Gran Hotel Natura in Corralejo

Started by bedouin, May 02, 2016, 09:56:10 AM

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bedouin

Just returned from spending some time in Gran Hotel Natura, and it's really rather good.  Two pools, loads of sunbeds, direct access to the naturist beach area, good food, great staff, free wifi, on-site minimarket.  On the downside, the rooms are rather small and there's no aircon (which I didn't need in April!).

arnieculane1


  hi mate

  still think infinity is better .

  arnie n dawn

bedouin

Quote from: arnieculane1 on May 02, 2016, 20:21:23 PM

  still think infinity is better .


But Infiniti is a long way from the naturist beach, and does it offer catering?  Anyway, it's for sale, so maybe someone will snap it up.

jg

Quote from: bedouin on May 02, 2016, 21:24:38 PM
Quote from: arnieculane1 on May 02, 2016, 20:21:23 PM

  still think infinity is better .


But Infiniti is a long way from the naturist beach, and does it offer catering?  Anyway, it's for sale, so maybe someone will snap it up.
Neither is better or worse - they are just serving different segments of the naturist market.
I don't think Infiniti is likely to turn textile any time soon - it couldn't command the premium as unless it stayed naturist.
JG

keelegill

And as we found out this week, Infiniti don't allow children to stay  :( which was very disappointing as we were looking seriously at a stay in the summer. Unfortunately Gran Hotel's rooms being small meant that was off the table too....so it'll either be a late season villa...or south of the island. Definitely still room in the market for a Corralejo family naturist resort...

paully

Quote from: keelegill on May 03, 2016, 09:56:02 AM
And as we found out this week, Infiniti don't allow children to stay  :( which was very disappointing as we were looking seriously at a stay in the summer. Unfortunately Gran Hotel's rooms being small meant that was off the table too....so it'll either be a late season villa...or south of the island. Definitely still room in the market for a Corralejo family naturist resort...


I think you'll find that most naturist resorts are either adult only or don't have accommodation suitable.Infiniti used to take children in the non naturist weeks in the past, but tbh they would lose a lot of clientele if they did it now...they don't get many enquiries from families, yours would have been one of the very few....
I HATE computer thingyss

bedouin

There were only 2 children at Gran Hotel Natura while I was there, and they were late teens.

SheilaW

It saddens me to see only adults in naturism. Not at all what it should be about. The naturist campsite in France that I virtually lived at until four years ago was teeming with kids.

I've stayed at both places and enjoyed both stays. They're very different but with that usual "community" atmosphere.

paully

Quote from: SheilaW on May 03, 2016, 22:12:28 PM
It saddens me to see only adults in naturism. Not at all what it should be about. The naturist campsite in France that I virtually lived at until four years ago was teeming with kids.


That's the British for you Sheila...by and large they think it's something to be avoided, as a result it's the older British crowd that keeps these places going..I was in Gran Natura yesterday and the age profile there was just that,as well
I HATE computer thingyss

SheilaW

But Corralejo isn't just about Brits, Paully. I'm not sure that native English speakers even occupy second place after Spanish ones. There are an awful lot of languages being spoken here. I know Infiniti is very British, but HGN certainly isn't,in management or guests. Generally speaking, naturist places are very cosmopolitan with northern and central European countries well represented. Maybe a family naturist place would appeal to them if only we had one. I'd certainly go there though my kids (naturist themselves but with textile partners) haven't given me grand-children to take there.

keelegill

Apologies for taking the thread off on a tangent, but I have to agree. The phrase 'built it and they will come' springs to mind. It's a similar situation to UK clubs in that families have particular needs and facilites and look for their provision. If destinations do not provide them, then they will look elsewhere. Additionally, and maybe moreso than for couples and singles, families look for places where there are *other families*, so there needs to be a concented effort for venues to be welcoming to them. To hear therefore that a venue feels thay don't have to cater for families because 'very few are interested' is the wrong way around and makes me sad. It leads to a suspicion that some venues are almost 'anti-family' because they feel retirees wanting a quiet existance will be put off (something that definitely *does* put off some clubs in the UK from really pushing naturism to families...as the committees are generally retirees). Surely a balance can be struck...and therein I think a venue in Fuerteventura could be created that could easily match the 'atmosphere' that French resorts surround themselves with.

Going back to Gran Hotel Natura, I visted last February with a view to earmarking it as a possible summer destination but couldn't bring myself to recommend it to my wife and daughter. With some development and if it had bigger rooms and maybe a less expensive resturant then I would be more interested, but the clincher was that GHN, like Infiniti, wasn't very welcoming for families. I'm sure it wouldn't take much to provide a bit more for children, but as an illustration as to why i think GNH has not focused on families...I saw that the former childrens splash pool had been filled in by the new owners!

