Adrian Grade 4.1 out of 5 Stars
Overview
This 4-star adults-only resort is located a stone’s throw away from the main area of Corralejo. It’s a luxury offering and one of the best resorts on the island of Fuerteventura. The Barcelo has a range of packages on offer. Including an all-inclusive, half board, and B&B.
The resort went through a partial refurbishment in 2019. Overall the look, feel, and aesthetic of the resort are all top-notch. It feels all of the 4 stars of its rating.
The resort is a nice size with 241 rooms on offer. Its got quite a large footprint, so all of the communal areas and facilities feel quite spacious.
We were staying in a deluxe room on an all-inclusive package and visited in the late Summer of 2022. Our review is based on our experiences.
Location
Located a 45-minute drive from Fuerteventura airport is relatively convenient to get in and out of. If you booked your vacation through a travel agent or as part of a package holiday then transportation will most likely be included. If you booked directly you have a few options to get from the airport to the resort.
The resort is also a short 5-10 minute walk away from the main town of Corralejo. This is a bustling town with endless options for restaurants and bars.
Top Tips
- This resort is situated in one of the best locations in Corralejo. When you come out of the resort if you turn left you are just a few hundred yards away from the main street of the town. If you turn right it’s only a 3-minute walk from a lovely beach. It’s probably the best-located resort in Fuerteventura.
- There were a lot of additional charges throughout the resort, which we weren’t fans of. Although none of the charges were too much, they did seem unnecessary. For example parking costs €8 per day, use of the safe is €3 per day and use of the hydrotherapy run costs €16 for two hours.
- If you are celebrating anything throughout your stay be sure to mention it to the reception/concierge staff when you arrive. We did this and got a bottle of cava and chocolates delivered to the room to congratulate my partner on her birthday.
- There are a few premium areas by the pool. These areas have Bali beds in them and are a super lux vibe to them. You do have to pay a surcharge to use them. They are €30 for the day and you get a bottle of bubbly included too.
- One thing that is relatively unique for an all-inclusive package is ending on the day of departure. Unlike other resorts, we visited you lose access to the all-inclusive benefit at 12 pm on the day of departure.
Check-In
When we arrived at the Barcelo we were greeted with a glass of bubbly. The process was very easy as we had actually checked in the day before. The Barcelo offers an online check-in option, so once we arrived we were told about the resort and given our room keys. Super efficient.
Is Barcelo Corralejo Bay a child-friendly resort?
This is an adults-only resort, so if you were planning on bringing the family, it’s not an option for you. That being said, there are loads of family-friendly offerings in the nearby area.
If you are looking for an option with all-inclusive option. Then we recommend checking out Barceló Corralejo Sands. This is a family-friendly offering that is located smack bang in the middle of the town and is a really solid option.
Amenities
Pool
The pool complex here is located at the center of the resort. It’s a serious setup. There are three pools in the complex and the main pool is the only one that is heated, but with the consistent sun in the Canaries, this isn’t too much of an issue.
There are tons of sun loungers, so there is no mad rush in the mornings to save your lounger for the day.
The only downside was that the pool area closed at 6 pm, which we felt was a little early. There was also no music by the pool which would have been nice. It was a little lacking in atmosphere, but we are nitpicking here.
Gym
The gym here is decent. The space is really large and airy. There is more than enough equipment to get a solid workout in. It’s not the newest equipment, but it does the job. The one element we loved about the gym was that it was always empty. I went on three occasions and each time I had the gym to myself.
Things to do during the day
Each day there is a range of classes on offer. There’s a nice varied mix throughout the week. Each day there are typically three classes on offer. Our favorites were the Sup yoga, pilates, spin, and body balance classes.
They also have tennis courts at the back of the resort as well as pool and table tennis tables. So there is also something to do.
Things to do during the night
There is some good entertainment on offer in the evenings. Music takes place each night in the main bar by the reception. The atmosphere here is really good and there’s always a great crowd of people that gather round to enjoy the music.
