Hotel LIVVO Lago Taurito

Here now and honestly after reading the reviews on here I was dreading it! Yes rooms are dated but Aircon is good and cleaned everyday. Food is fine, varied and something for all the family. Always something available anytime of day. Plenty sunbeds to go round without early morning sunbed wars!! Staff are lovely. Pay for what you get... Maybe people who moan shouldn't leave their house! Happy holidays!

Not the best all inclusive experience, as per other reviews the hotel is dated but the room was spacious and comfortable. Pool at the hotel is very tiny considering the amount of guests staying at the hotel - be prepared to reserve your sunbed very early - 5/6am to get a spot. The drainage at the pool does have a horrible smell that is more noticeable with the heat and wind so we didn’t spend anytime there. The waterpark is great for children and a large pool for swimming the bad thing with the waterpark is you don’t get to take advantage of the all inclusive package - you have to pay for all your drinks and food there. Tip - is to go outside to the supermarket and buy snacks, ice cream, water and alcohol to take in which is what we did as a group of 8 with children. The good thing with the water park is that we were always able to get 8 sun beds together in a good spot whatever time of day we arrived. Check in process at the hotel was a nightmare!! Never experienced anything so bad and after a 3 hour delay on the plane on the way out and getting to the hotel at 2am all we wanted to do was check in quickly and get to bed! Lots of families arrived and it took us an hour in the queue to get checked in as it was so slow and only one person on reception working. My tip is - get off the coach quick, get a member of your party to go to reception first whilst the other gets the bags! Food in the restaurant was average & to make it worse - I saw 2 cockroaches in the dining area. We ended up eating out 5 nights of the week! Yes, I appreciate it’s only a 3 star hotel and we booked for the waterpark for the kids more than anything but still the price for 1 adult and 1 child of over £2.5k was not worth it.

We have never been able to afford to go away during the summer holidays, so when this holiday came up at the price we paid, the terrible reviews I had read didn’t put us off. We arrived at around 12am. Check-in was quick and easy, and there was a lovely security guard at reception who was so friendly and polite. We were also given a little packed meal, which was very much appreciated after our long journey. The rooms are a little dated, but they are very spacious and the air conditioning was AMAZING. I had read lots of reviews mentioning cockroaches. We did have one in our room during the week we were there, which obviously wasn’t pleasant, but it was dealt with and that was that. After venturing out to neighbouring areas, we saw several on the streets, so I think they are unfortunately just something you encounter in Gran Canaria and not necessarily something the hotel can completely prevent. When we did stay at the resort, we went to the water park. This was actually the main reason I booked the holiday, and we were not disappointed. The water was lovely and warm, the queues weren’t too long for the slides and there was always a sunbed available. The saltwater mentioned a lot wasn’t a massive issue, just hold your nose and close your eyes when getting to the bottom of slides! The lifeguards at the water park were very friendly and were on it with rule breakers. A little tip: if you go after lunch, people who have left often leave their umbrellas behind in the stands, which can save you the €4 charge. That said, €4 for an umbrella for the whole day is still a bargain and well worth it. Water park tip for smokers/vapers: I’ve seen quite a few people mention the vaping ban at the water park. We are vapers ourselves, so this was something we were aware of before going. However, we did find the designated smoking area, which is basically a long row of beds. It’s definitely worth seeking it out if you’re a smoker or vaper, as we did, rather than thinking you won’t be able to vape at all during your time there. If, like us, you aren’t big drinkers, the fact that you can’t use the all-inclusive facilities at the water park isn’t really a problem. We had breakfast at the hotel, took our water bottles with us and were more than happy with that, then came back out for lunch and returned to the water park afterwards. I personally didn’t find the water park dirty at all, so I was a little confused by some of the reviews I had read beforehand. The food at the hotel was beautiful. There was plenty of variety and lots of different options, so I think there was something for everybody. We didn’t really come across many staff members during our stay, but everyone we did meet seemed pleasant, particularly the restaurant staff and cleaners. We ventured out quite a lot. You can’t get directly to Puerto de Mogán from the resort, but if you get a bus to Playa del Cura and then cross over to the bus stop opposite, you can get a bus directly to Puerto de Mogán. I think it was around €5.60 for a family of four to Playa del Cura and then roughly the same again to Puerto de Mogán. When returning, you go to the bus station in Mogán to catch the bus back. It is so beautiful there, it’s worth a visit. We personally didn’t think much of the beach at the resort, so we went to Amadores Beach by bus instead. It’s only around a 5–10 minute bus ride away and, if you search it beforehand, you’ll see how beautiful it is. The sea is lovely and clear, and there are pedal boats and slide boats, (€15 for a hour) making it a really lovely day out. It’s €15 for two beds and an umbrella for the full day, which I don’t think is too bad at all, but we didn’t bother. The entertainment was brilliant every night. Just make sure you get there before around 7:30pm if you want a seat, otherwise you’ll probably be standing! We are really easy-going people and don’t generally like to moan, but to be completely honest with anyone reading this review, I do want to mention a few negatives. Some of these aren’t necessarily the hotel’s fault, but they are things I think are worth being aware of before booking. 1. The hotel pool We didn’t use the hotel pool because it was absolutely heaving. There didn’t seem to be much of a policy around reserving sunbeds, as they were all taken very early in the morning. There were also quite a few people drinking around the pool throughout the day, and unfortunately this did mean there were some very loud and intoxicated guests around the evening entertainment. This obviously isn’t something the hotel can completely control, but it did affect the atmosphere at times. 2. The bar situation I’ve never stayed somewhere where there wasn’t another all-inclusive bar area away from the pool. If you want a drink during the daytime, you have to go to the pool bar, which can be quite inconvenient. It’s especially difficult when carrying a hot coffee across the slippery poolside. It would be so much better if the Flamingo Bar was open during the day for people who simply wanted to grab a soft drink or coffee. 3. Feeling a little isolated There isn’t really anywhere to just walk around from the resort, so at times you do feel a little trapped in your own bubble. Once we found the bus stop, we were absolutely fine and managed to get out and about, but it would have been really helpful if someone had explained the bus routes or local transport when we arrived. We spent quite a bit of time on our phones trying to work it all out ourselves. 4. People approaching us I had read reviews mentioning people trying to sell drugs and initially thought nothing of it. However, we did have an experience where a man approached us and asked if we wanted to go to the “coffee shop”. I can only assume this was a reference to drugs. There were also a few men hanging around the circular area where the children were playing with the light-up toys. We simply said no and they accepted that and walked away, but it did make us feel a little uncomfortable, so I think it’s worth mentioning for families with children. 5. Late transfer on checkout day Our transfer wasn’t until 6pm and checkout was at 11am, so we were initially worried about how we’d fill the day, especially as you can’t use the water park on checkout day and as always the pool area was rammed. We checked out at 11am, left our luggage in storage and booked a shower with reception for 5:30pm. We then caught the bus to Puerto Rico, did some shopping in Mogan Mall, had a walk around, grabbed a McDonald’s and caught the bus back around 4pm. We then had a burger and coffee at the pool bar before collecting our shower key and towel. We actually filled the day quite easily! So my point is, if you have a late transfer, don’t rely on the hotel to entertain you, get out, explore and make the most of your last day. I think sometimes you have to take reviews with a pinch of salt and judge a place for yourself. It certainly isn’t perfect, but for a family holiday on a budget, we were pleasantly surprised and came home with some really lovely memories.

