Ura Lara - Adults Only

“Nice family hotel”

We stayed at Ura Nido del Águila in Gran Canaria as a family of four (2 adults and 2 children) on an all-inclusive stay. Overall, for the price we paid, we felt it was good value for money. There were a few things that could definitely be improved. The shower didn’t drain properly, there was no ai… more

We stayed at Ura Nido del Águila in Gran Canaria as a family of four (2 adults and 2 children) on an all-inclusive stay. Overall, for the price we paid, we felt it was good value for money. There were a few things that could definitely be improved. The shower didn’t drain properly, there was no air conditioning and no washing machine. The pool hours are limited to 10:00–19:00, which would be nice to have extended. We also weren’t aware of the €100 deposit required on arrival when we made the booking, so this was an unexpected extra. The reception area also feels quite old and dated. On the positive side, the food was nice, our room was cleaned every day, and thankfully we had no issues with bugs or cockroaches. Overall, it’s a quiet and clean hotel, and the staff were friendly and helpful, both at reception and in the food area. We also really appreciated being allowed to leave our luggage at the hotel until our transfer arrived, which made our departure much easier. All in all, it’s not a luxury or modern resort, and there are a few things that could be improved, but considering what we paid for an all-inclusive family holiday, we thought it was good value overall.

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“An enjoyable stay with some negatives.”

We stayed here for five nights in early August as a young couple. After reading some negative reviews about the food and rooms, we arrived with realistic expectations. Overall, we had a good holiday and felt it was a decent three-star hotel, but there are a few things worth knowing. Food & All-Incl… more

We stayed here for five nights in early August as a young couple. After reading some negative reviews about the food and rooms, we arrived with realistic expectations. Overall, we had a good holiday and felt it was a decent three-star hotel, but there are a few things worth knowing. Food & All-Inclusive: The biggest downside was the food. There wasn't much variety, although as we're fussy eaters that wasn't the main issue — we simply didn't find much of it very appealing. The dining room wasn't particularly nice either, with several large tables in the middle and only a few tables for two, making seating awkward at times. Cleanliness could also have been better. Breakfast was probably the best meal, with the usual options plus fruit, pancakes, churros, muffins, bread, toast and a chocolate dispenser. There was also a gluten-free section, although the choice was limited. The all-inclusive bar included wine, beer, soft drinks, machine-made cocktails and small pots of ice cream. Branded ice creams and some other drinks cost extra. We were happy with the free options, but we regularly bought food from the supermarket or local takeaways, so personally we wouldn't recommend paying extra for all-inclusive. Rooms: We'd read that the rooms were outdated, but we had no problem with ours. For a three-star hotel, it was well equipped, with a TV, lovely balcony with table and chairs, and a kitchen containing a kettle, coffee maker, microwave, oven, fridge/freezer and plenty of utensils. There was also a wardrobe, paid safe and hairdryer. The Wi-Fi wasn't great, so I mainly used mobile data. You get three towels every three days and sheets are changed weekly, with extra charges for additional towels or earlier changes. This wasn't an issue for us as we bought our own pool towels. There is no included air conditioning, but a unit can be hired for €10 per day. We used the fan instead, which worked well. The room was hot during the day but cooler in the evenings. Our main concern was the window next to our bed, which didn't lock and could easily be opened from outside. This made us feel unsafe, although the area itself felt secure and there was a very friendly security guard around in the evenings. Pools: There are separate A and B pools depending on which section your room is in. We stayed in B and preferred it as it was much quieter and more peaceful. The A pool has the bar, outdoor seating and smoking area, so it was much livelier. There were plenty of sun loungers and we never struggled to find one. The hotel is non-smoking apart from the designated area, although we did notice people smoking on balconies. Staff & Facilities: The staff were generally lovely and friendly. Despite reading negative reviews about reception, we had no issues. Some bar staff spoke limited English, which occasionally made ordering difficult, but they were always helpful. The chefs were probably the least enthusiastic. There's a free beach shuttle twice a day. Check-in is at 3pm, although our room was ready early. On arrival, we also paid a €100 deposit and around €1.60 tourist tax. We were told the deposit would be returned on departure, although we've only been home for two days and haven't received it yet. Check-out is at 11am, but the luggage room and shower at reception were really useful as we had a late flight. All-inclusive officially ends at 11am on departure day, although this didn't seem to be strictly checked. Housekeeping is available every day except Thursdays and Sundays. Location: The location is convenient, with a supermarket about 30 seconds away and bars, restaurants and souvenir shops around a two-minute walk away. There isn't a huge amount to do locally, so it became a little repetitive, but we really enjoyed the €7 mini-golf. We also visited Mogan Mall on Saturday and enjoyed the 9:30pm fountain show. There are plenty of familiar shops, including clothing, jewellery and sports shops. However, getting a taxi back was difficult, and we waited around 30 minutes in the queue. Overall, we had a good experience. The rooms were better than expected, the balconies and pools were lovely, the staff were friendly and the location was convenient. The main criticism is definitely the food. If you're paying significantly more for all-inclusive, we'd expect better food and a nicer dining environment. The unlocked window was also a genuine security concern that we think the hotel should address. For us, five nights was the perfect length of stay. We probably wouldn't choose this hotel for a much longer holiday, but for five nights it worked well and we came away feeling we'd had a good holiday.

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