Gran Canaria Paradise: 8-Pax Villa, Unbeatable Views! (Belvilla by OYO)
Gran Canaria Paradise: 8-Pax Villa - Views That Bite (and Other Truths About Belvilla by OYO) - A Review That's Actually Real
Okay, folks, buckle up. This isn't your average, sterile hotel review. I just got back from Gran Canaria, and the "Gran Canaria Paradise: 8-Pax Villa, Unbeatable Views!" (as advertised by Belvilla by OYO)… well, let’s just say the views were indeed something. But the rest of the “paradise” situation? Not always.
First Impressions (and a slight freak-out upon arrival):
Finding the bloody place was a mission. My GPS decided to take a siesta, and I ended up doing a scenic tour of goat farms before finally stumbling upon the villa. The exterior? Gorgeous. Picturesque. Instagram-worthy. The views? Holy moly. Mountains meeting the Atlantic…it was stunning enough to make a grown person (me) tear up. Seriously. The initial “WOW” factor was REAL.
Accessibility - or, the Stairway to… Well, Not Paradise, Exactly:
Now, this is where things get… tricky. I had my elderly Aunt Mildred with me (bless her heart, she's tougher than she looks). And let me tell you, accessibility is not this villa's strong suit. Forget about maneuvering a wheelchair. Forget about Aunt Mildred's dodgy knee. We're talking stairs. Lots and lots of stairs. Seriously, the "Facilities for disabled guests" section on the website, bless their optimistic little hearts, needs a serious re-evaluation. This place is not for anyone with mobility issues. Nope. Run far, far away.
Cleanliness and Safety (Because Post-COVID, We're All a Little Obsessed):
Okay, so, "Anti-viral cleaning products" were listed. Good. "Rooms sanitized between stays"? Seemed like it – the place smelled vaguely of lemon and hope when we first walked in. “Daily disinfection in common areas”? Probably, but you know, who can tell for sure? Honestly, it felt clean. The kitchen and tableware items looked sanitized. So, thumbs up on that front, Belvilla. They also had hand sanitizer dispensers everywhere, which is always a plus, especially after encountering goat farms.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking (Fueling the Holiday Machine):
This is where the villa really shines. Or, doesn't shine, depending on your expectations.
Cooking for Yourself: The kitchen was well-equipped. Seriously. Pots, pans, a ridiculous amount of cutlery. Even a blender! (Perfect for post-hike smoothies, let me tell you.) There's a "convenience store" nearby, but honestly, driving is a pain.
Restaurants & Lounges: Absolutely none on-site. Zilch. Nada. Zero. You're on your own, baby. Which, for me, was fine. I like to cook (when I'm not dealing with said goat farms). But if you're expecting a constant stream of poolside cocktails and gourmet meals, look elsewhere.
The "Bottle of Water" Situation: My god, you are on your own here, baby.
Breakfast: Let me tell you, even "Breakfast in room" wasn't available.
Things to Do (and How to Relax… or Try):
Alright, this is where the villa redeems itself. And the views are the key, I'm repeating myself.
The Pool with a View: This was a highlight. Pure bliss. My escape. Swimming at dusk, watching the sun melt into the ocean…it was magical.
The Terrace: Great for evening drinks, and for taking in the view.
Gym/Fitness: Nope. Not a chance. More stairs. More walking to reach the gym (not available on property).
Body wrap, Body scrub, Massage, Sauna, Spa… Forget it. It's a villa. You are on your own, buddy.
The Rest of It… the "Things to do" section is pretty sparse. This place is for chilling and self-catering, that's its primary function.
Services and Conveniences (The Fine Print):
Wi-Fi: Free Wi-Fi – supposedly in all rooms. It was patchy upstairs. Downstairs? Better. Good enough to stream a movie, which was essential when the inevitable rain rolled in. And because Aunt Mildred was having a "moment" one afternoon.
Air conditioning in public area & Additional toilet: They were available.
Daily Housekeeping: Was okay. We had to ask for a towel refill more than once.
