The words ‘Child friendly luxury’ would usually suggest to me that it wasn’t really suitable for adults on their own, but a stay at the Princesa Yaiza Resort in Lanzarote will convince you otherwise, it’s a place uniquely suited to keep both adults and children alike happy.
Just 4 hours away from London, Lanzarote remains an oasis of sunshine even when the UK is settling into winter and it is this that makes this little island a favourite of many. Princesa Yaiza is located right on Playa Blanca, a sheltered beach right on the southernmost tip of the island. From the hotel, it’s an easy walk to shops and restaurants up and down the beach front and a regular ferry operates if you want to go further afield to Fuerteventura, easily seen from Lanzarote’s southern shores.
However, you may find that there really isn’t any reason to leave Princesa Yaiza. Its vast sprawling complex holds 5 swimming pools, 8 restaurants, a spa, soft play areas, a gym, numerous bars and simply walking around the resort and exploring all the different areas can take up the better part of a morning.
Whilst checking in at the vast, cool and pleasantly scented reception, the staff offer up directions to the nearby shop should we need of any additional supplies which is most unusual for a hotel of this calibre. Most hotels wouldn’t dream of suggesting that you buy from anywhere but themselves and being told of a convenient little door leading directly to the shop makes you warm to them immediately.
With over 380 rooms, this is a size-able sprawl of a hotel but nowhere feels too crowded, there are enough sun beds for everyone and there’s none of the lounger-grabbing angst you find in so many hotels so everyone seems happy with their slice of the sun and view of the pool.
Princesa Yaiza’s commitment to being child friendly is evident comes in the form of tiny little touches, of the 5 swimming pools, not only is there the expected jacuzzi for adults, but there’s also one for children, warmed to exactly the right temperature to allow us to take baby on his very first dip!
The 2-bedroom family suites and the royal suites are located across the road from the main hotel, connected by an internal walkway lined with aquariums which inevitably makes the 5 minute connection a lot longer as adults and children alike linger to admire the brightly coloured fish. The family wing has its’ own pool and serves breakfast here too, so it actually feels like a whole separate private hotel right on your doorstep just for you.
The suites come with a balcony, kitchenette and are amply large enough for four adults and so with a baby in tow, we have plenty of space to spread out with all the mammoth volume of stuff that small babies seem to require.
At 3 months old, baby is a little small for the charms of Kikoland, a large playground dedicated entirely to the kids. There’s an amphitheatre, 2 pools, a snack bar, playgrounds, soft play for the under-3’s with parental supervision and they have all sorts of activities and games lined up, I’m told they even have an evening mini disco!
Kiko the duck makes an appearance at breakfast every day to say hello to the kids and I found myself almost wishing the years away and hoping that baby was a little older as he would have been in heaven with all the thought that’s gone into keeping the kids happy.
But it’s a mistake to think that this place is just for the kids. The Thalasso Centre and Spa has a wide variety of treatments on offer and I take a break from all the hectic relaxing by the pool and try out the Arabian Nights circuit.
Guests go from the sauna to the steam room to the perfectly warmed pool to refresh and relax at their own pace and while I’m not a huge fan of the steam room or sauna, the salt water pool is warmed to exactly 34 degrees and with handily placed jets and loungers, I’m content to let the warm water wash over me and erase some of the tension in my shoulders.
Bad connectivity is a big bugbear of mine so it’s especially satisfying to report that Wifi is prevalent throughout the hotel, not just in the rooms but also all over the complex so even when you’re poolside, you can keep connected. After all, how else could you let social media know of your enviable surrounds?
INFO
Rates for a Sea View Junior Suite (sleeping up to 2 adults and 1 child) at Princesa Yaiza start from €138 (*£99) per person per night including a buffet breakfast.
For more info visit www.princesayaiza.com
Look out for Manasi’s review of restaurant at Princesa Yaiza Resort coming soon on Flush the Fashion >