My family and I have just returned from this excellent hotel after a 10 night stay on half board basis.
The reason for this holiday was to celebrate my dads retirement so my brother and his girlfriend, dad and his wife, sister and my husband and I decided on one of the Canary Islands purely for the better chance of seeing some sunshine. After booking our holiday last October (we originally booked an hotel in San Augustin but had this cancelled by the travel agent due to hotel refurbishment), we decided on the Cordial Mogan Playa because of the reviews and write ups on the area named "Little Venice"
We booked the hotel and flights separately which saved us some considerable money and booked a taxi from the airport to the hotel. The taxi was more like a mini bus and was there waiting for us when we arrived at the airport, we arrived at the hotel to be welcomed by an excellent English speaking receptionist who offered us sparkling wine or juice and explained everything in detail about our stay at the hotel.
The most dissapointing part of the holiday was that we had booked for a party of 7 people which included 2 standard double rooms and 1 junior suite for my dad, his wife and daughter.Upon arrival we were told that 2 junior suites had been reserved which meant an upgrade for my husband and I and left my brother and his girlfriend with a standard room. We questioned this because we were told that if you stay in a junior suite you take breakfast in a separate restaurant to the guests staying in standard rooms. I was not impressed that a party of 7 people had gone away on holiday together and then being told that we had to eat separately but dinner was taken in the same restaurant in the evening so we could all eat together then!!
We enquired about an upgrade for my brother but the receptionist told me that the cost would be an additional 43 euros per night. The hotel was only a third full and I felt that the hotel should have least upgraded my brothers room free of charge. My fault maybe because if I had taken this up with the holiday rep I may have got somewhere with my complaint.

My husband and I stayed in room 9117 which was at the very bottom of the complex but was excepionaly clean, large bedroom with separate lounge area with a sofa and 2 chairs, TV, fridge that was open so we didnt have to pay an extra cost. A large balcony with 2 sun loungers and 2 chairs with a table. The bathroom had a separate walk in shower, bath, dressing gowns,toilet and wash basin. The maids changed the towels twice a day and offered turn down service every evening.

There was a gate at the bottom of the complex which we could use to get out of the hotel grounds by using the key card to our room. I read from a previous reviewer that they only found this gate 2 days before they came home, my advise is that this hotel is in extensive grounds and you must take a walk round on your first day and look for these things. We had a walk round the first day and found things that made our stay even more enjoyable.
The same reviewer stated that they had to stay in their room until after 10am waiting for the beach towels to be delivered to their room, just ask one of the maids and they happily swapped our used towels for new ones.

The harbour area is very pretty and is a 10 minute walk maximum from the hotel. We ate twice in the evening down by the harbour and one of the restaurants we used was called "The Zoo", excellent choice of menu and good standard of food. We swapped dinner for lunch at the hotel but wouldnt recommed that due to the limited menu available. If you are not swapping and just have lunch and pay in the normal manner the menu is bigger and better (my brother ate there on one occasion and said that the menu on offer then was far more extensive).

Due to the hotel being very quiet we never had a problem finding sun loungers. We had the second sitting at dinner which was 8.30pm-9.30pm and the food was excellent. The fish dishes were excellent and the king prawns exquisite. One review stated that once you had picked your chosen time for dinner you couldnt change it, rubbish, just go to reception and let them know you want the different dinner time and they oblige.
If you choose to eat in the "Los Guayres" al la carte restaurant you will get a 15 euros discount but the prices were very expensive, some starters were 12-15 euros each. We didnt eat there but it looked to be situated in a very pleasant setting.

The staff are very friendly and always take time to speak when they see you. The bar staff in the "La Sama" pool bar were excellent. The reception staff spoke excellent English and the breakfast staff in the smaller restaurant were great. They were all polite and was always grateful for a please or thankyou. These staff members are a credit to the hotel.

The entertainment in the evening was terrible, but I have yet to go to a hotel abroad that has good evening entertainment. "Fataga" bar was open until 1am by which time there was only us 7 sitting there. Most people dissapeared to bed around 10pm so the evenings were very quiet. The prices of the drinks were very expensive (Bacardi and Coke was equivelent to £5). The good thing is that there is a Spar shop across the road so we could buy water, coke etc and put in our fridge in the room. It is a great shop for newspapers, bread, cheese etc and opens 7 days a week from early until late.

I was unsure what to expect at this hotel after reading previous reviews but I shouldnt have worried. Yes it was a quiet time of year for the hotel but if you want a relaxing holiday in pretty surroundings then this is the place for you. Plus I didnt see one beer swigging tattoed person in sight (well, just the one, ME)!!!!!

