Sandos Papagayo, in Lanzarote’s Playa Blanca, is a favourite stay of ours for many reasons - falling asleep to the sound of the Atlantic waves breaking on the beach below is just one of them.
The all-inclusive hotel boasts rooms with incredible sea views, serves food and drink options to please even the fussiest guests, and is the closest resort to what are regarded as the best beaches on the island.
Located in the Papagayo area of Playa Blanca, this is a family-friendly resort on the Canary Island of Lanzarote.
It is predominantly an all-inclusive resort, but guests can book B&B or half-board too, and for those prepared to upgrade to a ‘Royal Elite’ booking there’s the option to elevate your stay even more.
When you arrive, the hotel makes a great first impression as you walk into the large light-filled lobby. It soon becomes apparent just how big this hotel is.
Navigating your way around the resort can be confusing at first, as the hotel has many levels, areas and corridors, but you’ll soon get familiar with your surroundings.
Let's get the gripes out of the way early
Now, we won’t pretend it was perfect. There are some negatives to be aware of.
The main issue that we experienced (and judging by online comments, other guests see the same) is that in places the hotel is somewhat dated, or, at least it was when we were there in 2023.
Specifically, during our stay, the main entertainment room, whilst large with plentiful seating, did feel a little unloved, and the games area, especially the pool tables had seen better days.
Our suite was extremely impressive in size, layout, and sea view. But, we did feel that the rooms would benefit from modernisation and an update to the decor.
Added to this, some of the furniture and soft furnishings were showing signs of wear.
Sandos sells the suite as “their most luxurious suite” with a traditional Canarian style. We found that some TLC would be needed to bring these suites up to be considered properly in the luxury bracket.
Nevertheless, a quick bit of research says Sandos Papagayo has been going through some refurbishments, so perhaps if we return someday, these rooms will have had a facelift.
Suites with sweet views
Despite the critique, Sandos Papagayo is still one of our favourite stays.
How you may ask? … Well for starters, those stunning sea views.
It’s hard to be anything other than relaxed waking up to this hotel’s stunning vista.
The suite had two spacious balconies directly overlooking the ocean.
Hearing the waves lapping on the shore at night with the balcony door open overrode any shortcomings in the interior of the room.
Honestly, the vitamin sea that this hotel provides is extremely good for the soul.
The size of the Royal Elite Junior Suite also could not be faulted.
It has a large living area, with a sofabed and sofa chair, a separate large bedroom with queen size bed, small bar area with a mini fridge (stocked on arrival) and an espresso coffee machine. There’s a decent-sized, separate dining area, and the bathroom is large with both a hydrobath and a walk-in shower.
The balconies had table, chairs and loungers. They were safe, spacious and, of course, the best part was the stunning view.
In terms of space and layout, honestly, it was one to the best places we’ve stayed as a family. We highly recommend it if space, comfort (and an extra bit of privacy) is a priority for your family holidays.
Dining Options
As part of the ‘Royal Elite’ level booking, guests can choose to either dine in the hotel’s main buffet restaurant or enjoy the separate dining room reserved for Royal Elite guests. The resort also has a specialty restaurant (serving either Mexican or Asian dishes, depending on the night of the week).
We ate at the Royal Elite restaurant most nights and were very impressed with the quality and choice of food. We ate very well during our stay - just thinking about the churros and Canarian potatoes is mouth-watering.
The upgraded dining includes extra touches such as dressed tables, drinks service to the table, and chocolate fountains on select nights, all of which really elevate the dining experience.
The food itself was largely the same as what’s served in the main buffet, where lunch is also served, but it was much more relaxed and quieter compared to the busier main restaurant.
At the hotel, there’s also the snack bar by the pool where food is served around the clock.
Another fantastic benefit of Royal Elite was access to the Royal Elite Lounge, a rooftop self-service bar with indoor and outdoor seating, fridges stocked with all-inclusive soft drinks, beers, and a selection of branded spirits.
Royal Elite is great, but you don’t need to upgrade to enjoy yourself in this resort.
There are a number of bars, an extensive program of live entertainment, a small gym, and a spa. The resort also has a (quite basic) mini golf area, a kids club, and a hangout area for older kids and teenagers. There were also a couple of small shops in the complex, as well as a small shopping area beside the hotel.
Why it’s a favourite stay
The location of this hotel was perfect for us. It’s a casual 20-minute walk along the seafront to Playa Blanca Marina, plus a further 10 minutes into the heart of Playa Blanca.
In the other direction, a 10 to 15-minute walk over volcanic terrain brings you to the breathtaking Papagayo Beach.
Sandos Papagayo Resort is an excellent choice if your priority on holiday is to properly relax and unwind.
We returned from our holiday totally refreshed and replenished, with very fond memories of our stay, so really it’s an obvious addition to our list of favourite stays.
