatures are between 20.5 and 29 degrees Celsius all year round. The warmest time is from July to September when the thermometer can sometimes climb to over 30 degrees.

The modern airport is 8 km from the capital Arrecife. The flight time from Central Europe is a good four hours. Flights are offered by EasyJet, Ryanair, TUIFly, and Edelweiss, among others.

The road network is generally good, so I recommend a rental car i. I booked mine via Check24 at Topcar and paid 150 EUR for a week, including comprehensive insurance. You hardly need more than one and a half hours for any stretch on the island. 

The photos of me were taken by Cristina Gónzalez and Christian Arias, two talented local photographers. I highly recommend them; check out their Instagram page. 

"My stay at the Arrecife Gran Hotel & Spa was by invitation of the hotel. However, this did not influence my rating in any way." 

Here you will find my tips for Lanzarote, this unique Canary Island. You may also wish to visit the excellent website of Turismo Lanzarote. If you would like to get to know the unknown regions of Gran Canaria, you will find my recommendations here.