Hotel LIVVO Lago Taurito

“Livvo lago taurito- long review but loved our stay.”

I was a little apprehensive about our stay here after reading the reviews but decided to go in with an open mind, after all if you book a 3 star hotel for a cheap and cheerful getaway then why would you expect the Ritz. I can safely say that the hotel and this holiday has exceeded our expectation… more

I was a little apprehensive about our stay here after reading the reviews but decided to go in with an open mind, after all if you book a 3 star hotel for a cheap and cheerful getaway then why would you expect the Ritz. I can safely say that the hotel and this holiday has exceeded our expectations and I wouldn't think twice about booking to come again. I think a lot of these comments are really unfair but everyone is entitled to their own opinions. The Livvo Lago Taurito is probably one of the better 3 star hotels we have been too and I don't think the pictures on the travel booking site really do it justice, I actually walked past the entrance of the hotel as I could see this lovely tiled/marbled reception area and thought based on the reviews I could be expecting a dive of a hotel. The staff at the hotel are all absolutely lovely and incredibly hard working, the rooms are, I suppose what you could call basic but impeccably clean thanks to the brilliant housekeeping team who are around every day apart from sundays so you get fresh towels and bedding regularly, the bathroom is probably the most tired looking but again perfectly clean and functioning - this is likely due to how salty the sea and beach are though. The family rooms also have a kitchenette -fridge with small freezer, small hob and extractor fan, sink and microwave though if you plan to use the appliances you will need to source your own cutlery and crockery as you only have a few drinking glasses provided, the room also has a pull out bed which we've found comfy enough considering it's a pull out sofa bed and there's a TV in the room, balcony doors also lock and they were too hard for our 5year old to open himself so that was a worry off our minds (May seem silly to add but we have stayed in hotels where the balcony locks were easy to open) the family rooms are really spacious and has a lovely big balcony that fits a table and 4 chairs, a clothes airer the pool inflatables and still has room to spare. The all inclusive food- it seems that the food reviews are very hit and miss, we've honestly thought the food has been fantastic for AI. There's certainly plenty to choose from, it is what you'd expect from AI which means they cater to the masses so yes, you tend to find there is always a stew/casserole type dish as the main meals but it's always changed up between lamb, pork, beef, chicken and veal and its a very small part of the offerings. There is always a variety of veg, rice and pastas, chips or potatoes, freshly grilled meats and fish, pizza and bread stations, children's foods (nuggets, hot dogs etc) and a fantastic salad bar (yes it's a sad thing to be excited for) it has all the usual salad staples but plenty of grains and beans, mackerel, capers and salad sauces etc. They also do themes nights so we've had some delicious kebabs, fajitas and tacos etc. If you're after silver service on your holiday then there are some lovely 5 star hotels around Gran Canaria. The hotel pool is warm enough, seems chilly when you're getting in but it's actually a great reprieve from the sun.. there are lots of loungers BUT you'll be lucky to get any as they are reserved by guests early. I won't lie and we became guilty of doing the same a day or two in as I adopted the if you can't beat them join them approach ... we have a 5 year old who loves the pool and we wanted to be close by to keep an eye on him. There is plenty to do around the hotel, beach is a minute or two walk away, entertainment arena which had shows every night, plenty of gift shops (be confident in haggling), waterpark which is great fun and has plenty of loungers- it is saltwater and cold but you quickly get used to it, it's not all inclusive though but seems you get your entry with the holiday package we didn't mind and the prices weren't too bad for the food and drinks. There is the arcades which our little one loved and of course you have to pay to use the attractions, same with football/tennis areas you need to pay to use them. We booked a dolphin sighting excursion on the magic III catamaran which was amazing and we did get to see the dolphins, crew were so entertaining and food was great, you pay 1 euro on board for a reusable cup and then you get your refills, the crew do ask for a tip at the end of the tour and if you want the big sunbeds on board then you need to pay 15euro. We booked through Rachel who is at the kiosk just opposite the hotel entrance and up the road a little and she was great and really informative. There is a supermarket and pharmacies on the resort also. All in all we've had a great stay, don't be too put off by the bad reviews, we're glad we gave this hotel a chance- just remember you get what you pay for and we've loved our cheap and cheerful break.

