Escape to Paradise: Maspalomas' Dunas Resort Awaits!
Escape to Paradise: Maspalomas' Dunas Resort Awaits! – A Review That's (Almost) Real!
Alright, listen up, vacation dreamers! I've just wrestled my way out of the Maspalomas' Dunas Resort, and let me tell you, I'm still sandy and slightly sunburnt, but utterly chuffed. Forget those clinical reviews! I'm here to give you the lowdown, the real deal, warts and all (but mostly good warts, thankfully!). Let's dive in!
First things first: Accessibility. This is a BIG one for me (and should be for you too!). The Dunas Resort is surprisingly good. They've got elevators (thank the heavens!), ramps galore, and I did see some accessible rooms floating around. Now, I didn't personally test the wheelchair access fully, but from what I observed, they've made a real effort. That's a big win in my book. Kudos!
And speaking of wins, let’s talk Internet. They do have Wi-Fi. Yes, Free Wi-Fi in all rooms! (Thank the gods!). And, praise be, it actually works. I mean, I checked my email, stalked some exes (standard vacation behavior, right?), and even streamed a dodgy movie. The speed? Pretty decent. No complaints there! They also offer Internet [LAN] if you're old-school or need a super-stable connection for, you know, work. shudders
Cleanliness & Safety – Don't worry, Be Happy (Mostly): Now, let’s get real. After the past few years, safety is HUGE. I saw the Anti-viral cleaning products, the Daily disinfection in common areas, and the staff looked like they were trained in ninja hygiene. Rooms sanitized between stays. They also have the Hand sanitizer everywhere, basically. It was all a bit… sterile. Like, almost too clean. But hey, better safe than sorry, right? They even have the option to Room sanitization opt-out available. That's a nice touch, for those who like their dust bunnies (no judgement!). The resort also has the usual: CCTV in common areas, CCTV outside property, Fire extinguisher, Smoke alarms – you know, the stuff that means you hopefully won't spontaneously combust. I'll add, I observed the staff washing their hands frequently, so, there's an additional layer of reassurance.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking – A Rollercoaster! The resort has a LOT of options here. Restaurants, Poolside bar, Snack bar, Coffee shop, Bar, A la carte in restaurant, Buffet in restaurant, Asian cuisine in restaurant, Vegetarian restaurant (thank you, sweet baby Jesus!), and the usual suspects. The Breakfast buffet was a beast (in a good way). Western breakfast, Asian breakfast – they really cover ALL the bases. Seriously, I’m pretty sure I ate enough bacon to feed a small army. (And yes, there were Desserts in restaurant – don’t judge me!). Happy hour was, as always, a highlight. Poolside bar was an additional plus. The Bottle of water was a welcome detail. They also offer Room service [24-hour]. Sometimes, you just want pizza in your pajamas. Don't we all? Safe dining setup was also, very evident. You're safe to enjoy a great meal.
Here’s the thing though, I've got to be honest: the coffee was, shall we say, hit or miss in some of the smaller places. And the queues at the buffet during peak times could get a little chaotic. But hey, that's a buffet for ya, right? I also got the impression that the Soup in restaurant and the Salad in restaurant could have been a bit more adventurous!
Things to Do and Ways to Relax – Bliss, and Some… Less Bliss This is where the Dunas Resort really shines. Swimming pool (multiple!), Swimming pool [outdoor], Pool with view (a proper stunner!), Sauna, Spa, Spa/sauna, Steamroom – all the usual suspects. I spent hours lounging by the pool, sipping something fruity and delicious (and occasionally napping). Pure bliss.
I even braved the Fitness center. Now, I'm not exactly a gym bunny. But it was surprisingly well-equipped! More importantly, I survived! The Massage was divine. Seriously, I think I almost fell asleep on the massage table. I’m pretty sure I heard someone saying “Body scrub” and “Body wrap", something I missed due to having my eyes closed, but, all in all, plenty of options to treat yourself.
However… I did want to be pampered, but the Foot bath, really? A foot bath? They could have made it more comfortable!
