Earlier this year, I jetted off to Lanzarote to visit its swanky new hotel - the four star Barceló Playa Blanca. Dubbed the 'biggest hotel in Lanzarote', the huge 720-room resort couldn't have appeared any more glam as I was browsing the pictures.
I've never been to Lanzarote before, so I wasn't entirely sure what to expect, but one thing was for sure - I couldn't wait - and I was anything but disappointed when I got there. As soon as I walked into the lobby, my jaw dropped - and that is no exaggeration. Designed by architect Pep Vich, the entire hotel encapsulates the white and rocky Lanzarote terrain, but with an indulgently modern twist.
The lobby is its centre point, and I challenge anyone to walk in without immediately saying 'wow'. Huge glass windows look out onto the intricately designed hotel complex, and in the midst, you can see the island of Fuertaventura across ocean - a special touch you won't find elsewhere. Upon check in, I was handed a glass of fizz by one of the friendly check-in staff - an immediate thumbs up from me.
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The process was quick and easy, and I was quickly into my room - one of the Royal Level suites. The Royal Level is an adult's only area, with its own exclusive bars, chill out areas and restaurants for those staying there. So if you're like me, and would rather relax without having to drown out the noise of children running around, it's the perfect option.
As I walked to my suite, I couldn't help but be blown away with the glistening blue swimming pools. There are two at Barceló Playa Blanca - which include the main 180-metre long infinity pool as well as a heated infinity pool, which is exclusively for the Royal Level rooms. It's also worth noting that there are plenty of sun loungers, so you won't need to set an alarm for 4am every day to get one.
Opening the door into my room, I quickly gasped my second 'wow' of the day. My room was sleek and modern, with a massive bed (I'd soon discover it would be so comfy I'd struggle to get out of it in the morning), and all the little touches you'd normally find in a five-star hotel.
As well as high-end toiletries, the room also contained a dressing gown, and fully stocked mini bar for me to enjoy at my leisure. But the real star of the show, was the private swim up pool outside, which contained two sun loungers. I immediately took a dip in the pool, and despite it being February, found it surprisingly warm under the heat of the afternoon sun.
Once I was able to prise myself out of my swim-up pool, I took a wander to the hotel's sunset bar, having heard it offered an impressive array of cocktails. As a cocktail lover, a decent menu is a must for me on holiday, so I couldn't wait to see what was on offer.
As I arrived and began to read through the menu, I was blown away by what was on offer for all-inclusive guests. There were so many to choose from, including my favourites like spicy margarita, mai tai and pina colada. The service was a little slow, but given the hotel had just opened, and staff were fresh out of training, an extra five minute wait was nothing to moan about.
Throughout my trip, I quickly made my way through the impressive list - with drinks available at bars across the complex, and was rarely disappointed. The mai tais were particularly good, as were the Moscow mules, if you're after a recommendation.
There's actually a grand total of 9 bars & restaurants dotted around Barceló Playa Blanca, so there's plenty of choice, whatever your vibe. My favourite restaurant was the Mexico Lindo restaurant, which serves up the most gorgeous Mexican cuisine - but it's worth noting that this isn't part of the all inclusive offering, so will incur an extra charge.
There's also Koi Restaurant, which serves a range of Chinese, Thai and Japanese cuisine for dinner, though I did not eat here, so can't comment on the food. The main restaurant is Atlantic Buffet Restaurant, which serves breakfast, lunch and dinner with show cooking.
I have to say, the breakfast here was out of this world. It puts other all inclusive buffets I've been to, to shame, and has options for even the pickiest of eaters. Elsewhere, Champs Sports Bar is a must to visit if you stay at Barceló Playa Blanca.
I'm not a sports bar kind of girl, but this is a whole vibe. It was packed with guests having a good time when I visited in February, so I can only imagine what it's like now the Euros are on - it might actually convince me to watch football.
If, like me, you like a bit of a knees up on holiday, you'll find a strip of late night bars, shops, restaurants and clubs a ten minute walk away at the modern Marina Rubicon. Once the all inclusive drinks had ended, myself and a friend headed to a few, and had a brilliant time. If you're looking for an over the top Ibiza kind of vibe, Lanzarote probably isn't the place for you, but if you're just after some good music and a few cocktails with the locals, it's a great choice - especially for couples, I'd say.
If you're looking for a more relaxed approach, the spa is worth a visit. It has a sauna, Turkish bath and massage treatments, as well as an on-site hairdresser and beauty treatments on offer, if you're looking to spruce up for a special occasion.
When I returned, I couldn't stop raving to friends, family, and basically anyone who would listen about how much I'd loved my stay at Barceló Playa Blanca. One of my colleagues actually ended up booking a trip with her whole family, and loved it just as much as I did.
Last month, my friends and I found ourselves with the holiday blues, and quickly filled up the group chat with ideas of where we might want to visit. After pinging ideas to one another for around two weeks straight, and almost losing the will to live, we finally decided we'd head to Marbella this summer, having heard brilliant things.
As I started looking for somewhere to stay, I noticed there's a Barceló hotel in Marbella - and I couldn't believe my luck. If you know anything about Marbella, you'll probably know it can prove pricey in peak season, but the four-star Barceló Marbella was surprisingly reasonable.
I'd already signed up as a My Barceló member during my Lanzarote trip - which you can do for free here. Being a member will allow yo to get an exclusive discount of up to 10% off the rate of your booking and up to an additional 10% discount depending on your my Barceló level. You will also receive special treatment that will enhance your experience thanks to the exclusive advantages for booking at barcelo.com, so it's well worth doing.
It's a refreshing change to find a hotel offering a luxury experience, without costing an arm and a leg to stay at, and I feel content in knowing the level of service I'll get at Barceló on my next visit.
You can book a room at the four-star B arceló Playa Blanca for as little as £135 per night by booking directly through the website here. Or you can find all of the hotel brand's sister properties, which also offer luxury at an affordable price, here.
Elsewhere, you can book package Barceló hotels via Jet2 and TUI - though you won't have the benefit of a My Barcelo account if you opt for these routes.