We’ve just returned home after staying here from Thursday to Thursday. I had been reading the reviews from the previous four months and, honestly, I was really worried and nervous about what we were going to turn up to. So here’s my honest review based on our experience. Hotel We were on the 7th floor, so thankfully we didn’t experience any cockroaches in our room. If you can, try to request rooms that aren’t on the 1st floor, as we spoke to another family staying there who did have cockroaches in their rooms. We had a family room, which was cleaned every day apart from Sunday. We were given fresh towels and had plenty of toilet roll and soap bars provided. I wasn’t particularly bothered about the décor, as you’re mainly there to sleep and shower, so it wasn’t an issue for us. There was a wardrobe with some hangers, although we brought a few of our own just in case. The beds were okay comfort‑wise, and the balcony was huge. All rooms come with a fridge. The lifts can be temperamental, but there are four of them, so it wasn’t too much of an issue. A lot of the problems seemed to be caused by children pressing all the buttons, which would cause the lift to freeze. For a 3‑star hotel, you can’t really expect much, although a lick of paint wouldn’t go amiss. Around the hotel there are areas in need of repair, especially around the pool where tiles are missing and one of the pool ladders is gone. Staff are hit and miss. You cannot fault the cleaners or restaurant staff, as they were all friendly and always spoke. However, on our last day we had to book the communal shower before heading home after a morning at the pool (check‑out is 11am). The lady on the counter was rather blunt and seemed annoyed that a family of four required four towels to shower. While waiting for our transfer, another guest approached the same receptionist regarding an issue with a mobility scooter. The receptionist was extremely rude, constantly interrupting them, not allowing them to finish explaining the problem, and repeatedly referring back to CCTV footage and recordings instead of listening. Food Again, after reading the reviews, I was quite worried about the food, but I was pleasantly surprised by the selection available each day. Breakfast is pretty much the same every day, with a cooked full English, pastries, cereal, fruit, yoghurt, etc., but there is still plenty of choice. Lunch and evening meals had a huge variety, as well as the usual kids’ options such as nuggets, chips, hamburgers, hot dogs, spaghetti and pasta with sauce. And importantly, we NEVER saw a cockroach in the restaurant. Pool This is probably where the hotel lets itself down a little. The pool itself could do with some maintenance, particularly with broken tiles, but my main gripe was the sunbed situation If you want to spend the whole day by the pool, you’ll need to get down there early because the number of people putting towels on sunbeds at 6 am is absolutely ridiculous. I know this happens at lots of hotels, but personally I think it’s really rude, especially when we noticed that some of the “reserved” sunbeds weren’t actually being used until after 12 pm. I complained to Jet2 about this and also mentioned it to reception. Jet2 were great and sent a complaint email on our behalf, but reception didn’t seem to care, even though our itinerary specifically states not to reserve sunbeds. They simply shrugged it off and said they didn’t have the staff. A simple solution would be to keep the doors to the pool locked until a reasonable time. You can refill soft drinks and hot drinks whenever you like, although you do have to queue for alcohol and ice cream. The all‑inclusive ice cream selection is limited to chocolate, vanilla or strawberry tubs, but they were really nice and creamy. Waterpark We spent most of our week in the waterpark because there are plenty of sunbeds available. It opens at 10am, and we found that the queue to get in builds up very quickly. We soon learned to get down there for around 9:30am and wait. The water is saltwater, so I would definitely recommend taking goggles, especially for little ones, as the salt can sting your eyes. Beach shoes are also a good idea because the ground gets extremely hot in the afternoon. The slides are AMAZING. Just be aware that the all‑inclusive package does not apply inside the waterpark. You either have to pay extra each day for food and drinks or purchase them separately at the park. We took insulated flasks, filled them up at the pool bar before going into the waterpark and hid them in our beach bag. We then refilled them again after going for lunch. Beach The beach is literally a two‑minute walk away. We only went down a couple of times, but we had no complaints about it. Nice and clean. As usual, you’ll need to hire sunbeds and umbrellas if you want them. Entertainment Like most all‑inclusive resorts, there is a mini disco every evening followed by something different for the adults. We didn’t really go to the entertainment as our children weren’t interested, but the bar was good and they were generous with the alcohol. There is a board showing which drinks are included in the all‑inclusive package, as not everything is included, so make sure you have a look. If you have children, I would also bring some spending money as there is an amusement arcade with quite a lot of games and activities. Important notice: The entertainment “complex” is shared with the sister hotel opposite, so seating is very limited. The worn‑out picnic benches are not particularly comfortable. Minimarket There are loads of little shops where you can buy pretty much anything you might need, including clothes, gifts, swimming essentials, shoes, etc. We found them to be reasonably priced. Excursions We didn’t do any excursions, so unfortunately I can’t comment on those. Rachel and Elaine (nearest the hotel) were always friendly and said hello whenever we walked past. Prices are clearly visible on the chalkboards. Overall All in all, remember that this is a 3‑star hotel, so don’t arrive expecting a 5‑star experience. For us, this won’t be on our return list. It was a great holiday overall, and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. Despite all the worrying reviews I had read beforehand, I’m really glad we went and made our own judgement.