Services and Conveniences – Everything But the Kitchen Sink? Seriously, they've got everything here. Concierge, Daily housekeeping, Doorman, Dry cleaning, Elevator, Facilities for disabled guests, Food delivery, Gift/souvenir shop, Laundry service, Luggage storage, Safety deposit boxes, Taxi service. The list goes on. I appreciated the Air conditioning in public area - essential in that climate! The speed of the Contactless check-in/out was a real pleasure.
I even tried the Car park [free of charge], no issues, but bear in mind it can get busy, especially during peak season.
For the Kids – Family Friendly? You Betcha! I didn't have kids with me (thankfully!). But the resort is definitely geared towards families. Babysitting service, Family/child friendly, Kids facilities, Kids meal. There were kids everywhere. So, if you’re traveling with little ones, you're sorted.
Available in all rooms
- Air conditioning - A must-have in the Canary Islands!
- Alarm clock - So you don't miss out on the pool time!
- Bathrobes - For extra relaxation, and for that post-spa feeling!
- Bathroom phone - Never know when you might need to call for help!
- Bathtub & separate shower/bathtub - You've got options!
- Blackout curtains - Crucial for a good sleep!
- Coffee/tea maker & Complimentary tea - Perfect for those early mornings.
- Daily housekeeping - Rooms are always as fresh as a daisy.
- Desk & Laptop workspace - In case you need to get some work done.
- Extra long bed - Good for taller people. However, not specified if there is a king size bed!
- Free bottled water - Hydration is key!
- Hair dryer - Essential for hair styling.
- High floor - It adds to the view!
- In-room safe box - Keep your valuables safe.
- Internet access – LAN & Internet access – wireless - Wi-Fi, yay! Plus, LAN just in case!
- Ironing facilities - For those perfect holiday clothes.
- Mini bar & Refrigerator - For cold drinks!
- Non-smoking - Good for everyone.
- On-demand movies - For a relaxing evening.
- Private bathroom - Privacy is always a plus!
- Reading light - For your late-night reading.
- Satellite/cable channels - Stay entertained!
- Scale - For tracking your weight (lol).
- Seating area & Sofa - Relax and unwind!
- Shower - Necessary for getting clean.
- Smoke detector - For safety!
- Socket near the bed - Convenient!
- Soundproofing & Soundproof rooms - To keep the noise out.
- Telephone - In case of emergencies.
- Toiletries - Provided!
- Towels - For all your drying needs.
- Umbrella - In case of light showers.
- Visual alarm - Useful for those with hearing difficulties.
- Wake-up service - Don't oversleep!
- Wi-Fi [free] - Stay connected!
- Window that opens - For some fresh air!
The Niggles (Because Life Isn't Perfect)
Okay, so it wasn’t all sunshine and sangria. As I mentioned, the coffee could be improved. And, the resort is big. Like, really big. You might find yourself walking a bit. I'd also say that the entertainment at night could be a bit more… diverse. But honestly, those are minor quibbles.
Final Verdict – Book It!
Overall, the Dunas Resort Maspalomas is a solid choice. It's got a LOT going for it: great facilities,
Istanbul's Luxury Escape: ES COMFORT RESİDANS Awaits!
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because we're heading to Maspalomas, Gran Canaria, and it's gonna be less "perfectly curated Instagram feed" and more "slightly sunburnt chaos". This is my itinerary, but honestly, it's more of a suggestion, a guideline… a suggestion of a guideline that will probably go out the window faster than a rogue beach umbrella in a hurricane. Here we go…
The Maspalomas Mess-Around: A Slightly Sardine-Shaped Adventure
Day 1: Arrival & Mild Panic
10:00 AM (ish) - Flight into Gran Canaria Airport (LPA): Okay, the flight was fine, slightly cramped, and the guy in front of me reclined his seat so aggressively I think he single-handedly broke the space-time continuum. But hey, we're here! Sunlight! And the sheer promise of escape. Oh, and the slightly daunting taxi queue, already filled with people who look vaguely sun-kissed and utterly unfazed.