Laundry service: Thankfully available.
For the Kids (If You Dare Bring Them):
- Family/child friendly, Babysitting service, Kids facilities, Kids meal: I have no kids, so I can't really comment, but I'd say… probably not ideal for toddlers what with all the stairs and no on-site entertainment.
Available in all rooms (The Nitty-Gritty):
Air conditioning, Alarm clock, Bathrobes, Bathroom phone, Bathtub, Blackout curtains: Yes.
Complimentary tea: Yes.
Hair dryer, Slippers, Smoke detector: Yes.
Refrigerator: Fantastic!
Wake-up service: I think they had it. We used our phones.
The Good, the Bad, and the Slightly Bizarre:
The View: Seriously, the view. Worth the price of admission alone. Seriously.
The Lack of On-Site Amenities: If you're looking for a resort experience, this ain't it. It's a self-catering villa. Embrace it.
The Stairs: Prepare for a leg workout. And maybe bring a stairlift. Just kidding (mostly).
The Overall Vibe: Rustic charm? Yes. Luxury? Not really. It's comfortable, clean enough, and the views are utterly, jaw-droppingly spectacular.
Final Verdict (Because You Want One):
Would I recommend this villa? YES, BUT… If you're looking for a relaxing, self-catering holiday with INCREDIBLE views, and can handle stairs, then absolutely. If you need a luxe experience, or have mobility issues, run. Seriously. Run far, far away. The "Gran Canaria Paradise" part? The views deliver on that promise. The rest of it? Well, it's a bit more… real. But in its own way, that's part of the charm. Just pack your own snacks, be prepared to climb a mountain (aka the stairs), and enjoy the hell out of those views. You won't regret it. Just don't expect a spa day. Or a goat farm tour. Unless you want one… and then, go crazy.
SEO & Metadata (Because My Brain is Hurting From All This Reviewing):
- Title: Gran Canaria Paradise: 8-Pax Villa Review - Belvilla by OYO - Unfiltered Truth!
- Keywords: Gran Canaria, villa, vacation rental, Belvilla, OYO, review, views, pool, self-catering, accessibility, stairs, family, holiday, Canary Islands, Spain.
- Description: Honest and detailed review of the "Gran Canaria Paradise" villa (Belvilla by OYO) in Gran Canaria, Spain. Learn about the stunning views, amenities, accessibility challenges, and overall experience. Is it really paradise? Find out!
- Meta Title: Gran Canaria Villa Review - Views & Truths!
- Meta Description: Unbiased review of the Gran Canaria 8-Pax Villa by Belvilla: Stunning views, self-catering fun, & a whole lot of stairs! Is this Gran Canaria paradise? Read the review to find out, it's not what you think.
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because this isn't your grandma's meticulously planned itinerary. This is… my attempt at a cohesive travel plan for that Belvilla in Gran Canaria. Piedra Amarilla, we're coming for you, and chaos is probably joining us. Let's dive in… and hopefully not drown.
The Gran Canaria Getaway: A Promise (and a Prayer)
People: 8 Souls (Mostly related, pray for us all) Duration: 7 Glorious, Gobbly, Probably Slightly Disastrous Days Location: Belvilla by OYO Piedra Amarilla, Gran Canaria, Spain (God help us)
Day 1: Arrival & The Great Grocery Grab (and the ensuing hunger-fueled meltdown)
- Morning (ish): Flight from… well, let's just say “Not-so-sunny England” because it’s usually raining there and the flight itself was delayed which sent our already frayed nerves into overdrive. The usual battle through security, the desperate scramble for a decent coffee (that turned out to be lukewarm and tasted suspiciously of airport carpet), and finally… a blessed airplane seat. Pray the screaming children are not next to you.
- Afternoon: Landing! Hallelujah! The sun actually shines! Collecting the rental cars. Always a thrilling experience akin to a low-stakes, slightly stressful version of 'The Amazing Race.' Last week, the rental guys had to swap out a car, 'cause one member of our crew accidentally booked a tiny car for 8 people.
