Hotel Verol

Las Palmas is a vibrant city buzzing with life, and nowhere is this more evident than at Hotel Verol. Calle Sagasta is a local street busy with passing cars playing lively dance music, neighbors chatting, and locals going about their business. The noise inevitably finds its way in: it’s as much a celebration of Canarian urban life and local culture, as it is a barrage to the senses. Immersed in this dynamic urban setting, one might even forget that the city’s picture-perfect beach is just around the corner. 

The hotel itself is a no-frills budget property, with decent facilities for its size and a pragmatic approach to decor and ambience. Public areas are clean and well-kept, but the '90s carpeting, mirrored columns, and plain wood furniture are a reminder of the hotel’s basic aesthetic. It’s certainly no luxury resort, but it gets the essentials right. In fact, it’s the type of hotel where you might get to know the general manager by name. Marta is a high-energy, sensible woman who’s as charismatic as she is business savvy. The hotel mostly sees younger tourists who can keep up with the pace of city life, and are looking for basic but comfortable accommodation at reasonable prices. As with many hotels on the island, it accommodates mostly Scandinavians in winter looking to escape dreary, long nights. Travelers needing a place to crash the night before a long cruise trip are also occasional guests.

Hotel Verol is located on a busy street corner, where local shops abound and one can observe native Canarians going about their business. It’s a stone’s throw from the picture-perfect Playa de las Canteras -- a one-minute walk down the street leads you directly to the boardwalk. This is an excellent location for both beach trips and city exploring, and local Canarian hangouts like Santa Catalina Park is just a four-minute walk away. There’s also a main bus stop here for easy access to the touristy south, as well as the airport. It’s a 10-minute walk to El Muelle, the city’s largest shopping mall, and the harbor is just a one-minute walk farther. Calle Triana, a pedestrian-only street with boutiques and cafes, can be reached via a single bus connection from the Parque Santa Catalina stop, a 22-minute journey. The city’s charming old town is farther south and can also be reached via the same route, a 25-minute journey. Gran Canaria's airport is a 25-minute drive away.

Hotel Verol’s 46 rooms are pleasant, but dated. All get decent amounts of natural light, and include details like simple wood furniture and cozy waffle bedspreads. Overall, they're a solid value for money, so as long as style isn't an issue. Standard features include small seating areas, desks, flat-screen TVs with international channels, and free Wi-Fi. Air-conditioning is free, as are safes, which is rare in budget hotels on the island. Bathrooms can be a bit dated, but all are clean and have bidets and free toiletries. Most have tubs, but some have showers only, including the hotel's accessible rooms. Windows are ostensibly double-glazed to cut out street noise, but unfortunately it may be still be audible, so ear plugs may be a good idea for light sleepers. Noise between rooms can also be an issue.

There are four different room types, each suited for a different number of guests. Single Rooms have a single double bed, while Double Rooms are bigger and also have real double beds, as opposed to joined twin beds -- a treat for Gran Canaria. Twin Rooms have two single beds, while triple rooms have three single beds, and accommodate a maximum of three people. There are no balconies or outside space in any rooms. 

For a small budget city property, this hotel has a decent set of facilities. There’s a bar and restaurant that provides guests with a basic but adequate continental breakfast for a reasonable price. It includes the choice of a hot side such as an omelet, eggs, or ham and cheese toasty, with fresh fruit. The restaurant is also open for lunch and dinner, and specializes in Galician cuisine. There’s also a sidewalk terrace, which locals and guests alike use for relaxing and people-watching. The spacious TV lounge has a large flat-screen TV with satellite channels, as well as a small computer station and vending machine. Reception is open 24 hours, and there’s free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel. Parking is not free, but the hotel offers discounted parking at a nearby garage.