Santa Catalina, a Royal Hideaway Hotel

Salisa Hartney

My mum and I stayed at the Royal Hideaway Santa Catalina to celebrate her 50th birthday, and it was truly an unforgettable city break. From the moment we arrived, we were blown away by the hotel’s stunning architecture and timeless elegance. The hotel is absolutely beautiful, with luxurious facilities, gorgeous pools, a fantastic spa - we had one very relaxing massage. The gardens and grounds are simply breathtaking—so beautifully maintained that wandering around them became an activity in itself. Every corner felt peaceful and picturesque, making it a joy to explore and soak up the atmosphere. The location was perfect too—close enough to explore everything Las Palmas has to offer, including Las Canteras Beach, the charming streets of Vegueta Old Town, and so many wonderful restaurants, while still feeling like a peaceful oasis to return to. One of the highlights of our trip was dining at the hotel’s Michelin-starred restaurant. It was an incredible culinary experience from start to finish and made the celebration even more memorable. What really made our stay exceptional, however, was the outstanding service. Every member of staff was warm, welcoming, and professional, but we would especially like to say a huge thank you to Julia - (and a lovely lady I think called Sonia.) Julia went above and beyond to ensure our stay was perfect and helped me organise multiple surprises for my mum’s 50th birthday, making the occasion even more special than I could have imagined. Her kindness, attention to detail, and genuine care made such a difference, and she is a real credit to the hotel. Thank you, Julia, for creating memories that we will remember for a long time! We couldn’t have chosen a better place to celebrate such a special milestone. Royal Hideaway Santa Catalina exceeded all of our expectations, and we wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to anyone looking for a luxurious, memorable stay in Las Palmas. We can’t wait to return.

Biljana Lojanica

Santa Catalina Hotel is undeniably a historic architectural landmark, but as a hotel experience it fell well below expectations. On arrival, the service felt cold and somewhat pretentious rather than welcoming. A key reason for choosing the hotel was the prominently advertised rooftop pool and views, only to discover after check-in that access is restricted to suite guests. The spa is similarly limited unless you pay €15 per person for 90 minutes, which felt too rushed to unwind and relax. These restrictions are not clearly communicated at booking and leave a sense of being misled. Several of the lounge and communal areas were also frequently reserved for corporate events and seminars, which further diminished the sense of a relaxed hotel environment. As a guest, it often felt as though you were secondary to business groups and functions moving through the space, even in more personal hotel moments such as walking through pool access corridors in a robe. In-room entertainment is very dated, with a non–smart TV offering only basic local and satellite channels. Room service carries a €5 delivery surcharge, while on-site dining is largely limited to high-end fine dining with little casual alternative. It is also worth noting that Las Palmas sits under a noticeably less favourable microclimate than the south and west of Gran Canaria. During our stay, conditions were consistently cloudy, windy, and cool, which further limited the enjoyment of the hotel’s already restricted amenities. For those seeking reliable sun and beach weather, the southern or western parts of the island are a better choice. The atmosphere and clientele also skew noticeably toward an older demographic.

Sebastian St

We felt very comfortable in the hotel. The rooms were very clean, styles and modern. The beds were extremely good to sleep in. We especially liked the spacious bathroom and the great shower with different options. The service and staff was extremely helpful and friendly. The venue is very romantic and stylefully arranged. The breakfast buffet was extraordinary, very fresh and very good quality with a huge choice of different dishes. We are very happy to come back at any time.

Scott Stephens

A grand historic hotel. Rooms are nice and we were there on two occasions. We had a rooms with a balcony and that gets you exclusive access to the roof top bar and pool until 5 PM. One room had a coffee maker and the second in the same category didn’t not. No room service menu in the room, no obvious place to get an early morning coffee. The first time, I left a note asking for more coffee and got all decaf pods 🤦 In the second room the soap was out in the shower Reception is busier than an airline terminal and a bit chaotic. Breakfast was excellent, lobby bar was great but overwhelmed at times. Roof top bar was great, but no food in the evening. Location isn’t too walkable to other things you want to do, but taxis are plentiful and not expensive. I’d stay there again, but hope to see them focus on the little things that really make it a 5 star experience

Mike Mahoney

Hotel Santa Catalina is a fantastic hotel and the staff are absolutely amazing and very friendly. The breakfast is great, with a vast amount of different foods to choose from. The outside pool, gym, and wellness centre is lovely, however depending on the level of accommodation you choose you may have to pay an extra 15 euros per person for 1 hours use of the facility which is one of the downsides to staying there. In addition, the same applies to using the rooftop bar/pool which is not good at all. Furthermore, the hotel is situated outside the main centre/beach and therefore to get anywhere you can walk (35 mins) or get a cab, which are really cheap and easy to get. Overall, our stay was great, but I think the wellness centre and rooftop bar and pool should be free and open to use for all guests.