11:30 AM (ish) - Taxi to Dunas Resort, Maspalomas: The drive! The landscape! Initially, I'm all wide-eyed tourist, snapping photos of everything. Then, the driver starts blasting some Spanish pop I don't understand but somehow know all the words to. By the time we arrive, I'm slightly carsick and already considering a serious nap.
12:30 PM - Check-in & Disaster: The resort! Looks…amazing. The lobby is all airy and smells of jasmine and impending relaxation. Except… there's a long line. And my Spanish is basically, "Hola, cerveza, por favor." Which, honestly, might cover most of my needs for the next week. The check-in process, however, becomes a comedy of errors. I’m pretty sure I lost my passport somewhere at this point, but it's okay. They can't take away the promise of the sun.
1:30 PM - Room Reveal & Immediate Regret: Okay, room’s nice. Balcony overlooking… something. Not sure what. Maybe a pool? Maybe a concrete jungle? Didn't bother to fully check yet as I'm already thinking about the pizza I just ordered for lunch and the promise of the sun!
2:00 PM - First Swim & Glorious Failure: Finally into the pool! The water's perfect. Except, splash! I somehow manage to trip getting into the pool. In front of everyone. Smooth. This is the point where I question all my life choices. I retreat, defeated but refreshed. Pizza time!
3:00 PM - Pizza Interlude & Existential Pizza Questions: The pizza was…fine. Generic, yet comforting. The perfect moment to sit back, let the sun wash over me, and contemplate such crucial questions as: Why are pizza boxes always so difficult to open? And is there such a thing as too much cheese? The answer is, of course, no.
4:00 PM - Beach Bound (More Than Just Swimming): This is the goal, baby! Playa del Inglés! The dunes! The sea! I walk there, and there's a lot of walking. Did I pack enough sunscreen? Definitely not.
4:30 PM - Beach Blitz: Okay, the beach is… magnificent. The sand is warm, the waves are gentle. Life is good. I plop my towel down, apply a liberal (but probably insufficient) amount of sunscreen, and… promptly fall asleep.
6:00 PM - Sunburn Surprise & Regret: Wake up slightly crisp. The sun has won. Damn. Immediate regret. Everything burns. I probably resemble a slightly cooked lobster. At least I have a good story for when I get back home!
7:00 PM - Dinner & Desperate Hydration: Dinner at a local tapas place. The food is decent, but the service is lacking. I order at least 4 glasses of water because I am pretty sure I'm about to evaporate.
8:00 PM - Evening Stroll & Street Performers: Stroll along the promenade. The air smells salty, and the street is alive with everything! There's a guy juggling flaming batons (impressive). We stop for a little ice cream (delicious). Life is looking up… maybe.
9:00 PM - Bedtime & Sweet, Sweet Sleep: Collapse into bed, utterly exhausted. Despite the sunburn, the minor disasters, and the questionable Spanish, I feel… happy. This is the start of what I hope will be an epic adventure.
Day 2: Dunes & Deeper Appreciation
9:00 - Early Start (Ha!) The first day's tanning experience has taught me, the sun is relentless. Today it's all about embracing the shade.
10:00 - Dune Exploration It's time to go for a dune walk which feels like a pilgrimage to the promise of happiness. The wind whips at my hair and the sand gets in everything. It's glorious.
11:00 - A Mid-Wander Snack and Observation Found a cute little cafe that serves the most amazing churros and coffee. This is living! The locals walking by look at me with what I think is amusement.
12:00 - Dune Dancing I found a secluded spot. The wind, the clouds, and the pure happiness coursing through my veins.
1:00 - Lunch and Chill: Back to the hotel restaurant with a light lunch and a cocktail. A much-needed reset after my dune dance.
2:00 - Relaxation or the Failure of Relaxation: Today I will master the art of doing nothing and doing it well. I close my eyes and… I start thinking about all the things I can do
4:00 - Sunset on the Beach! The sun dips below the horizon, painting the sky in vibrant hues of orange and pink. It is breathtaking.
