Pros

  • Large, family-friendly mid-range hotel on the eastern edge of Playa del Ingles
  • Moroccan-themed spa with abundant facilities, including Dead Sea pool
  • Outdoor pool with ample sun loungers and separate toddlers’ pool
  • Rooftop sunbathing terrace with hot tub and separate nudist section
  • All rooms have large furnished balconies, mini-fridges, and satellite TVs
  • Large gardens with hot tub, kids’ pool, pool tables, table tennis (all free)
  • Third-floor atrium garden with landscaped mini-golf green
  • Buffet restaurant has good variety plus live show-cooking stations
  • All-inclusive and other board packages are available
  • Large staffed gym with decent weights section and cardio machines
  • Large games room with bowling, poker tables, and Mac workstations
  • Free Wi-Fi throughout and free on-site parking
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Cons

  • Air-conditioning costs extra (as do safes)
  • Pool a bit small for size of the hotel, and gets rowdy
  • Traffic noise audible from the pool
  • Entertainment may only be in German
  • No kettles in rooms (common in the area)
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Bottom Line

Bull Escorial & Spa is a large, family-friendly mid-range hotel located on the eastern edge of Playa del Ingles. Its 250 rooms all have large furnished balconies, mini-fridges, flat-screen TVs with satellite channels, and free Wi-Fi, but air-conditioning costs extra. The extensive grounds are packed with facilities, including a spa with a Dead Sea floating pool, outdoor pool, rooftop sunbathing terrace, and sprawling game room. There's only one bar and one buffet restaurant, but the latter offers good variety plus live show-cooking stations the option for all-inclusive rates. For a hotel with a variety of pools and bars, try IFA Dunamar Hotel, but be prepared to pay more.

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Hotel & Amenities Photos

Amenities

  • Fitness Center
  • Internet
  • Jacuzzi
  • Pool
  • Spa

Oyster Hotel Review

Bull Escorial & Spa

Scene

Large, busy, resort-style hotel with a lively vibe

One of six hotels owned by local Gran Canarian hotel group Bull Hotels, the 250-room Bull Escorial & Spa is a family-friendly mid-range option that is dated, but clean. The building, originally constructed in 1973 as an apart-hotel, has a unique semi-circular shape. The pool sits in the southwest corner of the hotel, which is the area that gets the most sunlight. It’s a bit difficult finding the entrance to the resort, which is tucked away around the side and nowhere to be seen from the street. A clothing shop sits where guests might expect the entrance to be, with a sign off to the side that directs you to the east side of the hotel. The reception area is breezy and relaxed, with a large seating area and few guests. It's part of an expansive open-plan space that also houses the hotel’s only bar and restaurant, as well as the stage for entertainment. Elsewhere during our visit, the hotel was fairly busy with couples of all ages, loud dance music by the outdoor pool, and families with garrulous children. The hotel accommodates a variety of guests, but Germans make up the majority of visitors and frequent the hotel year-round.

See More Scene

Location

On the eastern edge of Playa del Ingles, a four-minute walk to the beach promenade

Although situated a bit farther away from central Playa del Ingles, a major perk of staying here is not being within audible distance of local booming night clubs. There’s a bus stop just outside the hotel, which provides good connections all over the island. The beach promenade is just a four-minute walk from the hotel, leading to several quieter, natural inlets for swimming. The main beach area of Playa del Ingles, with its shops and restaurants, is about a 10-minute walk farther down the promenade. Guests looking for a party vibe can try out the nightlife at CC Kasbah, an eight-minute walk away -- although some may prefer Yumbo Shopping Centre, which has more gay-friendly bars and clubs, but is a five-minute drive. The sand dunes of neighboring Maspalomas are a protected nature reserve that can be accessed via the public promenade running through Hotel Riu Palace, an eight-minute drive away. Gran Canaria has just one airport, which is a 20-minute drive away.

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Rooms

Clean with large balconies, satellite channels, and free Wi-Fi, but AC costs extra

Rooms are clean with simple furniture. All have large furnished balconies, desks, mini-fridges, flat-screen TVs, free satellite channels, and free Wi-Fi, but the AC comes with a daily fee. Rooms on the top three floors have better views and are accordingly more expensive. Some have sea views, while others overlook the surrounding mountains. Bathrooms have marble sinks and shower/tub combos. Family Rooms are cheaper, being located on the lower floors, and are spacious, featuring separate living rooms and sofa beds. As with most hotels on Gran Canaria, there are no tea- or coffee-making facilities in rooms, and the safe is only available for an extra fee. The free Wi-Fi is decent, although the connection can be slow at times -- we found this to be common everywhere on the island.

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Features

Moroccan-themed spa, pool, rooftop sunbathing terrace, large game room, and decent buffet restaurant

The standout feature of this hotel is the Moroccan-themed spa; free spa access for guests is a standard across all Bull hotels. This includes use of the hydrotherapy pools, hot tub, sauna, steam room, and special Dead Sea floating pool, which is housed in a large, mood-lit, underground space styled after a cave. Massages, special treatments, and tanning beds cost extra, but guests get one free clay treatment per stay, and free access to the massage waterbeds once per week. It’s an imaginative space, with fabricated stone walls and archways, ceilings painted night blue, classic Moroccan-style lanterns, mosaic tiling, and intimate mood lighting. Being a favorite feature for guests, it was fairly busy during our visit.

The rest of the hotel grounds are extensive, and packed with various facilities. While a bit small for the size of the hotel and exposed to traffic noise from the neighboring street, the pool has a separate sunbathing deck with sun loungers. Gardens hold an outdoor lounge area, kids’ pool, table tennis, billiards tables, hot tub, and tennis court. The rooftop sunbathing terrace has an additional hot tub a separate nudist section, and nice views over the sea and surrounding mountains.

