Allsun Hotel Albatros

You arrive at Allsun Hotel Albatros in a large subtropical garden, with three outdoor pools, several sun terraces and the sea at the edge of the property. The setting is calm rather than cut off: the promenade runs alongside the hotel, and the town centre is only a few minutes away on foot.

English is spoken by the hotel team, alongside German, so you can deal with the practicalities without turning every question into a small linguistic expedition. The layout suits a proper holiday base, whether you are travelling as a couple, with friends or with family: there is space to sit outside, a pool area for doing very little and enough on-site activity to keep non-divers occupied.

The hotel is in Teguise, on Lanzarote, directly beside the sea and the coastal promenade. Playa de las Cucharas, a gently shelving sandy beach, is about 0.25 miles away on foot, with sun loungers and parasols available there. Playa Bastián and Playa del Jablillo are also nearby.

You are not being dropped in the middle of nowhere. The local centre is a short walk away, while the promenade gives you an easy route for an evening stroll when the legs have had enough of the day but the room feels a little too soon.

The accommodation is arranged as apartments rather than simple hotel rooms, which gives you more room to spread out after a day of travel, swimming or walking. The larger layout has two separate bedrooms; another arrangement combines a bedroom with a living area and sofa bed. That makes the choice fairly straightforward: take the two-bedroom option when everyone wants proper sleeping space, or choose the smaller layout when you are travelling as a couple and would rather have a living area.

Sea views and partial sea views are available in some categories, with a balcony or terrace for the first coffee of the morning or the last quiet drink of the evening. Air conditioning matters on Lanzarote when you return warm and tired, while a small fridge gives you somewhere to keep water cool. A shower, television and hairdryer cover the basics without ceremony, and some accommodation includes a safe.

The hotel has 276 rooms across the main building and several low-rise buildings in a Canary Islands bungalow style. The garden setting keeps the accommodation connected to the outdoors, but you still have the useful indoor comforts: air conditioning, Wi-Fi and a private place to sit down rather than balancing everything on the edge of a suitcase.

All-inclusive is the central arrangement here. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served in buffet form, with hot and cold dishes, themed evenings, show cooking and speciality buffets. The restaurant has a terrace, which is the sensible place to aim for when you would rather eat outside and keep the day moving at its own pace.

Breakfast is a buffet, with a late-riser service running until 11:30. That is useful when an early start has not been part of the plan, or when the previous day ended with rather more conversation than sleep. Snacks are served in the afternoon between 14:30 and 16:30, followed by coffee, tea and cake.

There is a main bar with an outdoor terrace and a pool bar for the hours when changing out of swimwear feels like unnecessary administration. Non-alcoholic drinks and national alcoholic drinks are included from 10:00 to midnight. There is no need to make the day revolve around finding somewhere to eat: breakfast, lunch, dinner, afternoon snacks and drinks are all built into the hotel’s routine.

Three outdoor pools divide the day neatly: two are described as activity pools, while one is reserved for quieter lounging. Sun terraces, loungers and parasols surround them, so you can choose between a little movement and the classic post-breakfast decision to remain exactly where you are. A children’s pool and a playground add a family layer to the pool area.

The spa covers 420 square metres and includes a Finnish sauna, bio sauna, steam bath, experience shower, Jacuzzi, relaxation room and terrace. Massages, facial treatments, manicures and pedicures are available when your muscles have had enough of being useful. For more active recovery, the fitness centre has cardio and strength equipment, with yoga, Pilates, Body-Fit, fascia training, back exercises, relaxation classes and other fitness sessions.

You can also use the tennis court, multifunction court, table-tennis area and darts. Bicycles are available through the resort’s cycling station, with bike hire, storage, a workshop and organised tours. In the evening, the programme moves towards live music, shows, dance evenings, cinema nights and chill-out sessions. A kids’ club for children aged 3 to 16 runs six times a week during the main German school holidays, with activities split by age group.

Check-in starts at 15:00 and check-out is by 10:00. The reception operates around the clock, which is useful when travel arrangements refuse to respect office hours. Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel, including in the accommodation, and parking is available on site.

An airport shuttle can be arranged as a paid service, and car hire is available if you want to explore more of Lanzarote beyond the promenade and nearby beaches. The hotel also has a currency exchange service, lift access to the upper floors and facilities for guests with reduced mobility. Laundry and dry-cleaning services are available, as is a wake-up service.

Visa and Mastercard are accepted. The electrical supply is 230 volts with type C and F sockets, so check your charger before leaving home rather than discovering the issue beside the pool. The hotel is a practical base for a self-contained holiday: arrive, settle in, eat without hunting for a restaurant and keep the car optional rather than compulsory.