5:00 - Dinner & Drinks: We try out a restaurant that seems to be pretty touristy. One of the group orders a paella only to find out that there’s no rice in it.
6:00 - Night Cap: Head out to search for some nightlife
Day 3:
The Dolphin Tour Adventure: This is it, the thing I've been most excited about! I'm obsessed with dolphins!
9:00 AM – The Great Dolphin Chase Begins! Arrive at the harbor for the boat trip. The sea is beautiful. I can feel the excitement bubbling. We are, as the captain puts it, "dolphin hunters."
10:00 AM - Dolphin Disappointment: The disappointment kicks in. It takes a good long time. Are there even dolphins here? I start trying to will dolphins into existence with the sheer force of my enthusiasm, but the captain is doing his best to look promising, pointing at the sea, saying "Look! Over there! Maybe! Probably not!"
11:00 AM - A Moment of Grace: We finally see them! Dolphins, leaping and cavorting! Pure, unadulterated joy. Amazing! It's a moment I will never forget… until the next boat trip where an actual dolphin leaps right up and touches my hand.
12:00 PM - Beach Day (The Sequel): More beach. More sun. More… everything.
The Rest of the Week: (To be filled in with a combination of relaxation, local cuisine, and the inevitable mishaps. Will probably involve more sunburn and possibly a lost phone. Details to follow… maybe.)
Important Considerations:
- Food: I’m planning on eating literally everything. Every tapa, every paella, every ridiculously cheap ice cream cone.
- Drinks: Agua and Cerveza will be staples. I'm also promising myself to taste some local wine.
- Language: My Spanish is… limited. Expect lots of gestures and confused looks.
- Flexibility: This schedule is not set in stone. It’s more of a… suggestion. If I want to spend a whole day eating churros, so be it.
Final Thoughts:
I came here to relax, explore, and, most importantly, laugh! This is not about perfection. It’s about embracing the mess, the mishaps, and the beautiful, chaotic reality of travel. And if I come home with a tan, a few good stories, and a general sense of well-being, I'll consider it a win. Wish me luck! And perhaps a little sunblock.
Batam Island Paradise: Stunning Sea View Apartment 12AF Awaits!
Escape to Paradise: Maspalomas' Dunas Resort FAQ (Because Real Life Isn't Perfect!)
Alright, so you're thinking about Maspalomas and this "Dunas Resort," huh? Let's be real. I've been, I've seen, and I've got some *opinions*. This isn't some perfectly curated travel blog; this is the raw, unfiltered truth. Think of it less like a polished brochure and more like your brutally honest best friend giving you the lowdown. Buckle up, buttercup.
1. Is it *really* paradise? Or just… a nice place?
Paradise? Look, I'm a cynical New Yorker. My idea of paradise involves a good bagel and a decent cup of coffee. But Maspalomas... it's *close*. Those dunes? Absolutely breathtaking. Walking barefoot on that golden sand, listening to the waves… yeah, it's pretty damn special. But let's manage expectations, shall we? I spent a whole afternoon trying to get the sand out of EVERYWHERE (and failing) so, you know, not *perfect* paradise. And there were SAND FLIES. Sand flies are NOT paradise. They’re tiny, bloodthirsty, and I swear, one of them bit me in the *eyebrow*. I’m still traumatized.
**Pro Tip:** Bring bug spray. Seriously. And maybe eye protection. Just in case the sand flies stage a siege. They're cunning little devils.
2. Okay, so the Dunas Resort… what's it *actually* like? Is it as fancy as the pictures?
Picture-perfect? Mostly. The lobby? Impressive. The pools? Beautiful. The rooms? Depends. I'm going to level with you: I booked a "Superior Room" and, let's just say, it wasn't *quite* the penthouse suite I’d imagined. It was clean, yes. The air conditioning worked (thank God), and the bed was comfy enough to collapse into after a day of dune-walking. But there was a slight… *vibe* of wear and tear. A little chipped paint here, a slightly wobbly chair there. It felt like the ghost of a hairdryer from the 80s still lingered in the bathroom. Not a dealbreaker, but definitely not the glossy magazine spread you see online.