There’s only one bar, which is close enough to the pool for convenient drinks. The buffet restaurant offers meat and fish show cooking and a good variety of dishes. All-inclusive rates are available. The sprawling games room has two basic bowling alleys, a comprehensive variety of table games, air hockey, video game stations, and 10 Mac workstations with free internet access. There’s also a third floor atrium courtyard with a landscaped garden and mini-golf green, as well as free live evening entertainment -- although some nights this is in German. The hotel offers a low-key animation program, which includes planned activities like morning workouts and an evening kids’ mini-disco. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel, and there’s free on-site parking.

See More Features

Oyster Hotel Review

Bull Escorial & Spa

Scene

Large, busy, resort-style hotel with a lively vibe

One of six hotels owned by local Gran Canarian hotel group Bull Hotels, the 250-room Bull Escorial & Spa is a family-friendly mid-range option that is dated, but clean. The building, originally constructed in 1973 as an apart-hotel, has a unique semi-circular shape. The pool sits in the southwest corner of the hotel, which is the area that gets the most sunlight. It’s a bit difficult finding the entrance to the resort, which is tucked away around the side and nowhere to be seen from the street. A clothing shop sits where guests might expect the entrance to be, with a sign off to the side that directs you to the east side of the hotel. The reception area is breezy and relaxed, with a large seating area and few guests. It's part of an expansive open-plan space that also houses the hotel’s only bar and restaurant, as well as the stage for entertainment. Elsewhere during our visit, the hotel was fairly busy with couples of all ages, loud dance music by the outdoor pool, and families with garrulous children. The hotel accommodates a variety of guests, but Germans make up the majority of visitors and frequent the hotel year-round.

See More Scene

Location

On the eastern edge of Playa del Ingles, a four-minute walk to the beach promenade

Although situated a bit farther away from central Playa del Ingles, a major perk of staying here is not being within audible distance of local booming night clubs. There’s a bus stop just outside the hotel, which provides good connections all over the island. The beach promenade is just a four-minute walk from the hotel, leading to several quieter, natural inlets for swimming. The main beach area of Playa del Ingles, with its shops and restaurants, is about a 10-minute walk farther down the promenade. Guests looking for a party vibe can try out the nightlife at CC Kasbah, an eight-minute walk away -- although some may prefer Yumbo Shopping Centre, which has more gay-friendly bars and clubs, but is a five-minute drive. The sand dunes of neighboring Maspalomas are a protected nature reserve that can be accessed via the public promenade running through Hotel Riu Palace, an eight-minute drive away. Gran Canaria has just one airport, which is a 20-minute drive away.

See More Location

Rooms

Clean with large balconies, satellite channels, and free Wi-Fi, but AC costs extra

Rooms are clean with simple furniture. All have large furnished balconies, desks, mini-fridges, flat-screen TVs, free satellite channels, and free Wi-Fi, but the AC comes with a daily fee. Rooms on the top three floors have better views and are accordingly more expensive. Some have sea views, while others overlook the surrounding mountains. Bathrooms have marble sinks and shower/tub combos. Family Rooms are cheaper, being located on the lower floors, and are spacious, featuring separate living rooms and sofa beds. As with most hotels on Gran Canaria, there are no tea- or coffee-making facilities in rooms, and the safe is only available for an extra fee. The free Wi-Fi is decent, although the connection can be slow at times -- we found this to be common everywhere on the island.

See More Rooms

Features

Moroccan-themed spa, pool, rooftop sunbathing terrace, large game room, and decent buffet restaurant

The standout feature of this hotel is the Moroccan-themed spa; free spa access for guests is a standard across all Bull hotels. This includes use of the hydrotherapy pools, hot tub, sauna, steam room, and special Dead Sea floating pool, which is housed in a large, mood-lit, underground space styled after a cave. Massages, special treatments, and tanning beds cost extra, but guests get one free clay treatment per stay, and free access to the massage waterbeds once per week. It’s an imaginative space, with fabricated stone walls and archways, ceilings painted night blue, classic Moroccan-style lanterns, mosaic tiling, and intimate mood lighting. Being a favorite feature for guests, it was fairly busy during our visit.

The rest of the hotel grounds are extensive, and packed with various facilities. While a bit small for the size of the hotel and exposed to traffic noise from the neighboring street, the pool has a separate sunbathing deck with sun loungers. Gardens hold an outdoor lounge area, kids’ pool, table tennis, billiards tables, hot tub, and tennis court. The rooftop sunbathing terrace has an additional hot tub a separate nudist section, and nice views over the sea and surrounding mountains.

There’s only one bar, which is close enough to the pool for convenient drinks. The buffet restaurant offers meat and fish show cooking and a good variety of dishes. All-inclusive rates are available. The sprawling games room has two basic bowling alleys, a comprehensive variety of table games, air hockey, video game stations, and 10 Mac workstations with free internet access. There’s also a third floor atrium courtyard with a landscaped garden and mini-golf green, as well as free live evening entertainment -- although some nights this is in German. The hotel offers a low-key animation program, which includes planned activities like morning workouts and an evening kids’ mini-disco. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel, and there’s free on-site parking.

See More Features

Hotel & Amenities Photos

Best Rates

Amenities

  • Air Conditioner

  • Airport Transportation

  • Beach

  • Cabanas

  • Cable

  • Children's Pool

  • Dry Cleaning

  • Fitness Center

  • Internet

  • Jacuzzi

  • Kids Allowed

  • Laundry

  • Meeting / Conference Rooms

  • Pool

  • Poolside Drink Service

  • Rental Car Service Desk Onsite

  • Separate Bedroom / Living Room Space

  • Spa

  • Supervised Kids Activities

  • Swim-Up Bar

  • Tennis Court

Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.