I just lately stayed on the Resort Gran Castillo Tagoro by the seashore in Lanzarote. It was such a superb all-inclusive expertise, I needed to share it with you. It ended up being the proper selection for a vacation for my 13 month outdated son, me and my good friend, right here’s why…
I spent hours in search of the proper lodge for my upcoming vacation with my good friend Mel, and my on the time 13-month-old son. We needed solar in early March, we needed a child pleasant lodge however with a separate grownup part if all of it obtained an excessive amount of for Mel, we needed good meals, an incredible pool and to be by the seashore. I additionally needed a child membership I may belief, an honest dimension room for the three of us, and to not be too removed from the airport.
I didn’t realise what a tall order it was, till I used to be hours deep in analysis trawling each lodge within the Canaries to see what strangers on Journey Advisor considered their child golf equipment, and their bogs.
Ultimately, I got here throughout the Resort Gran Castillo Tagoro in Lanzarote.
After a lot deliberation and thought (on my half), we booked the primary week of March for some solar and enjoyable for the three of us.
The Resort Gran Castillo Tagoro ticked all of the packing containers on-line, however how would it not truthful in actuality?
Overview of Resort Gran Castillo Tagoro
Simply as a spoiler, which can be fairly apparent in the event you adopted together with my journey on Instagram, we had a superb time. So good actually, I’ve thought of it loads within the six weeks which have handed since.
It’s tough to discover a lodge that fits the vary of wants between the three of us, so I wish to share my ideas as to why the Resort Gran Castillo Tagoro was good – and why I’d undoubtedly return.
To begin with, it was simply the welcome we wanted after the lengthy journey to get there (see ‘getting there’ under). The workers had been actually welcoming, and had a glass of Prosecco on verify in. Now that’s the type of service I like. They had been tremendous pleasant to my son, and helped us with our luggage to our room.
The primary evening we checked in, went for dinner, and went to mattress.
The rooms at Resort Gran Castillo Tagoro
We went for the Household Superior room, because it had the divider. My considering was that if we had separate rooms it will clearly value much more, we wouldn’t have a lot time to talk, and we’d be on totally different schedules. So, we went for a greater commonplace of room as an alternative, with a balcony and an adjoining lounge. The lounge had a settee mattress in so if I did have to co sleep with Reggie, and even simply sleep subsequent to him together with his in his cot, there was area.
Mel and I went to high school collectively, we are able to share a room with ease and had been very cosy simply right here.
That door you see to the aspect led to what grew to become ‘Reggie’s room’ however was additionally the lounge with a TV which we by no means even turned on, and a balcony.
Reggie slept higher than he had in weeks on this room. It was wonderful.
On the airplane Mel and I talked about what we needed from the vacation, and for all of us – Reggie included – it got here down to 1 factor, to loosen up. It’d been a loopy few weeks with household and work, and I simply wanted to have enjoyable enjoyable by day, and get some sleep in in a single day.
This room, and nice cot, meant I obtained to do exactly that. I used to be asleep by 9:30 each evening. I do know, how a lot enjoyable am I?!
The lavatory was nice too. It was on the opposite aspect of our room to Reggie’s room, so we may bathe and flush with out the fear of waking him up. Nice to have a sink every for Mel and I, and a shower for Reg too. The lavatory actually was all the things I may’ve needed in a lodge!
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The Resort Gran Castillo Tagoro services
So the bed room and toilet get 5/5, how about the remainder of the overview of Resort Gran Castillo Tagoro?
Child membership on the Resort Gran Castillo Tagoro
One of many primary causes for selecting the Resort Gran Castillo Tagoro was the extremely rated child membership. They’d take infants from 6 months for 2 separate hours a day. Reggie did a complete of six hours over the week we had been there, which was simply what I wanted to recharge and regroup and really feel like I’d had a vacation too.
You possibly can’t e book prematurely, however as an alternative must e book the day earlier than, or the morning of. Cue a line of determined mother and father keen for his or her treasured hour off queuing on the door as quickly because it opened.
Reggie would do round 10-11 after which 2-3, which I made slot in together with his nap.
