Brian Taylor
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Slightly different experience. I’ve got points at Gran Anfi and have not really had problems in booking weeks, normally we don’t book into GA and book into Beach or Monte. AVC have been very good when we call for a points booking, over last 15 years.
Also have floating resale week at Monte and that is more of problem, though as I have posted before if we can’t get what we want just book a week, rent it out, and buy the week we wanted off rentals – the cost difference is normally minimal.
Hopefully the new owners, once in place, will improve accessibility to weeks and maybe even have online booking, so we have visibility of what’s available.
Regards, Brian
Hi John
Although Pam & I have some points at Gran Anfi I personally would not move to points for our other floating or fixed weeks at Beach and Monte, especially at the cost level you indicate. We too have had trouble at Monte getting the week we want some years, even booking at the first opportunity.
The best tactic if you can’t get the week you need is to use your floating week to get a week that is available, rent it out, then look on our rentals and other sites to find the week you want. We have done this over several years with success most of the time – if you are going for a high season slot you may have to pay a premium, but otherwise it should be pretty much the same cost.Regards, Brian
I just wanted to add, that a really memorable moment for me was sitting with my 3 year old granddaughter, next to the now closed Montsemar near the Radisson resort, on the seating out to the sea, looking over to Anfi marina and the light house, we just sat there and looked at the lighthouse counting the lights as they pulsed out.
We chatted and counted the lights on the lighthouse. I’ll remember that forever, such a magical moment.
Brian
Hi William
I have to agree with everything you have said. I just wish more members could take a few minutes to post information about their views or experiences at Anfi
I’ve never been enamoured with onsite restaurants, though Pam has been in May and the new Chapter One is certainly of interest.
We are out with our 2 granddaughters in October, who will then be 5 and 2 and a half, and will be interesting to see if they like the Fun Park or not. It does sound good as they like anything with movement.
Last time they were out 18 months back, the then 3 year old on first morning, insisted on taking her Nana round all the pools at Monte before 9 a.m.
Phoebe loves the pools at Anfi and one day just ran and ran round the Monte children’s pool and slide until she stopped and said “I tired” – then we took here to a sunbed in shade and she fell asleep for hour or two. Phoebe also loved the ice cream bar, which was a regular stop off after her dinner.Thanks for your support
Brian
Hi Angus
Are you there at the moment? Pam just got back over a week ago so will be posting her thoughts on her stay before long. The Fun Park was not open when Pam left though I have opened a forum item to get some feedback once it is open, as potentially useful when I am over with my young granddaughters.I’m not here to defend Anfi, though clearly many members are very happy with what they see at Anfi and a proportion with the onsite restaurants. I get the impression that quite a few members, like me, prefer to eat offsite and have done for many years – in my case since 2002. The onsite restaurants do not in my eyes offer good value or in some cases quality of food or service. Important to understand that the only ones that Anfi control are inside the security perimeter.
The last time I stayed in Sonnenland was in 2002 and unless it has radically improved there is no comparison in my view between it and Anfi. My experience there was one of the reasons we bought at Anfi. We have friends who 2 years ago stayed near Anfi, then via sales pitch moved in and have 5 weeks at Anfi now and have sold most of their other RCI weeks because they like Anfi so much. Not everyone will like every resort.
We need to be clear about what Anfi do and do not control. The management of the coastal strip including the plaza area, and the area that used to be tennis and mini-golf is managed under a contract let by the Spanish authorities.
Anfi used to manage this area under the contract though have not done so for some years as it lost out when the service was re-tendered.
It was after Anfi lost control of the management of the coastal side that the tennis and mini-golf closed, and the changes in food outlets outside of the security perimeter are not things that Anfi control, nor the Fun Park area.
Anfi hope to regain the contract in the future via re-tender.Gran Anfi was never sold to me as an adult oasis, in fact it was sold as family friendly, which was a big attraction. I suspect the sales pitch altered to whatever they thought might clinch the sale.
If you dislike the changes at Anfi so much, and I know you are waiting for resolution on your contract, but rather than go to something you don’t like why not just rent out the week and use the money towards something you enjoy. There are plenty of people keen to rent weeks and on average members adverts rent within 4 to 6 weeks and over 85% of adverts placed rent out successfully.
Regards, Brian
I’ve posted the recent holiday reports over last few days, and just moved them so each is in its own topic headed up with the month and member info. You can see all the reports under this link
If you are adding a new holiday story/report please go to the forum holiday main section and add a new topic with the month and your name – or email me if you prefer to be anonymous at webmaster@anfiukmembers.co.uk
Thanks, Brian
Thanks Phil, great feedback, I so agree that Las Palmas worth one or more visits.
