Gran Rey Hotel

“ Great location. Great views of the sea or mountains/valley. Quick and easy check in/out. Very clean throughout. Friendly staff. Stayed on B&B basis: good range of items on the breakfast buffet. Lots of sun loungers available round rooftop pool. Many restaurants and cafes within 5-15 mins walk (walk to the left for Charco del Conde and Vueltas or right for La Playa and La Calera) so can eat cheaply at a different place every night. Lots of different walks and hikes nearby and you can pre-order a picnic for 2 for 6 euros. Note: the whole hotel is twin bedded so you can't have a choice of 'double or twin'. However, our room had the beds pushed together so it was like a double anyway (as per hotel room photo) but we don't know whether all the rooms are like that or whether some are and some aren't.

“ Top Tip: Restaurant Charco del Conde: opposite the 'baby beach' has excellent fish dishes, quick and friendly service throughout the day, great view of sunset.
Restaurant La Tramallo II opposite La Playa (beach) - doesn't look much from the outside but the fish is excellent. Does make a charge of 1.50 euros for bread and mojo.
Do not attempt the looping hike from Vueltas up the Barranco Argaga gorge and round down to Valle Gran Rey unless very fit, plenty of water/snacks, and used to doing some rock climbing. It is very steep, can be dangerous in places and is very strenuous. Fabulous views but once you start on the way up it is almost impossible to come back down that way. It takes approx 4 hours to clamber to the chapel at the top, then the track back down disappears into rubble and a steep drop so you have to then double back and take the right fork, continuing uphill to Chipude which is about another 2 hours.

“ We really enjoyed it. Buffet was excellent for the price. Very good location, close to the sea and also a good base for hiking.

“ Excellent hotel and location. We had four days and visited the whole island, Valle Gran rey and this hotel are in our opinion the best place to base yourself. We were the only English in the hotel, but not a problem.Food although could have been slighly hotter most nights was good and would reccomend half board here. Lots of mainly Germans mosst of which seemed to be on walking holidays.you ddont need suits and posh frocks here just robust footware to take in the fantastic scenery.

“ Staff very friedly and helpful. Great position opposite the beach. The area is excellent for a quiet relaxing holiday. The buffet dinners are the only weak point. Still good but not always as hot as they should be.

“ Top Tip: Lots of walking and whale watching available but need to book ahead for the whales.