What can i say this hotel is perfect let me start with the staff,everyone was so friendly check in was a pleasure the housekeeping and dining staff could not have been nicer.We only stayed on a a bed and breakfast basis again fantastic array of food to suit everyone you could even have any amount of champers with your brekkie..the rooms are modern with huge showers and ample storage flat screen tv,s although no english channels only news big comfy beds if your like me and like your cuppa you will to bring a travel kettle.The guests at the hotel are mostly older germans and dutch as is the resort of maspalomas.I cannot thank the staff enough for the extra touches they brought bottle of champers, fresh fruit bowl and a card as it was my hubbys birthday.The Faro is expensive as is all the hotels in the area but you do get the personal touch here the other hotels are way to big and impersonal.and no other hotel could equal the sea views just wish i was back there.

Myself and the boyfriend went for the first week in Aug, after spending ages looking over the various resorts and speaking to a number of people we picked Maspalomas, we definitely made the right choice. Other options were Puerto Rico - too far out and Playa Des Ingles - party town. Don’t get me wrong I’m only 24 and the boyfriends 26 but we didn’t want to do the whole clubbing scene and Maspalomas was perfect choice for a couples holiday.
The IFA Faro was amazing and reminded me of a London hotel, clean and staff were very friendly. Not at all what I was expecting. According to the well travelled boyfriend, European hotels were nothing like ones in England and I better not be expecting the Crowne Plaza. How wrong he was..! It was just like the CP..! Our room was on the first floor and was very spacious with a furnished balcony. We had a double room but the bed was two mediums one making up a massive bed but have seen this in the Hilton before. We were side facing so we could see the beach and the little market too. Bathroom was one of the best I’ve ever seen, absolutely massive with marble floor, well lit, big mirror with hair dryer, bath and decent shower, clean toilet and bidet . Only downside was the door was made of glass and did not have a lock. We went B&B and the breakfast was fantastic, several various counters – fruits & yoghurts, pasties, salads, cereals and a hot counter. Masses of room in the restaurant and very quick staff. These people really do earn their tips, everyday as soon as we entered the dining room we were seated asap and tea/coffee was brought over in a blink of an eye. One particular girl on reception – Denise – was fantastic and I would go as far as to say without her our holiday may not have been so great. One of the few English speaking staff members but she was there most days, Even though we had researched “things to do” before we left she told us what was good and what was not. Where to eat, where to catch the bus, numbers times, taxi fares, which shopping centres to visit…everything…!
Cannot comment on the hotel entertainment as we didn’t stay in the hotel in an evening, There were things going on though, a show and acts.
The hotel pool was clean and quiet. Good for those who want to relax. Plus there was a small gym. Enough for a basic workout.
One evening we did go down to the hotel buffet. It was a Spanish theme that night. Was not to my liking and cost €40 plus. That was the most we paid for a meal on our whole trip and didn’t enjoy. The room from the room service menu was brilliant though and about half the price. Warm enough to eat on the balcony on an evening too.
There are that many restaurants to choose from within a few mins walk there is no point paying to eat in the hotel. The restaurants were amazing, mostly Italian and all serving near enough the same food. All seating was outside by the sea front and was really nice. And an aver meal for 2 was about €25-35.
Also if you walk along the coast for about 20 mins you will discover a row of hidden restaurants, quiet but very romantic. And there were a bit more traditional and Spanish with paella and such on the menu. Well worth the walk.
In the direction of the beach there is also a few smaller restaurants and there is a café actually attached to the hotel itself. Café de Paris, nice for lunch. The fruit smoothies were yummy..!
For those of you who like food like myself you will not go hungry and there is something NICE for even the pickiest of eaters, again like me..!
The beach is a stones throw away from the hotel. There are a couple of supermarkets not too far away. We went every other day to get bottle water and snacks. They sold everything, And we also discovered a casino behind the supermarkets which we went to a few evening. Just need a form of ID.