The infant membership at Resort Gran Castillo Tagoro was proper by the children pool, and a bar. I’d drop him off, go and get a (small) beer after which lie on the solar loungers there to get pleasure from my hour. The pool there wasn’t heated for some purpose, so it was quieter than the others – and ideal for me. I imply, I am going within the sea at Southsea Seashore in England many of the yr, so a chill within the Lanzarote solar was a pleasure. Particularly with the pool to myself and entry to the all inclusive foods and drinks.
I used to be actually steps from the place Reggie was having fun with being in an air conditioned room, taking part in with the toys and having different child firm round. I didn’t fear or really feel responsible, however knew he was having enjoyable.
Night actions on the Resort Gran Castillo Tagoro
They did have a night programme for the children, but it surely wasn’t fairly proper for us.
It began after 8, by which era we had been both consuming or wanting Reggie to loosen up for sleep. We did go on one evening, but it surely was simply an excessive amount of for all of us. Loud European music, screaming 6-10 yr olds, and simply far too hectic for us adults, by no means thoughts Reggie. We lasted about 10 minutes.
One for the older youngsters!
They’d a number of music choices although, and even a market one evening too.
The swimming pools on the Resort Gran Castillo Tagoro
As I’ve mentioned there’s a pool within the youngsters space that isn’t heated – which can be positive within the scorching scorching summer season, however a bit too chilly for infants in March – however there’s additionally one only a few steps away that’s. And, it has slides and water jets and all types.
I used to be really actually excited to take Reggie in it, after which I realised how assured he was within the water, and determined it will most likely be a nightmare with him considering he can swim and do all of it – at 13 months.
It regarded nice for any infants and children just a bit bit older.
Playgrounds on the Resort Gran Castillo Tagoro
There was an incredible little playground on the Resort Gran Castillo Tagoro, which was good for Reggie’s age – with a tunnel and a few swings. He beloved it in there and it was a great place to take him earlier than breakfast to burn off some power.
Additionally, simply outdoors there was an excellent larger park, on black sand. It was nice to have the selection of the 2.
In my expertise of all-inclusive resorts, it’s additionally very nice to have the ability to get out of the resort simply in the direction of the top of the journey. Even when it’s to step out of the entrance door. This second park was actually shut and simply gave us another choice for leisure.
The spa on the Resort Gran Castillo Tagoro
One other of the massive explanation why we selected the Resort Gran Castillo Tagoro was due to the spa, and the over 18s space. Primarily for my good friend to get a break from the households, quite than for me. After we checked in they advised us we had entry, because of a deal once we booked, however then because the week went on they weren’t so positive if we did.
The spa seems to be nice from the photographs, however because the week went on we didn’t actually have time to do it round Reggie, so we weren’t bothered.
For those who do wish to use the spa, be certain that to e book it in if you arrive.
Within the space on the Resort Gran Castillo Tagoro
Additionally simply outdoors the lodge was a helpful necessities store, a bar, a restaurant and some memento retailers. So good having these shut, particularly in the event you’re half board at Resort Gran Castillo Tagoro, quite than all-inclusive like we had been.
The most effective issues concerning the Resort Gran Castillo Tagoro was how simple it was to stroll into Playa Blanca. You may exit the again of the lodge, in entrance of the seashore, and stroll alongside the trail into the city. I did this just a few occasions over the week, firstly to get Reggie some new sneakers after he misplaced a shoe on the flight. Secondly to go when the store was really open, and thirdly and fourthly to get Reggie to snooze outdoors so I may benefit from the solar.
It was such a beautiful stroll. It took about 20 minutes to get to Playa Blanca, and some extra into the centre for the beautiful marina, the retailers and the bars.
The meals at Resort Gran Castillo Tagoro
Every single day there was a special theme within the meals on the Resort Gran Castillo Tagoro. One evening, the very best evening, we had Mexican. Reggie was loving all that guacamole.
One other evening it was native specialities, one other it was Italian, and we additionally had a BBQ evening too. There was all the time one thing for Reggie to eat, for my vegetarian good friend to eat, and for me to get pleasure from too.
Breakfast had all the things you could possibly ever need, with freshly made juices, a number of fruits, all you want for a full English, and for a continental too.
The ready workers got here spherical to take drinks orders, and you could possibly assist your self to espresso. All was properly.
We ate in the principle buffet restaurant day by day for breakfast and dinner.
