Apartamentos Barcarola Club

The Barcarola Club does not quite stand out among its most direct competitors in terms of on-site amenities or decor, but it draws British and German families and couples with a central location, clean apartments with air-conditioning, and free Wi-Fi. The grounds are pleasant and well-kept, with ample gardens peppered with tropical shrubs and palm trees, and a spacious deck around the central pool. Interiors are generic and somewhat dated throughout, with basic furniture at least a couple of decades old, and few creative details. The lobby, though, has been updated with fresh blue paint in the front desk area and looks cheerful. Although the property is right on Puerto del Carmen’s main drag, its apartments and common areas are all set back from the street, which allows for a quiet, relaxing atmosphere. It also only offers soft entertainment such as darts and ping-pong tournaments in the morning and early afternoon, keeping the volume reasonably low during the day and at a minimum at night.Rates are on the high side, especially for a self-catering option. Nautilus Lanzarote is pretty comparable and usually cheaper.

The Barcarola Club is located directly on the town’s main drag, a wide avenue lined by restaurants, bars, and shops for all tastes and budgets. There is a small, sandy beach right across the street from the hotel dotted with large volcanic rocks, and two other larger ones can be found within a 10-minute walk. The local casino and some of the area’s most popular oceanfront cafes are all within a five-minute walk of the hotel. Timanfaya, a stunning national park home to several volcanoes, is about a 25-minute drive away. The hotel is a 10-minute drive from the airport. Guests considering renting a car may want to note that there is no on-site parking at Barcarola Club, and finding a spot in the area can be difficult, especially on weekends.

The Barcarola Club has 83 simple but clean one- and two-bedroom apartments overlooking either the garden or the pool. All are decorated in a simple, homey, and somewhat dated style, with basic pine wood furniture painted green, and beige floors, curtains, sofas, and bedspreads. Though decor is not a priority here, all apartments feature air-conditioning units in all rooms, flat-screen TVs, and free Wi-Fi, which are not always standard amenities in this type of property in Lanzarote. Beds, though, seem to be too firm for most guests. Kitchenettes come equipped with all the basics as well, including full fridges, cooktops, microwaves, electric kettles, coffeemakers, and toasters. Living rooms have sofa beds and dining areas, while balconies or patios are furnished with plastic chairs and a table. Bathrooms are basic and a tad dated but clean, with shower/tub combos with plastic curtains, older wall-mounted hairdryers, and just a few sachets of shower gel and shampoo. Housekeeping is available daily. 

The hotel has a medium-size heated pool and a small round kiddy pool shaded by a large white awning. There are a few dozen loungers and a number of umbrellas spread over a spacious deck, but some guests have complained that it is difficult to find an empty one after breakfast in the peak season. There is no music around the pool area, and the entertainment program is limited and seasonal (darts, table tennis, and foosball tournaments is all there is most days), making the property quiet and relaxing. All rates include a tasty and varied breakfast buffet offering continental and English options, but no other full meals are served at the restaurant. Snacks and small bites are available at the poolside bar, which also offers a decent drinks menu.