The following are worth a visit – Aqualand which is an outdoor water park and is an all day activity - €25 per adult and taxi was around €6 each way
Camel Riding – a short walk from the hotel and €12 per adult, will take a 1-2 hours all together. An experience..!
Day trip to Puerto Rico and Playa de Morgan, A whole day activity. Bus to Puerto Rico where you change for Playa De Morgan so may as well a little look round whilst your there. Not much to see. The second bus ride to Play De Morgan is on for the faint hearted as your drive along the cliff edge for most of it and the roads are rather narrow. On the upside the buses are like coaches so more spacious and comfy than our buses..! Whole journey was about €8 per adult. Playa de Morgan is definitely worth a visit and check which day the market is when you arrive and go on that day. Small town with lots a places to eat, a lovely beach and lots of stall with pretty souvenirs rather than the generic ones from all the shops. There is also a little shopping centre on one side, same as all the rest. Not worth the walk but curiosity will get the better of you..!
Day trip to the Atlantico shopping centre. Apparently this was the best one, if you’re a shopaholic like me the shopping will not be to your taste anywhere on this island. A lot of tourist shops everywhere selling the usual souvenirs. Quite a few boutiques but shopaholics will know the average price of things and even with the conversation of € to £ prices were rather much the same as home so there is no point wasting your time and luggage allowance for what you can buy on your doorstep probably cheaper when the sales/offers are on..! Back to Altantico the only shop I recognised was Zara, the rest were smaller stores. Worth a visit but only if you like shopping as the journey is around 45 mins on the bus. There is a food court with fast food outlets.
Do not visit the Fara 2 shopping centre. There is nothing there. All the shops have shut down and it was like a ghost town. There were a few pub type places with the waiters trying to get you in but there was nobody in there except the staff..! Not a waste journey though as Holiday World is across the road, Basically a mini fair ground with a few rides and Ferris wheel. Not worth the trip on its own but seen as we were there. Didn’t make it to the Yumbo centre so cannot comment. Looks like the rest though from when we went past on the bus.
For those of you who want a bit more action, this can be found at Playa des Ingles. Defiantly more touristy and a lot more people around. The beach at Playa Des ingles has a water sport section. Taxi there was €6 each way. We hired a jet ski for 20 mins for €50 for two. Was worth the experience. We also went for a night out there, club called the Funky Buddha at Lamai Beach and the name escapes me of the other place (the bar tenders dress in white overalls with nothing underneath.!) both in the Kasbah centre. Free entry and 2 for 1 drinks everywhere, but bearing in mind its about €14 for 2 drinks. There are more measure in place here, so good for some and not for others. In the clubs though the vodka tasted watered down but not in the casino. Like a mini Ibiza for those who want that. No need to dress up as I found and no need for shoes as he found/ There was an new Pasha club there but the queue was massive and a fee to get in. Plenty of places for food after and a long lone of taxi’s to get you back.
For those of you who want a relaxing but also fun holiday would definitely recommend the IFA Faro in Maspalomas as it is in a good location and could not fault a thing..!

We stayed at the IFa Hotel over the Easter Holidays. The hotel was exceptional in terms of customer care, everywhere was spotless and the dining experience was incredible.
On arriving in the diningroom every morning we were greeted by smiling courteous staff and the food was superb again in the evening for dinner. We had opted for half board and it was amazing value.The pool staff were also very helpful and there was an abundance of sun beds. The hotel is right on the beach and is perfect for a walks. We will definitely go back. I would highly recommend it.

Stayed 2 weeks, Christmas New Year. Nearly everything perfect. Best location, if you like to be close to the sea. Clean, very friendly staff and good breakfast. Is super for surfers (20 m to the waves). We played golf, 5 minutes away (hotel owner is also golf owner = price reduction). Plenty of shops and restaurants nearby. Prices are correct for drinks and food. Perfect WIFI in the room cost E 5/day, if more then 3 days. Only one negative point. We booked full sea view room and the old guys on the reception gave us side view room. After my havy complaint they gave us the booked room. The young guys on the reception were perfect. We liked the place.