- Late Afternoon/Early Evening: Arrive at Piedra Amarilla. First impressions count. Hopefully, the photos weren't heavily photoshopped. Unpacking. The sheer volume of luggage when you're trying to cater to eight people is… a sight. A mountain of suitcases, enough to make Everest jealous.
- Evening: THE GROCERY RUN. This is where things always start to unravel. Trying to coordinate eight opinions on what to buy is like herding cats… drunk cats. Expect: arguments over cheese, accidental purchases of ten kilos of potatoes, and someone (probably me) wandering around looking utterly bewildered by the Spanish olive oil selection and the sudden overwhelming urge to buy a whole leg of Jamon – I had to be stopped. After the shopping spree, we will collapse in exhaustion. Cooking (if we have the will) will be a chaotic dance of chopping, cooking, and constant "Is anyone hungry, because I AM." If the cooking doesn’t go well, we head to a restaurant. The first evening is about surviving and hoping nobody kills anyone.
Day 2: Beach Day Bliss (and the inevitable skin-burn)
- Morning: A sluggish start, punctuated by the delightful sound of someone snoring. Breakfast in pyjamas.
- Late Morning/Early Afternoon: Head to the beach. (I'm thinking Playa de Amadores. We need some sand, some sun, and some serious vitamin D.) Sunscreen is a must. (I guarantee at least one person will forget to apply it, and they'll look like a lobster by the evening.) Building sandcastles. Attempting to swim. (My swimming style is best described as 'doggy paddle with a hint of panic.') Maybe some snorkeling where you see more fish than you expect, and some you definitely don’t want to see.
- Afternoon: Beach bar! Sangria… maybe a little too much sangria. Sun-induced grumpiness starts to set in. Maybe some minor sunburn already. I can almost feel the burn of my skin already, so I will be sure to pack extra sunblock.
- Evening: Dinner at a seaside restaurant. Fresh seafood. Overpriced, but worth it for the view (and the chance to avoid cooking again). Watch the sunset. Swear we'll return to the beach tomorrow, even though we'll probably spend half the day complaining about the sand.
Day 3: Volcano Adventures & The Great Map Meltdown
- Morning: The promise of a volcano. The promise of stunning views. A slow, groggy rise to prepare for the day
- Late Morning/Early Afternoon: Driving up the volcano. (Likely, somewhere near Las Palmas.) The car journey will be a mix of scenic beauty and frantic map-reading attempts. I'm the designated navigator – bless. Expect some wrong turns, a near-miss with a particularly enthusiastic donkey, and arguments about whether the car park is 'up ahead' or 'back there.' At some point we will get lost and have a monumental breakdown.
- Afternoon: Hiking! (…ish). The hike will start with enthusiasm. The enthusiastic folks will quickly lose steam. Someone (probably me) will whinge. The views, however, will be worth it. We will probably have a moment of awe.
- Evening: Dinner in a small, local restaurant. Try to pronounce some Spanish words. Succeed occasionally. Fail spectacularly more often. Maybe we'll find the perfect tapas bar. Maybe we will just eat patatas bravas until we are comatose.
Day 4: The Day of Rest? (Ha!) & The Great Laundry Debacle
- Morning: "Sleep in!" (Famous last words). Someone (probably me, again) will wake up at the crack of dawn, filled with the restless energy of a squirrel on caffeine. The others will glare.
- Mid-Morning: House chores. The most exciting part of any vacation. A quick tidy up, maybe a quick laundry session. But the most exciting part is always the inevitable laundry disaster. Someone will shrink a favourite shirt. Someone will put red socks in with white clothes. Someone will have to spend the rest of the day smelling of washing powder.
- Afternoon: More lounging. Reading. Trying to remember what 'relaxation' actually feels like. Maybe a massage (if my partner can find a massage therapist in time).
- Evening: A home-cooked meal. Attempt number two. Perhaps a barbecue. Or, if the laundry disaster has truly ruined the mood, takeout pizza. Wine will be involved. Probably too much wine. Prepare for the inevitable post-wine-induced existential crisis.
