With just a pool, a snack bar, and a small restaurant, the Playa Club is better suited for those who prioritize value and location over style and services. This budget-friendly apartment complex has 138 basic apartments housed in over a dozen cute two-story buildings oozing Canarian charm, with whitewashed facades, sunny terraces with wooden beams, and dark window frames. Throughout, palm trees and volcanic rocks pepper the property’s black-sand gardens, while the spacious deck around the pool offers plenty of space to relax. The property is divided into two main sections, each with a different vibe. The area closest to the reception and the pool is the liveliest, and kids can be heard splashing around the pool during school vacation periods. The other section is set back from the central part of the property and features a big grass lawn with plenty of loungers for those seeking an even quieter atmosphere. The focus at the property is on relaxation, so there’s no entertainment program and no music around the pool. The snack bar closes early, and although the on-site restaurant offers dinners, most guests either cook in their apartments or go out for dinner along the main drag, located right around the corner from the hotel. 

Although it was fully renovated in 2008, the hotel has the unmistakable style and layout of a mid-1980s apartment complex. The lobby is basic but airy, with generic wicker furniture, beige floor tiles, and black accents. Pastel blue walls are a cute touch, but the style is more functional than smart overall. The snack bar has a similar run-of-the-mill feel, with basic metal chairs, terra-cotta floors, and a small L-shaped bar with a black countertop. There is little more in the way of amenities here. In the summer the Playa Club draws plenty of families, but the property is a favorite among older German couples in the winter, some of whom hole up here for several months at a time.

Labranda Playa Club is a good option among the many budget-friendly properties in Puerto del Carmen, but families seeking something a little more hopping may want to compare rates at THB Flora, which features more kid-friendly amenities and a full entertainment program. The location, though, is better at Playa Club. Apartamentos Panorama offers better value overall, with more contemporary common spaces, free Wi-Fi throughout, and comparable rates. For a little more money, Hotel Floresta offers a full entertainment program, several pools, and all-inclusive packages.

Labranda Playa Club has an excellent location right in the heart of Puerto del Carmen. Avenida de las Playas -- the town’s main drag -- is just half a block away and offers a huge array of restaurants, bars, and shops. The local casino and some of the area’s most popular oceanfront cafes are all within a three-minute walk of the hotel. There is a tiny but sandy beach just down the street from the hotel, and Playa Blanca, a lovely stretch of sand with rental loungers and umbrellas, can be reached on foot in about five minutes along the promenade. Los Pocillos, the other main beach in Puerto del Carmen, is less than a 15-minute walk away. Timanfaya, a stunning national park home to several volcanoes, is about a 25-minute drive away. The hotel is a 10-minute drive from the airport. There is no on-site parking at Playa Club, and finding a spot in the area can be difficult, especially on weekends and peak season. 

The hotel has 138 one- and two-bedroom apartments housed in several two-story buildings. All are spacious and sunny, with large windows opening onto furnished patios or terraces, and ample living areas with sofa beds and flat-screen TVs. Standard Apartments were renovated in 2008, but decor is dated and basic throughout, featuring beige floors, simple pine wood furniture, and thin, busy bedspreads with matching curtains. Superior Apartments were refurbished again in 2010-11 and are slightly more modern. Off-white vinyl couches, darker wood furniture with clean lines, and newer cabinets look contemporary, but furniture is already starting to look worn. 

Open kitchens feature all the basic necessities to cook a full meal, including cooktops, electric kettles, coffeemakers, toasters, ovens, and mini-fridges. Glasses, plates, and cutlery are limited and generally mismatched, though. Air-conditioning is not provided in any of the apartments, and safes, fans, and additional kitchen tools are only available for a daily or weekly fee. Superior Apartments have larger LCD TVs, full fridges, microwaves, and larger closets, but lack ovens. Free Wi-Fi is only available in the lobby and some common spaces closest to the reception area.

Bathrooms are generic but clean, with spacious walk-in showers (a few apartments have shower/tub combos), shower gel in large wall-mounted containers, and hairdryers. Housekeeping is available five days per week, and bed sheets are changed twice every seven days. There have been some reports of bugs inside the apartments (a common complaint in Lanzarote due to the island’s year-round tropical climate), and maintenance issues such as loose power sockets should be expected.

The hotel doesn’t have a restaurant of its own, but has an agreement with a small local restaurant located right next door where guests on bed-and-breakfast and half-board rates are served breakfast and dinner. The small morning buffet offers full English and continental options, including beans, eggs, toast, bacon, sausages, some cheese, cold cuts, and fresh fruit. For dinner guests can order anything on the restaurant’s international menu, which includes some traditional Spanish and Canarian specialties. 

The poolside snack bar offers burgers, hot dogs, fries, and salads, along with smaller bites such as ice cream and chips. The bar is only open a few hours a day and the menu is limited, but many guests find it convenient for a quick bite between dips in the pool. 

The hotel has a spacious main deck with two pools, including one for families and one for kids. Both can be heated in the winter, but some guests complain that even then the water is a little chilly. There are a few dozen loungers on the deck, but not enough for all guests during peak season. The lifeguard piles them up and secures them with a chain overnight, and guests can be seen lining up in the morning to get a chair, which some may find less than ideal. Those who don’t mind being a little away from the pool can get a lounger in a smaller garden in the back. There are plenty of palm trees providing shade there, so those looking to sunbathe may have to join the line by the pool in the morning, as the main deck is sunnier. 

Other convenient features include a small playground with a slide and two swings, and a laundry room with coin-operated washers. The hotel claims to offer free Wi-Fi throughout the property, but the truth is that the signal is only strong enough in the lobby and some of the common areas immediately adjacent to it.