Let's be honest, its a 3 star hotel. Location is amazing its literally 70 meters from beach and less from.water park. But there isn't much other than the hotels in the resort. No bars or restaurants to speak of other than whats part of the hotel. The communal areas of the hotel are very nicely presented and always clean and tidy. The exterior of the buidling is dated and needs a refresh. Rooms are clean but VERY basic, I honestly expected a bit more for the 3 star label. The resort in general is in need of repair. None of the liftsnin the hotel work consistently sonis a but of a lottery to find a working lift. Good in the restaurant is good, with a nice rotation of dishes for those willing/able try new things. Those with dietary restrictions such as GF or Vegan may struggle. Staff are a mixed bag, catering, cleaning and waiting staff are great always made an effort to speak even if some struggled with English. The intention was there and they made an effort with the kids. Reception staff however, sadly were a little off at times. One in particular we interacted with twice on different days and was particularly rude. They advertise late checkout if requested/availability on the last day. We asked at 7am and it was not possible meaning we had to carry cases and luggage around until bus pick up at 6pm. The waterpark definitely is better than the reviews. Yes its saltwater, but this is clear on all looking material. Did I see plant material/leaves/algae in places? Yes, but it is an outdoor facility and it is cleaned morning noon and night so at busy times Yes can get a little grubby but actually still clean for an outdoor park. The arena plaza fun park, has an arcade where none of the machines work and is expensive for what it is. Overall, not a terrible holiday but would most likely not return.