I was happy that the hotel wasnt fully booked because I do agree with previous reviews that when it is full it can get very chaotic, not enough sunbeds and queing at meal times. Lucky for us I guess and to top it all the weather was great, red hot and not a drop of rain for the entire 10 days.

We booked this hotel primarily because it had a squash court & decent sized swimming pools. Unfortunately the squash court was out of action for the whole of the week we were there & there didn't seem to be any definite date of when it would be ready. We also tried to use the squash facilities at a nearby hotel but these were also out of action.

Plus points
the welcoming drink was a nice touch
as was the complementary bottle of wine & fruit in the room.
pool v. clean & beautiful landscaping around.

Minus points
drinks expensive-no atmosphere in bar
poor animation-trying to please all
breakfast -v difficult to get our table laid & tea & coffee brought to us.
evening meal-poor service by waiters for drinks & clearing table
food average

Having said all this, it was still a relaxing holiday but could be improved

WOW! We were due to stay in the apartments but were transferred to this wonderful hotel on half board,(what a result.)
From the moment we walked into the reception area to the moment we checked out we felt like royalty,we were totally spoilt.
We had two rooms for our family of four which did'nt have very good views, but had connecting gardens which was great.
The maid came every day,the rooms were very clean with mini fridge but no tea or coffee making facilities.
The most beautiful thing about this hotel is the fantastic gardens and two large pools. The food was good ,plenty to choose from including sparkling wine for breakfast. when we stayed we had no problem finding sun beds by pool,mainly couples and family's with younger children staying so nice and quiet. It's a short walk to the beach and harbour with plenty of places to eat and drink.
We really fell on our feet being transfered which may reflect in this great review,had we paid the hotel price we maybe would'nt have been quite as delighted.

My family and I have just returned from a one week half-board stay at the Cordial Mogan Playa booked through First Choice.

Despite night flights and arriving at the hotel at 3:00 the welcome was friendly and efficient. The reception area is very impressive with a high stained glass central dome with bridges, waterfalls, streams and fountains, clock and bell tower all inside the building. After a simple check-in we were taken to our two adjacent rooms which we had requested but were not guaranteed by First Choice. This was nice to know that we would all be close.

The rooms are very well appointed. They each had two single beds which were put together to look like a double. They were simple to pull apart slightly so that our teenage boy and girl didn't feel like they were sharing a bed.

Each room had a TV with a mixture of channels (typically English channels are generally news or Eurosport though). A small balcony with chairs and table and drying rack overlooked the gardens and pool area. Each room also had a fridge (you have to pay at reception for a key to use this though) and a safe (also local charge made). The rooms have aircon; a couple of arm chairs; table; fruit, wine and water on arrival; modern bathroom with overbath shower and a vanity door to the toilet. The hallway to the bedroom has a separate door to isolate the bathroom and cupboards. The rooms are decorated to a high standard and are very clean.

The hotel grounds are beautiful with plants, shrubs and trees labelled like a garden centre. There are two large pools, each very similar with a bridge across them and served by bar/restaurants at each. We never had a problem finding four sunbeds together and these always had a parasol nearby. The sunbeds have really thick and comfortable cushions too. You also get a clean poolside towel every day per person so you don't need to take your own beach towel. The artificial sand around selected areas of the pool was more like decorative pea gravel so a little hard on the feet, but it looked good. There are plenty of paved areas though too.

There is also a spa on site but we didn't use it because the weather was good and the pools themselves are so nice.

We were half-board and breakfast and dinner were taken in the main restaurant. These are both buffet style, but the choice is vast and the chefs cook breakfast items and meat and fish in front of you to order. We were very happy with the food. If a dish was starting to look empty it was quickly taken away and a full replacement quickly put out. The breakfast pancakes were our children's favourites and I particularly liked the fish. The evening meals were in two sittings, but there was never a feeling of being rushed. You can even have Cava at breakfast - limitless bottles out to serve yourself.

The animation team were around but never intrusive. In fact my son who hates kids clubs loved the activities on offer. We did several tennis sessions, football, target shooting, table tennis and loved it. When we were there only about four or five guests took part in the activities so it was very friendly and fun.

There is also a "night club" with evening entertainment. To be honest this was the only negative thing about the hotel. When we were there the entertainers were pretty dodgy and they should look at getting more variety. The trio were hopeless, but it kept us amused laughing at how bad they were, but some people seemed to like them - each to their own!

Mogan itself is quiet - not much night life in April, but OK to wander down to the marina in the evening. Not like the other in-your-face resorts on Gran Canaria. However, after a day by the pool and eating later in the evening we were so chilled out we didn't want to party all night.

There is a small shopping development opposite the hotel (only a few units open) with a decent underground supermarket - ideal for stocking up your in-room fridge.

All in all, if you want a high quality relaxing holiday, then the Cordial would be an ideal choice.