TUI BLUE Orquidea Resort, Gran Canaria
This place knows what it’s about, and that’s families
“It’s a 10 out of 10 for me!” – Sammy“This is Paradise!” – Harry
Our Honest Rave Review of TUI BLUE Orquidea
Located in the modern & stylish sea-front village of Bahia Feliz, an easy 20 minute transfer from Gran Canaria Airport, lies the breath-taking family resort of TUI BLUE Orquidea, a member of our favourite TUI BLUE for Families collection. With its spectacular location and outstanding child friendly facilities, this resort was one of the earliest we ever added to the website at www.bestchildfriendlyholidays.co.uk and, having always wanted to visit, we were delighted when TUI invited us to stay.
All in all, Gran Canaria is infinitely prettier more classy and high-end than I’ve previously given it credit for with lush green mountains, pretty quaint towns and beautiful beaches. It also presents a much more affordable option than other, high-end holiday alternatives. Another major plus-point for families is that you stay on the same time-zone here, no painful adjustment required. That, and the fantastic year round climate, ranging from 20 degrees in the winter to 30 degrees in the summer (we experienced 30 degrees in April!) make it an exceptional choice any time of year.
TUI BLUE Orquidea is officially rated a 4 star resort and enjoys a 4 Circle Average rating on TripAdvisor. A few days here, and I’m assured that those parents who describe it as “brilliant” and “fantastic all round” have got in right. The boys personally rated it a 10/10 and I tend to agree with them.
This place knows what it’s about, and that’s families. TUI BLUE for Families resorts are truly “carefully designed with families in mind” to “create enjoyable and care-free moments” for families and enable them to spend “quality time together” (TUI). Therefore, for any parent wanting to enjoy some relaxation whilst their children are happily entertained, it’s really got absolutely everything you could possibly need to make happy holiday memories. The beach-front location is truly glorious, and palm trees fill the skies creating that breezy, holiday feel. The whole place is delightfully modern, fresh and clean.
What follows is our honest, rave review of our stay at TUI BLUE Orquidea with TUI, which we found to be the perfect place for our family to relax, unwind and spend quality time together. From the nursery & kids’ club, to the food choices, splash and play options and entertainment, it truly delivers on every level. Read on to find out why!
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Accommodation here is slick, bright and airy and built with families in focus. Family accommodation choices are varied and sleep up to 6 people. Options range from split level family rooms with separate sleeping areas to two bedroom apartments. All rooms have their own balcony, some come with a sea view, others have a view of the pool. Our split level sea-view room was nice and spacious and there was plenty of room for a cot. We were on the 9th floor and the sweeping sea-scape view was one of the best I’ve seen in my life-time (pictured at the top of this post). I could have comfortably sat on the balcony with a book for a few days, just drinking it in. All rooms are easily accessible via one of three lifts.
The website suggests that the family rooms offer a shared sofa bed for the kids, but in fact this is an L shape sofa which separates into two completely separate beds, a must-have for us. These beds were a great size and our two, very tall, 13 and 11 year old boys did just fine on them. It’s also worth mentioning that all double beds here are super king, a HUGE bonus! In the bathroom we had plentiful hot water and our room was kept clean throughout our stay. New water was brought in daily and the fridge which full stocked with drinks which were included. We had a coffee machine, an iron and ironing board, and lots of storage space. Whilst, technically, we were all in the same room, the split level did allow us some privacy, and is the most cost-effective option.
However, I do love that the hotel offers you the ability to choose what’s right for your family. We had the chance to explore the other accommodation options too, and, if returning, I’d definitely choose an apartment. With small children, I always think separate bedrooms are best, allowing you a bit of space to yourselves in the evenings, and they ensure your sleep and privacy too. The apartments were just beautiful with huge amounts of space. The split level 1 bedroom family room offers a separate bedroom and balcony for the parents. The lounge area comes with a separated section with 2 single beds, and the sofa can also be adapted into 2 single beds for a larger family. The junior has a separate bedroom, and a sofa bed in the lounge which transforms into 2 single beds. The best option of all is the suite, which offers separate bedrooms and a 2-bed sofa bed in the lounge should you need it.
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An Outstanding Baby & Toddler Friendly Resort
I honestly think TUI BLUE Orquidea is one of the BEST places you could possible stay with little children. It’s as if the aim is to take each of your pain-points and worries and then mitigate them completely. There are plentiful buggy paths and lifts, and you’d have no problem navigating the resort with little ones. The beach just a two minute stroll away, and there are two beautifully-presented baby rooms providing multiple baby amenities: changing facilities, bottle warmer and microwave. There are food options for all at the restaurant (pasta, fruit, veg, nuggets, chips, ice-cream) and the chef is more than happy to puree food for your baby if necessary. The resort is very inclusive of small children who joined their parents in high chairs.