So both GHN and Infiniti are off the table which is a shame, but in todays climate there's unrealised potential i think...potential that should be taken up to rebalance the island back in naturists favour before textile commercialism swamps them.

paully

Well Infiniti is presently up for sale, so if you fancy a punt, have a bid at it
I HATE computer thingyss

Tatts

Having made several visits to this Hotel it is pretty good if you are Adults which most Naturists seem to be we have met on this island.
The age range for guests on our visits has been estimating between 40 and 80  years of age with many different nationalities, even a middle aged couple we met living in Corralejo were staying there for a few days.
It is great not to have a presence of children out of control running round the place while parents are oblivious to what they are doing.
The pools are good, even though the large pool is still pretty cool and the heated pool is not very big but adequate for a warm dip!
The pool bar serves reasonably priced food of good quality and the drinks are again not expensive, plus if you wish glasses can be taken to your sun loungers, this could not happen if children were staying here.
Sun loungers are of good quality as is the occasional furniture round the large pool and bar area which has shaded areas if required.
The Sauna is pretty small takes 4 at a push but it does work, never tried the jacuzzi or the gym equipment by the Sauna  and it would be nice to have a steam room, plus there's plenty of room down stairs to install a larger Sauna.
Having not stayed there overnight we are unable to comment about the accommodation or the Restaurant.
All the staff we have met plus the owner were extremely helpful and courteous and we look forward to many more visits.
We used to go to Mirak but now we find for us this is local for us plus a great place to chill out with nice company for 4 or 5 hours.



jg

Tatts - What is the basis on which you spend time there as a day visitor?
I have only visited as the acknowledged guest of one or more residents.
JG

bedouin

I think they let anyone in as a day visitor for about â,¬10.

Tatts

Hi , yes its â,¬10 each from 10-30 am till dusk I believe.

spirefolks

Going to have a day visit this week. Looking forward to it.
thanks

Jazz006

Hi all, fancy having a day visit here but wife likes to keep bottom half on, is this allowed / accepted . Also I fancy doing this on my birthday,  do the do anything special for birthdays of a day guest

helsbelles

Quote from: Jazz006 on October 06, 2016, 12:51:38 PM
Hi all, fancy having a day visit here but wife likes to keep bottom half on, is this allowed / accepted . Also I fancy doing this on my birthday,  do the do anything special for birthdays of a day guest

This is not a clothing optional resort but a naturist resort and your wife will be expected to take her bikini bottoms off like everybody else.

No they will not do anything special for you on your birthday - why do you suppose they would do anything special for a day guest.

Put bluntly, from what you say the Gran Natura is not suitable for you and you would be better off sticking to the clothing optional beach past the RIU'S.


bedouin

Quote from: Jazz006 on October 06, 2016, 12:51:38 PM
Hi all, fancy having a day visit here but wife likes to keep bottom half on, is this allowed / accepted . Also I fancy doing this on my birthday,  do the do anything special for birthdays of a day guest

It's a naturist resort, and so clothing isn't acceptable around the pool and bar area.  If you were staying there, rather than doing a day visit, your wife could wear whatever she likes on your room balcony. 

As for a special birthday treat for a day visitor, you seem rather optimistic!

Grampiangranny

Maybe we could coax Nicola Sturgeon out to Fuerte to give Jazz the bumps, as he's so patriotic?  She gives me the creeps!  Hope she keeps her top and bottoms on too....lol

helsbelles

Quote from: sun lovers on October 07, 2016, 15:13:51 PM
No bikini bottoms allowed but shirts on with Willy out is ok based on a recent article on naturism in the north. Think we'll stick to the south! :-)

Ignorance is bliss

SheilaW

Quote from: sun lovers on October 07, 2016, 15:13:51 PM
No bikini bottoms allowed but shirts on with Willy out is ok based on a recent article on naturism in the north. Think we'll stick to the south! :-)
What a truly strange thing for a supposed naturist to say.

TripleH

Does anyone know if they still accept day visitors?

bedouin

Yes, I believe they do, although it may depend on how busy they are.  If you phone ahead, they'll tell you.  Actually, it's one of the few places I've stayed at where they actually have plenty of sunbeds to cope with max occupancy, so I'd imagine there's a good chance of day visitors getting in.

jg

Quote from: TripleH on April 16, 2017, 16:37:25 PM
Does anyone know if they still accept day visitors?
I understand that they normally charge about 10â,¬ to casual day visitors although I heve never been charged when I was visiting people who were residents.
JG