Beach
This is one thing that you won’t get at Barceló Corralejo Bay. This resort is inland, so there is no beach connected to the resort. The pool definitely partially makes up for the lack of a beach, but if you’re looking for a beach, you’re going to have to travel.
That being said, there is a load of great beaches located quite close to the resort. They are walkable, but the best beaches are a drive away. The Grandes Playas Corralejo beach is a 5-minute drive away and a 40-minute walk. This beach is super impressive and if you are into windsurfing or ocean swimming. This beach is great.
There are a number of smaller beaches that are close and by close, we mean a 3-minute walk. The Playa de Los Verilitos is the nearest and is a solid option. So, it’s a pretty decent setup all things considered.
Spa
There is a lovely spa that is available at the Barcelo. The facilities are located just beside the main pool area and there is a full spa menu on offer. These treatments do come at an additional cost, but it’s reasonably priced. A 55-minute deep tissue massage will set you back €69, which is serious value.
The facilities here are great and depending on the room that you have you may have access to use the facilities (steam rooms, jacuzzis, pools) at no extra cost. If you have the base room without the all-inclusive package. There is a €16 charge to use the hydrotherapy run. So, its included. Make sure to make the most of it.
The Service
Overall, the quality of the service was super strong. The staff was extremely friendly and courteous. So, we cannot fault their service. Most importantly there is a drinks service by the pool. So you never have to get up from your sun lounger.
The one thing we would call out was that there didn’t seem to be a huge volume of staff. There was definitely enough, but at times in the restaurants, bars, and by the pool. Service was a little slow.
Cleanliness
We had no issues with the cleanliness of the resort. Throughout the whole resort, the place was super clean. The staff was great at keeping the place in tip-top shape. The housekeeping staff was also very good. They came at a relatively consistent time each day, so it was easy to plan around being out of the room.
Rooms
All of the rooms on offer are a decent size. We recommend trying to get a room with a pool view or ocean view. As most of the other views are of the surrounding roads or of the complex. Honestly, though we advise going with a deluxe room.
Deluxe Room
This is the room type we stayed in and we were very happy with it. They are well sized at 452ft² and the decor of the room was modern and airy. The rooms come with a lovely balcony. The room we stayed in was overlooking the exterior of the property. When we return we will definitely pay the extra €20 a night and get a swimming pool view.
Junior Suite
These suites are marginally bigger than the Deluxe suites and are very comfortable. The balcony for the junior suites is also a little larger. There’s a marginal other difference between the two room types. All of the features that you get in the Deluxe suites transfer offer to the junior suite.
Double Room
The most basic room in the resort, this is still a very good option if you don’t mind the smaller room. You still get a balcony with these rooms and most of the amenities carry over from the other suites to the double room.
Price Range + Packages
The Barcelo has a nice range of offerings. There is an all-inclusive, half-board, and bed and breakfast option. So, the baseline inclusion is breakfast in all of the packages.
The resort overall is on the more premium side from a price perspective. Around the start of summer, you are looking at €180 a night. If you go through a tour operator that average may go down a little, but it’s one of the pricier options on the island.
What’s included in the all-inclusive package
The top-tier package at the resort includes all drinks, food, and use of amenities throughout your stay. That’s three meals a day. Sadly, there is no room service here.
There is a mini-bar in the rooms too and this is also included in the package. It contains beers, soft drinks, and water and is replenished daily.
Food + Restaurant Options
The standard of food is one of the most important aspects of choosing a resort. Especially if you are going for the half-board or all-inclusive option. You’ll be happy to hear that the food at the Barceló is top-notch. It’s potentially the best resort food offering on the island.
This isn’t a resort where you’ll have 10 restaurants to choose from with varying cuisine. The offering is very simple. There are 2 restaurants available. The main buffet-style offering and the poolside bar, but with the quality being so good. It’s easy to get over the lack of choice. The main buffet is also really good at rotating dishes/themed nights, so it adds a good bit of variety.