Just to add, if driving and going north of cathedral, there is parking in shopping centre opposite the technology museum and both museum and shopping centre well worth a visit. Also from there you can walk to beach in under 10 minutes and then stroll down the beach front shops and restaurants.
It’s amazing that you can get there in under an hour by car from Anfi – mind Pam normally distracts me into the big Ikea just south of Las Palmas and the very big superstore just opposite Ikea!
Or as a day trip perhaps a few hours in morning near cathedral and old town area and the market near there, then head to north end for technology museum, shops or beach or bars, then back to Anfi for evening, or loads of places to eat before heading back.There is also a very nice park, Parque Doromas, near Hotel Santa Catalina, which is quiet and also has a few children’s play areas as well as plants and water features. We’ve stayed at hotel a few times and the park is great.
There are botanical gardens outside Las Palmas too, not sure which you visited. I’ve stayed at a “rural” hotel on edge of volcano area which was a good value stay to extend our Anfi holiday and match up to Norwegian flight return. Good hotel and simple but good evening meal, first night had local donkey broken out of stall and standing by the outside tables. Let’s you explore places in north that would be more of a drive from Anfi.
Brian
Hi Angus
I’m sorry to hear that you’ve had poor & distressing experiences at GA. Though I’m not quite sure how this relates to Em’s post about his October visit to offsite resort and restaurants?I’m a points member though only ever stayed at GA in early years around 2002-2004. We normally stay at Beach or Monte as much better value, as the points buy more time outside of GA though can only book 10 months ahead.
At Monte we have nearly always had a higher apartment around floor 7 to 11, though not guaranteed when we book it is recorded as a preference for higher floor. I’m sure feedback on other posts from members will make it clear that floating and points owners are not restricted to floors 1 to 3, which aligns with my own experience as in addition to points at GA, we have resale floating, and as far as I recall have never had a floor 1 to 3 allocation (fingers crossed!!).
I’ve seen many rentals adverts where members convert from points or floating to a fixed week and they too seem successful in offering apartments away from ground floor level, though I can also understand that some members prefer the lower floor levels for access or other reasons.
Regards, Brian
Hi David
Just to echo what David Ledger mentioned that, if you aren’t doing it, then renting your weeks will cover maintenance and may make a modest profit if at popular times.In case you haven’t seen it Julie Jordan produced a guide in 2016 on options for getting out of an Anfi contract – on this link
There is also an updated guide from Julie on the pro’s and con’s of making a claim – well worth reading if you are considering any claim in view of timescales and, if you are paying, costs, and time involved, attendance at court etc – on this link
Regards, Brian
Hi William
I’ve just set up a new section for members holiday reports that sits within the Forum, and I hope you won’t mind if I bring together one report from the posts you have made during your last visit. I’ve recently had two reports from other members and hope that together with yours this will encourage other members to send in info, whether brief or lengthy, and get us back to sharing information about our experiences at Anfi which is the core of this website.Your restaurant reviews seem to have spurred a couple of members to post updates which is a most welcome trend and I hope more are encouraged to share their views whether onsite or offsite locations.
The challenge to other members visiting over the coming weeks and months is to share some information during or after their visit and encourage you to stay as a member!
Brian
Liam
You could also consider Cueva Pirata near Patalavica round about – we’ve had several excellent meals there and the steaks are really good
The only review posts are from me! – https://anfiukmembers.co.uk/forums/topic/cueva-pirata/#post-18100
though I’m sure some others have commented on it elsewhere in ForumThough it does close sometime in June as is family run and they go off for a few weeks
We probably ought to have a new version of your Top 5 for 2018/19 before long!!
Brian
Pam went back a few days ago to see if things had improved after our October visit. Happy to report that everything is back to previous very high standards, and one of the original waiters is back. Pam had a brilliant meal.
If you are thinking of going best to book ahead, as can get very busy and is a small restaurant.
Brian
Pam did go back last Friday and was disappointed with food as not much flavour in fajitas.
The market stalls that were in the Plaza have now been moved to opposite the harbour near to mini golf. There are less stalls and traders not happy as fewer people bother to go
Pam went to Vivaldi last night and very good meal – thanks for the recommendation
I’ve set up a forum topic for Vivaldi’s as we didn’t have that listed before – link is here
I’m going to start up a “top 5” restaurants for 2018 – Liam had this last year or two, so will use your favourites as base.
Regards, Brian
Pam went to Vivaldi based on William’s recommendation, excellent meal. One to put on your list.
Pam has not seen the Fun Park open in last few days. Have any other members at Anfi seen it open?