For lunch, we ate on the pool bar most days, though the buffet was open. The pool bar had sandwiches, salads, chips, wraps, burgers and hen nuggets.
There are two different eating places on website, which sadly we didn’t get to strive. You may solely e book into the a la carte Portofino Restaurant two days prematurely, and we weren’t fast sufficient to get the sooner occasions. There was no method we may eat after 8:30 with Reggie, and we’d be too drained by then too.
Then there was a extremely cute wanting restaurant virtually on the seashore, which was solely open on Fridays (the one evening we weren’t there on our 6 day vacation), and regarded prefer it solely had about 10 tables anyway. This was such a disgrace because it regarded like it will have been a meal to recollect, even only for the placement.
Attending to the Resort Gran Castillo Tagoro
I made the horrible option to get a switch bus from the airport to the lodge. Pondering it will be higher for Reggie as we didn’t have a automobile seat, and it’d be cheaper. It was cheaper, at €25 return for the three of us, but it surely took FOREVER.
I stored considering our lodge could be subsequent, however no. We had been final. About two hours after getting on the bus. After travelling to the airport, being within the airport, the flight which was delayed after which ready for the switch bus to go, it was not what we wanted.
On the way in which again we obtained a taxi which was €50 and took about 40 minutes. The driving force had a seat for Reggie and it was a MUCH higher thought. I strongly suggest both reserving a non-public switch by way of the lodge, or simply grabbing a taxi for ease.
Resort Gran Castillo Tagoro Overview: Enhancements
On the time I assumed all of the meals was nice, however wanting again it will’ve been good to have been capable of go to the opposite eating places, or simply have one thing totally different. Lunch was very samey.
I wish to level out that though we had a seashore on our doorstep, which was nice, it was all black sand and rocks. It wasn’t the type of beautiful seashore you may affiliate with a vacation within the Canary Islands. We didn’t go within the sea there, even for a paddle.
The night leisure that we noticed was undoubtedly a bit mad. Am I simply not but initiated into this stage of the world of kid leisure? Possibly.
Different holidaymakers reserving beds was actually annoying. We had been up early with Reggie and folks had been coming down and spreading their towels and going again to their rooms – as I do know occurs at lots of resorts. For those who complained to the lifeguards they’d go and turf them off, of their defence. I noticed just a few folks doing this. I lower out the center man and simply did it myself.
Though the reception workers had been pretty, they weren’t very coherent in what they advised us. Might we get automobile rent there? What time would we have to go away on our final day? How a lot was the taxi? The place was the children membership? Do we have now entry to the spa? It was a special (and incorrect) reply each time I swear.
The Wi-Fi in our room was non-existent. Tremendous for me as I actually needed a lower off from the net world, however my good friend was making an attempt to maintain up together with her work and needed to go to the reception to take a seat and do her video calls.
Aside from that, the Resort Gran Castillo Tagoro was good for us!
Ideas for staying on the Resort Gran Castillo Tagoro
1. Guide your self into the Portofino Restaurant earlier than you go. It’s solely open within the evenings, and the sitting occasions may be tough for little ones. Guide Portofino the day earlier than you arrive, on this hyperlink. That method, you’re executed and you realize you’re in.
2. The children membership is on stage 3 not 4 like all of the indicators say. It took us a day and thrice of asking the reception workers to work this out. You’ll see what I imply.
3. Take an all inclusive to the seashore for a seashore dinner one evening. We took some pasta and pizza down and it was a very nice technique to escape the eating corridor, and nonetheless get meals.
4. For those who’re travelling with youngsters and infants, you should purchase all of the necessities on the procuring centre out the entrance as an alternative of lugging nappies abroad.
5. You possibly can order automobile rental from Sixt from the machine on the entrance desk, or stroll into Playa Blanca and get it domestically for a reduction.
Guide into the Resort Gran Castillo Tagoro right here
Resort Gran Castillo Tagoro Overview
I totally anticipate to return to this lodge at some point, actually, I’m weighing it up towards making an attempt the TUI Flamingo Seashore Resort subsequent yr. However for 2 weeks subsequent time!
CHECK THE PRICES OF THE HOTEL GRAN CASTILLO TAGORO HERE