Day 5: Puerto de Mogán & The Search for the Perfect Instagram Shot
- Morning: Head to Puerto de Mogán, the "Venice of Gran Canaria." This is where we will be chasing the perfect Instagram photo. Getting lost in the charming streets is basically a given.
- Late Morning/Early Afternoon: Stroll around the harbour. Admire the boats (secretly dreaming of owning a yacht). Eat gelato. Attempt to bargain in a shop (and fail miserably). Probably buy some overpriced souvenirs.
- Afternoon: Boat trip! (If we’re feeling adventurous - or brave.) Hoping to spot dolphins, but mostly just hoping no one gets seasick. The views from the water will be amazing, or they will be marred by someone’s constant complaining.
- Evening: Dinner in Puerto de Mogán. More fresh seafood. More attempts at speaking Spanish. More wine. More potential for someone to do something embarrassing. (The stakes are high.)
Day 6: Wine tasting & the day we decide to be cultured (and fail)
- Morning: Another leisurely start. This time, we'll actually sleep in, at last. Possibly.
- Late Morning/Early Afternoon: Wine tasting. (Because, why not?) We find a local vineyard. We pretend to know about wine. And in the process, try to learn about wine.
- Afternoon: Visit a local museum (we try to be cultured). This is where the culture crashes into the wall of boredom. We will admire the art. We will wander around aimlessly. And then, some will probably sneak out to find a coffee shop.
- Evening: Farewell dinner at a fancy restaurant (or maybe just a really good one). A toast to the good times, the bad times, and the slightly disastrous times. Try to remember all the good moments. Try not to fight over the bill.
Day 7: Departure & the Bitter-Sweet Goodbye
- Morning: Pack. The dreaded packing. The frantic search for missing chargers. The discovery of a rogue sock. The final scramble to fit everything in the suitcases.
- Late Morning/Early Afternoon: Clean the Belvilla. (More accurately: a chaotic whirlwind of wiping, sweeping, and hoping we haven't left anything offensive behind.) Last-minute souvenir shopping. A final, desperate attempt to eat ALL the remaining snacks before we leave.
- Afternoon: Drive to the airport. Return the car (with minimal scratches, hopefully). Security. The inevitable delays. The final goodbyes.
- Evening: The flight home. A mix of exhaustion, nostalgia, and the quiet promise to book another holiday… soon. Already planning the next adventure, even though we all desperately need a holiday from the holiday.
Things to remember:
- Sunscreen. Seriously.
- Phrase
Gran Canaria Paradise: 8-Pax Villa – The FAQ You *Actually* Need (Belvilla by OYO)
1. Okay, spill the tea. Is that "Unbeatable View" *actually* unbeatable, or are we talking "slightly elevated hill with some palm trees" level?
Alright, buckle up, because the view is... well, it's *mostly* unbeatable. Let me put it this way: I was walking towards the balcony with my coffee, ready to be underwhelmed, and BAM! My jaw dropped. Seriously, I spent a solid hour the first morning just staring. Ocean stretching forever, dramatic volcanic cliffs... And, yes, palm trees. Lots of them. So, 'slightly elevated hill' this is not. Think "God's own Instagram filter." But, and this is a *big* but, there's this tiny little power line that kinda, maybe, *slightly* intrudes into the view. Like, seriously, it's almost invisible. It's a testament to how frickin' gorgeous everything else is. I think it's a win.
2. Eight people - cramped? Or can we actually *breathe*?
That, my friends, depends on your family dynamics. My own crew? Chaos, pure chaos. But the villa itself? Surprisingly spacious. There's breathing *room*, definitely. Each bedroom is decent-sized, maybe not palatial, but enough space to not feel like you're crammed into a sardine can with seven of your most beloved (and possibly, at times, irritating) people. The living area? Big enough to spread out, have a movie night (and argue about what to watch), and not feel like you're constantly bumping into each other. The kitchen? Well, it's a kitchen. Functional. My sister, bless her heart, dropped a box of cereal on the floor the first day. That gave us a lot of space to clean, actually.