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“Good Holiday”

Just returned from a weeks holiday here, We found the hotel to be very clean and the staff very helpful & friendly. The dining room was a bit like a canteen, due to noisy kids running around and spilling food all over the floor. However the food was of good standard and always had a good choice. Th… more

Just returned from a weeks holiday here, We found the hotel to be very clean and the staff very helpful & friendly. The dining room was a bit like a canteen, due to noisy kids running around and spilling food all over the floor. However the food was of good standard and always had a good choice. The wine was not bad and the drinks were typical A/I drinks but were o.k. The pool area is way too small for the size of the hotel but you do have free access to the waterpark next to the hotel. The sun loungers were in short supply and you have to get up very early to get your loungers - this was impacted when we were there as there were lots of kids, with parents and grand-parents which meant a family alone could take up to 6-8 beds per family. The beach was small but nice and sandy, the sunbeds on the beach were a bit worn and could do with replacing, the cost was 3.5 euros per bed and 3.5 euros per parasol, payment was with card only - no cash. Our room was quite large with good beds and furniture. Snacks around the pool bar were a bit limited, usually hot dogs & burgers, there were also some pastries which were quite nice. The drinks were served in paper cups which is understandable around the pool area. The waterpark was good and did not get crowded with lots of sun loungers, this was free entry for hotel guests only. Poolside entertainment was a bit poor.

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“Basic, but ok”

We just returned from a family holiday. The hotel was basic, but very clean. Our family suite on the ground floor was spacious and well kept, compared to our in laws 5th floor bedroom which was tiny. The cleaners did an amazing job every day and we really appreciated this. Beds ok, although husband… more

We just returned from a family holiday. The hotel was basic, but very clean. Our family suite on the ground floor was spacious and well kept, compared to our in laws 5th floor bedroom which was tiny. The cleaners did an amazing job every day and we really appreciated this. Beds ok, although husband found them hard, pillows absolutely awful and flat. Air conditioning wasn't cold, but not sure if it is because it was February. The swimming pool that is on the hotel grounds is very small for the size of the amount of people there - another could easily be added - it is freshwater but very busy, especially by the afternoon. The sun starts coming across this deck in February around 10-10.30am, but not fully across until 12.30ish. Lifeguards at hotel pool are brilliant. There was an incident where a toddler slipped/ tripped and the lifeguard was on it straight away. I saw him fill out an incident form straight away and take photos and call someone. The next day I saw what looked like management come out to assess the area and take more photos etc. Food is ok, buffet, I'm not a fussy person but I mostly had pizza and salad each night. They do have a little childrens area where they can self serve which is lovely - spaghetti, burgers, chicken nuggets and chips. Breakfast was good for a full english, not much cereal choice though and only cows milk available. Toasters slow just to be aware. Restaurant staff very good at keeping the place clean and clearing tables very quickly, The waterpark in the centre is used by all hotels and also the public. It is saltwater, which we didn't realise until after booking, so you need to make sure you bring goggles. Our 6 year old didn't want to use the slides after 3 days because of the saltwater. The bigger slides are for 120cm (our child was too small for them which is a pain as we only booked the hotel for the slides) and over and the 3 smaller ones by the entrance of the waterpark are for 100cm and over - but adults can still use them - they are great. Very fun, but the whole park is tired looking, tiles are loose and the floor is broken - highly recommend buying water shoes to use there (the shops on the promenade sell them - size up!) Could do with modernising to be honest. Food and snacks are not included in the waterpark - which is annoying as we paid for all inclusive and didn't use it to it's full potential. But saying that, it was very peaceful and quiet and I preferred being down there to the chaos of the pool at the hotel. You have to get beach/ pool towels from the Spa across the road. This took us a full day to find out as all of the staff gave us different answers. On the promenade there is an arcade at the end which we loved. Lots of fun, but we also spent lots of money! The owner is so lovely and he was great with the kids. They are making upgrades and looks like they'll be setting up VR things in the next few weeks. Lots of shops around the hotel, so it turned into an expensive trip. There are 2 pharmacies though and a supermarket which was very helpful. All in all, the hotel and holiday was lovely, but we wouldn't return.

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