Beyond the essentials the resort offers many fantastic amenities for entertaining small children. There’s a baby club offering several 2 hour sessions 6 days a week with fully trained staff, providing you with the rest and relaxation time together you need and deserve. I was able to talk to some of the ladies running the baby club, and discovered that TUI supports them in training for their level 2 qualification whilst they work there. You are not considered fully trained in the baby room until you’ve reached 120 hours of supervised work time. I was so impressed with their attitude, knowledge and passion for what they do.
The nursery is presented much like a (very luxurious) pre-school with various sensory and role-play activities set out for the day. Parent and baby sensory and music sessions also run daily. Beyond that, the resort offers two fabulous splash and play pools, and baby pool too (heated!). There’s a playground and soft-play to enjoy, and lovely staff always ready to laugh and play. You can even hire all the baby equipment you need: from cots and pushchairs, to sterilisers and bottle warmers. All your requirements as new parents are completely taken care of, enabling you to simply let go and relax.
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Exceptional Child Friendly Facilities
Fun by the ton is the order of the day here! If you bring your children, whatever their age, they will honestly be amused all day long! I just couldn’t believe how much was on the program for kids. To start, the kids’ club operates multiple times a day 6 days a week. Sessions are for 3-7 and 8-12 but they also run mixed clubs for all ages so siblings can play together. Whatever your preference: splash fun, jungle adventures, spy school, pirates, there’s something for everyone! When I visited the kids club everyone was dressed ready for the jungle. I was shown a big golden key they were about to hide which the kids need to hunt down in order to unlock the cupboard and discover the theme of the day! So much fun!
Beyond the kids’ club the TUI BLUE App will show you the full schedule of activities to book throughout the day: foot pool, water polo, football sessions, dance shows, and cooking classes where you can learn to make pizza and fruit salad with Captain T the friendly Mascot (he features in parades too!). The list is endless.
They’ll enjoy hours of splash and play fun in one of the many pools, either having swimming lessons at swim school or frolicking & giggling in the splash pool. Lots of activities are based here too, Captain T Dog runs some of the Aqua Aerobics, and I loved watching all the tiny smiling faces at the splash bingo (pick a number and then jump in when it’s your turn, the winner is the last one standing) Should I go on?! There’s also a soft play, playground and, when evening comes, dinosaur and bubble shows and a super mini disco. There is so much on offer to keep your children busy and amused, leaving you free to simply watch-on, smiling & care-free!
Another major win is that the fantastic pools here are heated to 26 degrees. It was 20 degrees during our stay in April but the pools were always warm enough to splash in.There are also zillions of sun beds, and we never ever had a problem grabbing one wherever we chose to sit.
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As I mentioned, our boys, Sammy and Harry, are 13 and 11 now. Sometimes going on holiday is more difficult, as they aren’t interested in kids’ club anymore, but there was lots to catch their attention too: a teen hangout, football court (a must on our holidays these days!) and heated pools did a great job of keeping them happy! They chose to take part in water-polo with Dad, and loved the football table tennis and foot pool.
They also really enjoyed the evening entertainment which started with an app based quiz at 8.30 and ended with the most amazing, high-quality shows: music through the decades, Disney, and off course the TUI BLUE dance which has everyone dancing like a funky chicken! If the show wasn’t their cup of tea you could catch them in the sports bar watching the football. There was so much too keep them busy. At the end of the week Sammy was having his picture taken with Bamse Bear, he’d let his inner child out again, and that was a joy to see.
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Equally dreamy for the Grown-Ups
Happy kids mean happy parents, and whilst the kids are busy, there’s so much for grown-ups to enjoy. The spa is a lovely, high-class relaxing space, and adults only. Multiple treatments are on offer. The cost for an hour was 12 Euros and there was a full sauna, steam room and various water-jets to enjoy, all overlooking the most glorious sea-view. The Spa complex also offers a lane-swimming pool for over 16s only and a fully stocked gym for you to enjoy. A full weights section is on offer.
I really appreciated that creating a relaxing vibe for parents was also prioritised. It was in the thoughtful touches, from Cava at breakfast to sunset yoga on the beach, to the endless, accessible drinks and snacks on offer for the little ones, so that you don’t have to fetch them. I found the enthusiastic entertainment and night-time quizzes and shows brought out the child in me. I was high-fiving the mascots by the pool with the kids and singing Taylor Swift in the pool during Aqua Aerobics having the time of my life…just wonderful.
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A well-earned, stress-free break from the daily grind of cooking cannot be over-estimated: it’s just heavenly, and once again, the offering at TUI BLUE is just perfect. You’ll discover an epic range of bars and eateries on offer at TUI BLUE Orquidea, from the buffet to the Taverna to the coffee shop and juice bar to the snack bar, to the real bar! Whilst most of the eating action takes place at the main buffet every night offers a different theme. I really appreciate this at an All Inclusive as without variety the food can get “samey”.
