We have just got back from a week at the Grand Tacande which I booked after reading all the reviews an this site. We knew what to expect but feared the worst when we were given room 105 despite asking for a sea view when we booked. Just a I feared it overlooked the building works so straight back to reception to change it. We were told the hotel was full but they would try to find another room the next morning but a sea view was an extra 45 euros a night. We had an early night but were woken up by the tv blaring in the next room at 23:30 hrs, you could hear everything. In the morning at 07:40 we were woken up by a pile driver or some such machine on the site causing a horrendous noise so we got up and went to breakfast. Our mood brightened as the food was fantastic and well presented with everything you could possibly want. Back to reception they were really helpful and we finally moved into a different room about lunchtime. The room was on the 4th floor, not exectly a sea view, but it was quiet and no extra charge. This was a standard room but it was large, tastefully decorated and furnished with a really nice marble bathroom. I was surprised at the lack of an information pack in the room however and we were only given a photo copied sheet when we booked in. We were only B&B so expored the area for restaurants and bars etc and found there were really only a few in a short walking distance which were also horrendously expensive. We ate in the Mirador a couple of times which is really nice. There is a shopping centre just outside the rear of the hotel which apart from the Spar supermarket is a waste of space. Opposite the front of the hotel is the Plaza a circular ultra modern shopping center full of really expensive designer shops and a couple of bars and restaurants. The pool area of the hotel is really nice with a reasonable snack bar for lunches. We found all of the staff helpful and polite though they could have done with a couple of more staff considering the hotel was full.
I would agree with other reviews that the hotel lacks atmosphere though, with large empty areas of tables and chairs that were never used. Even with the entertainment in the evening the bar area was half empty and not really lively! The other restaurant in the hotel the Bocoy was not open in the evenings which I thought was strange. The room service was ok and the maids turned the beds down every night and left chocolates on the pillow which was a nice touch but thjis should be expected in a 5 star hotel. To sum up we enjoyed our stay but I think this hotel and the whole area is mainly geared for rich Germans and Russians and we in fact hardly heard any English spoken. I also do not think the hotel is particularly children friendly as there is no kiddies club or games room and apart from a small pool there is nothing for them to do. I would probably not go back in a hurry as there are plenty of other places to visit and with the poor exchange rate for the euro I would think all inclusive destinations further afield offer better value. Not really the DREAM holiday!

I booked the gran tacande on line direct with the hotels web site because I wanted a week of luxury in the sun with my partner and our 9 year old daughter. having seen generally good reviews of this hotel on tripadvisor I booked a senior suite on a half board basis. The senior suite is described as the ultimate in luxury for the discerning traveller on their website.
We arrived at the hotel to find an average hotel entrance with a large lobby but dimly lit and rather dreary atmosphere. A porter brought our bags to our suite and on entering I knew immediately that this was in no way a real 5 star suite. There was nothing luxurious about it from the dull cheap furniture to the tacky jet bath tub.There was only one tv in the living area with a bed sofa to sit on and the entire room was lit by a dim ceiling light fixture. The bed room had no tv, a bed as hard and nasty as a cheap argos matress with not an ounce ofluxury anywhere. No welcome drinks/wine etc one might expect having paid almost double the standard room rate for this suite.I knew about the lack of tea coffee facilities already which on seeing the room now comes as no surprise.
The view from the senior suite was the side of another building and the balcony was split into two by a division between the bed room and living room. I requested a better room but none was available, sea view room at a suplement would be available in few days time I was informed. I asked to see a standard sea view room one of which was available and was shown to a much nicer but still short of 5 star room. I was told I could stay in that room but would still be charged the senior suite price for the first night as it had already been charged to my card at the time of booking!!. I decided to stay put as it was obvious I wasnt going to get any reduction to moving to a standard room and went to the buffet dinner. The main restaurant is huge, lit with uniform dull lighting and full of overflowing cheap nasty school quality food,in fact I remember my school dinners as being better!(almost).The food is nowhere near 5 star even for a buffet ..chickory coffee finished me off.The fellow guests appeared to consist of some happy people whom i assume won their trip in a competition or paid 100 quid for a week all inclusive via an agent or are devoid of any expectations and some elderly couples on the classic reduced rate extended winter deals. All in all fantastic 3 star hotel with a wide and extensive all you can stuff in your gob buffet,.On a positive note they did my bill up quickly the next day and called me a taxi for our trip to a real 5 star hotel the sheraton la caleta which luckily had a free room available.

This was the 2nd time we had stayed at the Gran Tacande. We arrived at 1pm and were aware that the official time for entering your room is 2pm so had to wait an hour as the previous occupants had not vacated it. We were informed that the room was 'one of their best rooms' so could either wait for it or accept a standard room. Having not seen the better room to compare against the other room it was difficult to make a decision, but we opted to wait for the better room.

The room was on Case Fuerte block and was room number 459. Absolutely fabulous. As you are looking at the building it is the room on the 4th floor painted red that stands out from all the others. It had a pair of sliding patio doors on the front and also a pair on the side which led to the balcony/terrace which was completely private. The room was spotless and spacious. I could just make out by looking over the adjoining wall that it was a suite next door with a front and side balcony holding table, chairs, armchairs and sofas. It looked fabulous.

This time we only opted for B&B. Every drink was available from champagne, smoothies, juice and water to tea and coffee. Food was just as plentiful. Full english, waffles, pancakes, ham, cheese, cavier, you name it they had it.

The service was good, staff polite, food plentiful and edible. Annoying that people still find it necessary to reserve a sunbed regardless of the fact that they did not actually occupy it until late in the afternoon. Pool staff should remove these towels to prevent it happening as on real sunny days customers were struggling to find sufficient sunbeds because they were reserved but not occupied.

Ideally located between Fanabe and Duque. Quiet and classy. We would have no hesitation whatsoever in returning for a 3rd treat.

Just returned from a disappointing stay at the Gran Tacande. This is not a 5 star hotel. The public rooms are OK but our room (a very expensive senior suite) was dark and did not get any sun on the balcony until late afternoon - it appears that the majority of the rooms are similar. We had no hotel information/room service menu in our room either.
The location of the hotel is good, and the entertainment in the evening in the bar is varied and seems popular.
However, the majority of the staff are not 5 star staff. Mistakes were made in our (and others) bills at the pool bar, the cleaning of our room was poor and on check out a mistake on our bill could have cost us over 80 euros had we not checked it carefully (room service and internet charges had been added but not used by us).
There were lots of other faults too, but I don't want to seem to be over picky!
Very disappointing would not stay there again.