We have been to Playa Blanca several times. Last year we looked around the Yaiza and decided to stay on a future visit. Following an illness I booked without hesitation. Subsequent checking out of tripadvisor gave me a few concerns as we are a middle aged couple without travelling children.

I have to say my concerns were unfounded and we had a great holiday. Admittedly we went in a quiet period. Yes there were young children but on the whole well behaved under parental control. I am guessing that the hotel would be more hectic with families during peak season and would probably not go then.

Staff were all highly professional but very friendly, from the initial greeting by the Concierge, the Reception staff (always there to help - we had a small problem with our room safe not opening but this was dealt with promptly). The maids were very efficient with daily cleans and the chocolates with the bed turn down were a nice touch.

We had a junior suite with 'partial sea view' - the view was in fact pretty much full. The room was large and the bed huge. Towels were changed as regularly as required and the room kept clean.

The two pools were kept in high order. Virtually empty most of the time with few children. Lots of comfortable sun beds available. The beach towel provision was very good - they could be changed whenever required. One issue - they did not keep children out of the Jacussi - it was full of them all the time!

The gym was well equipped for a hotel. Assistant on hand to help with the equipment if required. My Wife went to many free gym classes e.g. Pilates.

Breakfast catered for every taste and more. Other reviews mentioned the birds in the open air restaurant - yes this is true, but there are indoor breakfast restaurants where this does not happen.

Yes the other restaurants were expensive and we only used them a couple of times but the highlight was the Japanese which was a cut above anything else in Playa Blanca and a great treat.

There was a lot of evening entertainment provided. We did not go to this in the main hotel as this was where a few children were charging around. We did however make three visits to the 4 Lunas cocktail bar with live jazz. A small haven of peace and quality music from 10:30 onwards (until late) plus the cocktails were only marginally more expensive than bars in Playa Blanca ... and definitely no children!

On leaving, the Concierge helped with the bags and gave a smile and farewell. We had been provided with luggage storage for the day as we had a late checkout and given access to a clean room to shower with clean towels to change in.

A lovely holiday from beginning to end - everything we hoped for and more. We will go again but around the same time when it is relatively quiet.

Just arrived back from 2 week stay at the Yaiza with a 3 yr old and a 2 yr old and what a fantastic hotel and holiday. We stayed in a family suite which was lovely and spacious. It gets cleaned every day with fresh bed linen and more towels than you can shake a stick at. The food is just amazing with a huge buffet breakfast. You are really spoilt for choice with the pools. We used the kiko pools as they are pretty shallow and the pool in the family area, the snack bar there is great too. You also just pick up your pool towels from a towel trolley so you can use as many as you like. We found a short cut to the Netto store just by the family area. There is a glass door to the left of the Netto store with Royal Sonbou writing on it and you use your door key to open...viola. Room service is wonderful too, if you order a coffee they serve it with pastries, and if you order a bucket of ice it comes with olives, crisps and peanuts....this says it all, its all in the detail. Will be going again without a doubt.

We went in April with our two children (3 yrs and 3 months old) and had a great stay. Everything was just perfect: weather, location, pool-water temperatures, food, staff, etc.

We have now stayed here twice and would certainly return again. The hotel is pretty souless but in terms of facilities for small children it's hard to beat. The rooms are massive and very comfortable, a major reason for our return. The pools are great and the indoor playgym for under 5's is superb. The breakfast is great and the Japanese resturant a fun experience with reasonable food. The location within the reort is great- equidistant between the more traditional old town and the new Rubicon marina.

The downsides are the buffet resturants are very expensive if you're not on half board and if you were on half board the lack of variety seems to fustrate people after a few days. Kikoland is also a disappointment. Its pretty tierd and doesnt seem to function as advertised. The 3-6 year old section of the kids club has been closed both times we visited and the children aged 3-9 are all lumped toether, great if your 5 year old has an older sibling but pretty intimidating for one without. The staff in the kids club have limited english and appear to have a limited interest in children. After one trial sesision where i stayed with our daughter i decided the supervision and activities on offer were inadequate and chose not to leave her there. A decision, I later found that had been reached by several other parents of five year olds there. I think it would be fine for kids 7 and up who are confident and assertive but in my view it is only a matter of time before a small child wanders off from there unnoticed..........

Overall the Princess Yaiza is a good choice for a family holiday (dont even think about it if you dont have children) if you are after some unadventorous spring sunshine a short flight time away.