Where TUI BLUE for Families excels however, at every resort, is in the exciting range of food options for both their little diners, and anyone with an allergy. As we all know, allergies can be very common amongst young eaters, and I love and appreciate the fact that TUI BLUE has clearly sign-posted and delineated sections for all eaters: dairy free, wheat free, and children, they will cater to your every need. I’m gluten free myself and my bread and snacks were in a separate corner with their own toaster, to avoid contamination.
Children have their own section of the buffet which is just perfect, encouraging them to pick from a variety of options at their height. I particularly loved that there was a good balance of healthy and not so healthy options, all bright and colourful, to encourage small hands to make healthy choices. Healthy eating is also encouraged through Captain T’s reward card system where kids can collect reward stickers for trying different healthy foods in different healthy colours.
Sammy and Harry tried so many new things including Octopus legs! The beauty is, if you don’t like it, you can simply choose something else. A highlight for me was the real honey comb dripping honey at breakfast time. Of course there are plentiful, on-tap family treats to enjoy too…chocolate fountains, slushies and ice-cream ahoy!, but that’s as a holiday should be! There’s also a baby corner in the restaurant offering steriliser, microwave and kids’ cutlery
Drinks are on tap for you all day, with plentiful beers, spirits, wines and cocktails to choose from, alongside soft drinks and juices and plenty of drinking water too. Everything is accessible for kids. This really encourages their independence and confidence. They start going to order their own drinks at the bar and taking themselves off for a snack, and it makes them feel so independent and grown-up.
This is All Inclusive at its finest…there’s something for everyone to indulge in and enjoy, no moaning or complaining, and no work for you!
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We really enjoyed the beach-side setting and spent lots of time relishing our time on the beach together. It’s a mix of sand at the back and pebble and sand to the front, but, to my surprise, my boys actually said they preferred this set up as they don’t like getting sand stuck to them and love to clamber on the rocks. Take some appropriate sea footwear and it’s perfect.
TUI Experiences offer a great range of tours and we spent a day enjoying a Poema del Mar Aquarium Visit and Guayadeque Canyon, specifically the absolutely charming old town of Aguimes. The trip was a wonderful chance to drive into the hills and explore the lush green countryside. We also enjoyed the most exquisite tapas lunch in hillside caves as part of the package, which was a wonderful chance for us all to enjoy the local cuisine. It was a thoroughly easy, interesting and enjoyable day out visiting some of the Island’s highlights with local guide Miguel who was a fantastic character with so much knowledge and experience to share.
The hotel itself is located in Bahia Feliz which is a lovely place to stay for families. It offers a pretty, pedestrianised village square lined with cafes, with Moroccan-style buildings. There are 2 supermarkets and a pharmacy just metres from the hotel. The livelier resort of Playa Del Ingles is just a short 10km drive away, and the high-end resort of Maspalomas is within easy reach too and well worth a visit. Some of our party went to see the famous sand-dunes and reported that they were quite spectacular.
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Sister Hotels with Shared Facilities
It’s also worth noting that TUI BLUE Orquidea is surrounded by its sister hotels Tres Vidas, Las Pitas, and Playa Feliz. Tres Vidas and Las Pitas are literally on the same complex, offering extra apartment accommodation with kitchen facilities and a self-catering option. Playa Feliz is an easy 5 minute walk and offers a quieter vibe with amazing sea views and its own pool and restaurant. As a guest at any of these hotels you have access to the facilities at all of them, so plenty of variation.
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I’m a holiday-maker with a critical eye. I expect a lot from a big-ticket purchase like this, so what was it that pushed TUI BLUE Orquidea to a perfect 10 for me? Honestly it’s in the small things. The staff were all, faultlessly, beyond exceptional. The hotel clearly treats them well and they love working where they do. They go above and beyond to create the most fantastic environment, from the cleaners who offer you extra water with a smile, to the entertainers who stay in full princess mode even to have pictures taken with adults, to the Sports Host who has you whooping and singing in the pool. We felt taken care of, and that’s all we can ask for on holiday.
When you consider everything that’s included in the price of your holiday, TUI BLUE Orquidea represents incredible value for money. It really isn’t necessary to pay for anything during your stay if you don’t choose to: your meals, your snacks, your drinks, and endless amounts of entertainment and child-care are all included in what you pay up-front.
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Reasons to Choose TUI BLUE for Families
We would most heartily and honestly recommend a relaxing family holidays at TUI BLUE Orquidea and indeed any TUI BLUE for Families Hotel, as we feel this brand has truly made the effort to understand and deliver on what makes a genuinely remarkable, memorable and relaxing holiday for families. Literally, your only job as a parent is to completely let go, and unwind.
You can find out more about this collection by reading our article “Reasons to Choose TUI BLUE for Families” or Identify your perfect TUI BLUE Holiday by reading “Which TUI BLUE is BEST for you?” You can also discover our full range of the BEST child friendly holidays in Gran Canaria, TripAdvisor top-rated on our Gran Canaria Page. We’ve Found Your Best Child Friendly Holiday, All you need to do is Book! Thank you for reading!
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