Club Vista Serena

Club Vista Serena opened was once a timeshare property, but this 1980s-era property is now a cheerful collection of colorful two-story bungalows managed as a hotel. The pool and poolside bar restaurant are its heart, with bungalows in pastel colors arranged neatly around this core area. With only 46 apartments and a quiet, isolated location, there’s a real community vibe here. Guests gather around the pool to lounge and socialize, and although we saw young families with kids, the atmosphere was quiet and relaxed. A wander through the pretty flowering grounds feels like a leisurely stroll in a cozy village. Unlike other apart-hotels -- where tightly arranged blocks or towering buildings obscure the immediate surroundings -- Club Vista Serena’s bungalows are more loosely spaced, allowing for breathing room. Hanging potted plants and flowering vines add to the neighborhood-like charm. While decor is tired and dated, the hotel is clean and well-maintained. We saw young families and younger guests in their 20s during our visit, and more mature guests tend to visit in the winter.

This apart-hotel is tucked away in a quiet corner of Maspalomas, on a peaceful crescent that’s a bit far from Playa del Ingles’s main action. This allows for tranquility away from any late night music or noise, but a car or taxi is required to reach most attractions. Any restaurants, bars, or other entertainment are best found in Yumbo Shopping Centre, a six-minute drive away. CC Kasbah, frequented for its nightlife and shops, is an eight-minute drive away. The Maspalomas sand dunes are a protected nature reserve and can be accessed via the public promenade running through Hotel Riu Palace -- an eight-minute taxi ride away. The main stalls, restaurants, and Playa del Ingles beachfront is a 10-minute drive away. Gran Canaria has just one airport, which is a 22-minute taxi ride away.

The 48 one-bedroom apartments of Club Vista Serena are housed inside identical two-story bungalows, occupying either the ground floor or top floor. Ground-floor apartments have furnished terraces and an inner patio where guests can air-dry laundry. Top-floor apartments are a similar size and layout, and have furnished balconies. Some balconies have overhanging flowering vines that add charm and provide natural shade. Apartments are clean and cheerful, with white wood furniture and light colored walls, though the look is dated.

Each apartment sleeps four and has one bedroom, a kitchenette, and a living room with a flat-screen TV and sofa bed. Bedrooms come with a mirrored dressing tables and have proper double beds -- a rare perk among Gran Canaria hotels. Kitchenettes include microwaves, toasters, tea kettles, coffeemakers, stovetops, and dishwashers, but no ovens. Bathrooms are the most dated parts of apartments, but have bidets and hairdryers.

For a basic budget establishment, this hotel offers plenty of free extras: comfort items from sandwich makers to pillow menus, to latex foam mattresses are available on request at no extra charge (subject to availability). Unfortunately, there's a charge for air-conditioning and Wi-Fi. Wi-Fi is provided via a third party commercial supplier that also hosts hotspots at various locations throughout the south coast, so purchasing Wi-Fi for the room also grants access to other hotspot locations including Playa del Ingles' beach and Puerto Rico.

As a basic two-pearl apart-hotel, Club Vista Serena has somewhat limited features, but there’s certainly enough to compete. The pool complex is the heart of the property, and serves as a low-key space for guests to gather and relax. In the evenings, there's live music and other performers. The pool is clean and heated in winter, with a separate kids’ pool on the side and a healthy number of sun loungers. Sadly, you'll have to pay extra for pool towels here. A poolside bar and restaurant serves good quality food and caters to various dietary needs, which is quite rare for a budget hotel. Keep in mind that all-inclusive plans are not offered. There’s an outdoor recreation area with a ping pong table (free), pool tables (fee), and an air hockey table (fee). A mini-market has the basics and can be found in the reception area. This is a family-frequented establishment, and although it lacks more kid-friendly facilities such as a kids’ club, the hotel does provide free board games on request, and also has a 300-strong list of DVDs to choose from (also free). There’s no on-site parking, but street parking is free. Wi-Fi in the pool/bar area is free, but the signal can be a bit spotty.