Ranking the Restaurants
Tindaya (Buffet Option)
The standout element of Tindaya is the quality of food, which is important given that this is the only one open for dinner. Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, there is a great selection of choices for all meals. The area is spacious and there is more than enough seating even at full capacity.
For breakfast, there is a serious range of choices of fresh pastries, fruit, and an omelet station. It really has everything you could imagine. The quality of the food is very good.
The dinner option is also extensive with a ton of choices. There are lots of local dishes to choose from. As well as a live cooking station where you can get steak and other meats cooked up. They also do a number of themed nights throughout the week, which is important as it’s the only dinner option.
Poolside restaurant
Serving up a continental breakfast and an À la carte lunch this spot is not your typical poolside bar. Although it is literally called the “poolside bar”. There is a great range of dishes and it’s more of a restaurant than a bar. You can get steaks, sandwiches, and salads to name a few. The food here is also really well done.
Bars and Drinks Offering
There is a mix of packages that are on offer at this resort, so not everyone will have drinks included. You can just walk into the resort and order a drink if you are not a guest, so even if you are not staying in the resort, it’s a nice spot to grab a drink.
If you don’t have the all-inclusive package, the cost of drinks is definitely on the more expensive side when you compare it to prices in the local area. A local beer is €3 and the cocktails are around €7.50. In the main area of Corralejo, it averaged around €2 for a local beer and €5 for a cocktail.
Sometimes at resorts, especially when there are all-inclusive offerings. The cocktails can at times be pre-mixed. We were pleasantly surprised here that the drinks are made to order and of decent quality. The range of drinks brands on offer was also quite good. They have a lot of premium brands like Hendriks, Grey Goose, Jameson, and Glen Fiddich to name a few.
The beers on offer are Heiniken, Stella, Corona, and some local options too.
Tipping
You should budget tipping into the cost of your holiday. We recommend tipping for meals at a minimum and tipping for every few drinks. It’s definitely not as widespread as resorts in the Caribbean or South America, but given the service, the level is always nice to top.
Conclusion
The Barceló Corralejo Bay is a solid option in the Canaries. Its proximity to the town and nearby beaches makes it a really solid choice if you like to get out and about. The food, service, and amenities are all very good and we rank them just behind the Secrets resort.
Given its price point, it’s a strong option for a premium resort without breaking the bank. Although the Secrets Bahai Real is a better experience. Its priced 30% more expensive. So, the Barcelo is the better option if you’re looking for a mixture of value and a premium experience.
If you are looking for a party atmosphere this is not the resort for you. With the bars and pool areas being rather subdued, it’s a pretty chill resort. Its proximity to the main area does solve this problem though. It’s a short walk to all of the action.
Although the food is very good, we recommend going for the half-board option. There are a ton of decent restaurants a short stroll away. So, make the most of that.
If you are looking for an adults-only resort that is on the more premium end, then the Barceló Corralejo Bay is well worth booking.
FAQ’s
Q. Does the Barceló Corralejo Bay offer a shuttle service from the Airport
A. There is no complimentary shuttle, but you can organize transport through the resort. Honestly, you’re probably best to either get a taxi or if you booked through a package holiday. Then you will most likely have transfers included.
Q. Is parking available at the resort
A. Yes, parking is available at the resort, but there is a charge for parking, which we were disappointed to see. It only costs €8 per day, but we were surprised they were charging.
Q. Is Wi-Fi included
A. Yes, Wi-Fi is available to you in your suite as well as throughout the resort. I wouldn’t say that the Wi-Fi was the strongest throughout. In the main area and by the pool the connection was strong, but in our room, it wasn’t the strongest.
Q. What local attractions are there?
A. There’s a huge amount to do in Fuerteventura and the local town of Corralejo. Our favorite thing to do is to go to going for a stroll along the water’s edge and hopping into a variety of restaurants for a drink.
