First it needs to be noted that the past reviews are very old. I believe these bungalows are privately owned now and the complex is now one for residents, it is not a 'holiday' complex, there is no entertainment, kids club, restaurants etc.
It has a big lovely pool and a vey small kiddies pool. There are more than enough chairs and plenty of space. These are completely surounded by a secure fence so kids can not get in without an adult, and the area around the pools has been recently refreshed-new paint, etc. The pool is not heated.
Each bungalow has its own garden and most have a secure fence around them also.
We rented number 120 'Alcatraz'. It was perfect for a family holiday-everything you might need is there, a fully stocked kitchen, dishwasher, washing machine, a full supply of DVD's and two televisions in different rooms (no English channels though), many board games, adult and children's books. There is also air conditioning. The owners, knowing we were from the UK left multipoint extension leads with UK shaped openings, English travel brochures and other nice homey touches. They have 6 bikes available for you to use (3 adults, 1 junior, and 2 childrens),helmets for the kids, bike locks, skooters and a trampoline. There is a large grassy garden, some garden games and even beach and pool supplies. The layout of the interiors may vary bungalow to bungalow as it appears many people have done major improvements throughout the complex, but ours had a bedroom upstairs for the kids, a double bedroom on the ground floor, a sitting area, a dining area and a kitchen area plus a large table and marquee outside for al fresco dining (and a charcoal BBQ too).
The complex was a holiday resort before so behind the pool area is the remains of the old complex and it looks really run down back there-but from the looks of the work going on in the rest of the complex i think they will be tearing that stuff down. It is ugly back there, but it did not affect us in anyway.
The bungalows are near to an (empty) cannel which has a very nice flat path along both sides so we rode the bikes to the Maspalomas beach each day, you have to go along a road for no more than 5 minutes to get to this path and then it is a very safe easy ride to the beach-about 15 minutes ride (with kids, less without!). We did walk it one evening and it took about 35 minutes (with kids).
The main night life (shops, restaurants, etc) are also in Maspalomas so it is really a taxi ride in the nights (about 5 euros each way-taxis in Gran Canaria will only take 4 passengers). There is a entertainment complex 5 minutes walk from the bungalows which was great fun for a few nights, a full bowling alley, large fair style rides, air hockey and arcade games and a kids soft play area. There is also a pub there, and a couple of restaurants but they looked pretty rough and were always empty. The complex is called Holiday World.
There is a nearly vacant shopping complex (Faro 2) very nearby with a small Spar type shop (expensive), and some nearly empty restaurants, but apparantly the whole thing is closing down to replaced with offices or something like that. It was very unappealing and was only good for getting our water each day as it was close by- you wouldnt want to spend any time there. When it closes you will need to taxi to the big grocery stores or ride one of the bikes to the other local ones(-but that bike ride is along main roads and you would not want to take the kids with you).
So in summary this was a great bungalow complex to stay in , but it is a little remote from the main life in the night. The main thing to remember is that is where a lot of people live so it more residential than 'holiday'.
- Hotel Sonora
- Sonora Golf Bungalows