3. Pool time! Is the pool a postage stamp, or is it a decent size for some actual swimming?
The pool! Ah, the pool. Okay, it's *not* Olympic-sized. Let's be clear. But it's definitely bigger than a plunge pool. I spent a lot of time in that pool! And seriously, it's the perfect temperature. We had some *hilarious* games of pool volleyball, which resulted in a lot of water everywhere. You can definitely swim, splash around, and generally have a jolly good time. My niece, who's terrified of water, actually learned how to float in it! Now that's a victory. Plus, the pool area has sun loungers, which is essential for maximum relaxation and tan-maximizing. The best thing? When the sun is setting and the sky turns orange, and it feels like the whole world is magical. The pool brings joy.
4. Air conditioning: a life-saver or a sweat-fest?
Praise be to air conditioning! It's a life-saver. Gran Canaria gets HOT. Like, melt-your-face-off hot. The air con in this villa is a solid workhorse. It kept us all cool and sane. Each bedroom (and the living area) had its own unit, which is a *huge* plus. No fighting over who gets the "cool" room. I had a problem with a unit one night, it was running but not completely cooling, and it was a NIGHTMARE. Thankfully, the Belvilla folks were relatively easy to reach, and they had it sorted quickly. Still... I do not recommend spending the night sweating buckets.
5. How's the kitchen? Fully equipped, or do I need to bring my own spatula and dreams of gourmet meals?
The kitchen... it's a mixed bag. It has all the essentials. Fridge. Oven. Microwave. Dishwasher (thank *God*). The basics are there. But, and this is a big "but", don't expect a Michelin-star-worthy setup. The pans were a little old and a bit scratched, and the knives… well, let's just say I wouldn't want to perform surgery with them. The positive side: It *does* have a blender! My morning smoothies were saved. If you're planning on serious cooking (and I mean *really* serious), bring your own favourite sharp knife. Also, check for a pepper grinder. I somehow forgot. We ended up buying pre-ground pepper - a travesty, I tell you!
6. Location, location, location! Is it easy to get around, or are we stuck in the middle of nowhere? Do we *need* a car?
Okay, location. You're going to *want* a car. Let me be clear: You practically *need* a car. The villa is not in the dead centre of everything (which is a good thing, less noise!). I would not want to depend on taxis or public transport here. Gran Canaria is an island of hidden gems, winding roads, and dramatic landscapes. You'll want the freedom to explore. Grocery shopping? Car. Going to the beach? Car. Finding that amazing little tapas bar I found in... well, you get the idea. The roads can be a bit… well, let's say “adventurous” in spots. But the views are amazing. Plan for some tight turns and narrow lanes. Driving is definitely part of the experience - embrace it! Otherwise, you risk missing out entirely. We thought we could taxi some places, and it was a mistake, trust me.
7. Dealing with Belvilla by OYO... any horror stories or surprisingly smooth sailing?
Belvilla by OYO... hmmm. It was mostly okay. The booking process was easy. You know, all the usual stuff. Getting in touch with them when I had a problem with the air conditioning wasn't *instant*, but they responded. The communication was straightforward, helpful when I needed it, and... well, that's about as good as you can hope for these days, isn't it? The check-in instructions were clear. The check-out was a breeze (thankfully!). Overall? Not a disaster. No epic fails. No hidden fees that I'm aware of. It was neither a complete disaster, or a sparkling, perfect experience. It was... functional. That's probably the best I can say.
8. Is the Wi-Fi decent? Because, you know, Instagram waits for no one.
Okay, Wi-Fi. This is important. The Wi-Fi was... present. It wasn't lightning-fast, let's be honest. You can probably stream Netflix in the evening, but don't expect to upload a 4K video. It's perfectly fine for checking emails, browsing, and keeping in touch with the world. My daughter's TikTok obsession was, thankfully, mostly manageable. I mean, youJet Set Hotels
