Monte Feliz Apartments

“ What a great place to go! I was very pleased with the size of the room (studio flat) and the view was just amazing, as I stayed on the top flor, but I would be happy even on the ground floor, cos they have really nice garden. The hotel is tidy and quiet, which I was surprised cos it is big. All staff very friendly and helpfull. Great place for a holiday break, that should suit everybody.

“ Top Tip: Ice coffee and deserts in 'coconut bar' yyyuuuumm! Good place to go for a rest, just sit on the terrace, enjoy view and food (easy to find, when walking along the promenade, small bar alocated at the top floor)

“ The Monte Feliz could do with modernising but the apartment was very spacious and the room was cleaned (to varying standards) 5 times in 8 days. We asked for an apartment not on the ground floor and were, somewhat strangely, given a basement apartment which actually worked out very well as those on the ground floor and below had big terraces and sunbeds on them which sheltered from any wind better than the pool area.

The apartment has everything you need except a kettle. The TV is 3 Euros a day but the free channels include Eurosport and CNN and we made do with these. The pool area is spacious and there was no early morning scramble for sunbeds. There is a small sand beach 5 minutes away but the weather was not good enough for us to use this. The bathroom was fine and although the hot water does run out quickly there is enough for 2 showers, especially if you can leave 15-30 minutes between showers. There are a lot of flies and this can be annoying but you can buy a spray for about £2 from the onsite shop.

The in house shop is well stocked and has similar prices but less choice than the 2 supermarkets in the village shopping centre. The prices are competitive enough for milk and water so I would buy essentials as soon as you arrive.

Apart from the 2 guys in the snack bar and one of the receptionists we found the staff to be unhelpful and fairly sullen. At times the whole place felt more like an institution than a holiday environment.The management needs to train staff that visitors are on holiday ! Very few of those who stay seem to be British and this is worth bearing in mind if you like to feel part of a community when on holiday.

The weather was incredibly windy whilst we were there but due to good bus links we were able to get to Marsapalomas (2 euros) and San Agustin (1.45) without having to hire a car. Our best day out was without doubt though a trip to Las Palmas. It took about 35 minutes each way and cost 4.95 euros. We had a lovely lunch in a restaurant called Marsala in the impressive Vegueta area of the city less than 10 minutes from the San Telmo park central bus station.

“ Top Tip: Ask for a room between 4001 and 4005 if you want a spacious terrace but are not bothered about a good view. We had apartment 4001 and it was lovely and quiet, especially as it was on an end. Take hangers as there aren’t enough supplied.There is a nearby shopping centre which has about 7 restaurants in it. I liked Eddie’s House for the pasta and Chocolate fondant, Yaso for well-priced Chinese food and La Plaza had the best ambience and choice for non-meat eaters. The coffee shop offers decent latte and very nice cakes which are pricey (2 Euros 95) but worth it.

We found only 2 bars worth drinking in and we preferred Frankie’s where the guy was friendly and served a large ice cold Amstel for 3 Euros. The cheapest place for a beer was actually the bars in the hotel (2.5 Euros) but these are not a great place to drink as the music is far too loud and there is no entertainment put on. We only ate in the snack bar on the last day but it was fine and offers a massive plate of French Fries as part of a fairly limited menu.

The MF offers wireless internet for 5 Euros a day or 10 minutes for 50 cents but the cheapest place to use the internet is the amusement arcade in the shopping centre which gives you 15 minutes for 50 cents on modern PCs which allow you to charge your mp3 player through a USB port at the same time.

“ The studio room we had was reasonably clean, above average furnishing and had enough equipment to self cater although a kettle was not provided, microwave or a pan resolved that issue. Also a coffe making machine provided. The hotel and surrounding establishments cater for what appears to be a scandinavian/germanic client base and is therefore are more expensive than other areas but not too dramatically. At the time of the year we visited the wind was an issue and finding somewhere sheltered could be an issue.
Local transport links were excellent and easily accessible approx 200yards from the hotel. Supermarket on site was comparable to those in the local resort with a good choice of products, unfortunately I did not find one of the larger chains which locals use and give better value. Hotel staff were reasonably helpful but not over the top. Supermarket staff which do not belong to the hotel, were mostly friendly and helpful but watch your change! One individual assistant tried to short change me twice in one hour and was not happy being challenged. It was a principle rather than the amount that annoyed me. I would go back to this hotel; however, if you are going for the first time try checking out the area on the internet to see if it is what you want as there is little nightlife off complex.

“ Top Tip: Chinese restaurant was excellent. Nice walk along the promenade through the Blue Village. Nice bar on the sea front by the windsurf shack; however, flies are an issue.

“ Staff friendly and helpful.Room quite spacious and we had a large patio overlooking the gardens.Clean hotel and the small supermarket was well stocked.Water heater in bathroom had a small capacity but was sufficient for 2 showers and washing up.

“ Top Tip: You can walk along the coast to San Augustin and onwards.You need a car to go walking in the mountains which we did everyday.