And... there was a stain. On the carpet. I’m not going to speculate on the *nature* of the stain. But it was there. It wasn't the end of the world but you know how you think, "Oh, that's someone else's life juice" and you can’t quite un-think it? Yeah. That.
**My Recommendation:** Don't be afraid to ask for a different room if something isn't right. The staff were generally very helpful… unless you’re complaining *too* much, in which case you might get "that look." You know *the look*.
3. Food. Tell me about the food. Because a bad vacation is a hungry vacation.
The food! Okay, this is where things get… meandering. The main buffet restaurant? It’s… *there*. Lots of options, which is great if you’re like me and have the attention span of a goldfish. Pasta, paella (sometimes), salads, grilled meats, the usual suspects. Quality? Variable. Some days it was surprisingly good. Other days… well, let's just say I ate a lot of bread and cheese. The desserts? Hit or miss. Some were delightful, some were… *interesting*. Think brightly coloured gelatine concoctions. It’s a mystery tour.
**My Absolute, Undying Love (and Hate) for the “Cooked Breakfast”**
Let's talk about the cooked breakfast. Eggs. Bacon. Sausages. All of the breakfast basics. But here is where I encountered my most *memorable* food-related experience. One morning, my friend, Sarah and I were at the buffet and the bacon. Oh God the bacon! It looked glorious, crispy strips piled high. I reached for it. Took a bite. *Instantly*, my teeth met something… hard. So hard, I couldn't bite through it. I discreetly pulled it out of my mouth (smooth operator, I am), and saw that a small piece of uncooked, stone hard fat that was somehow still attached to the bacon. Raw, rock-like fat. And it was just stuck there. I looked at Sarah. Sarah looked at me. We both made the exact same face: a mixture of disgust, bewilderment, and utter, stunned silence. I left the table. Sarah went to the bar for a very large coffee. I still have nightmares. I swear, the uncooked fat is mocking me. I can taste it now. It was a culinary trauma! I wouldn’t want that to ever happen to anyone.
**Pro Tip:** Embrace the a la carte restaurants if you can. They’re a step up from the buffet, and they're a welcome break from the “what will I eat this time” game I played with the buffet. And for the love of all that is holy, CHECK YOUR BACON.
4. What's there to *do* besides eat and get sand everywhere?
Well, obviously, the beach! Spend a day getting cooked, then a few days trying to get the sand out of your ears. The dunes are incredible; walk, run, take photos. Be prepared to get lost because they look identical. Try not to step on the local lizard population, they're surprisingly fast. There's also watersports available - jet skis, paddleboards... all the usual thrills (and potential spills). The resort has pools, a spa, and various activities, they usually have a bit of a calendar of daytime games. And the evening shows were… well, let's just say the talent varied wildly, but hey, it’s entertainment, right? It’s fun.
**The Pool Experience:** I spent many hours beside the pool. It was a good place to read, people-watch (highly recommended), and occasionally, fall asleep and get a bit sunburned. The pool itself was lovely. Clean, refreshing, and a welcome respite from the scorching sun. The only downside? Fighting for a sun lounger. It’s a competitive sport, people. I witnessed some *serious* sun lounger wars. Towels deployed by sunrise... it’s a whole thing. Be prepared to get your elbows out!
**Evening Entertainment:** The shows? Right. There was one group. I think they were called "The Sunset Serenaders" or something. They were a group of… elderly gentlemen, crooning covers of 70’s ballads. Think Barry Manilow meets a retirement home talent show. They were… endearingly terrible, in a way that's hard to define. I ended up laughing so hard that I probably annoyed everyone around me. In a good way. Maybe? Yes, definitely in a good way. Mostly.
5. Overall, is it worth the money?
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