Overall review

Hotel Ereza Mar in Fuerteventura 

Great location, sea view room looks out to the ocean and rocky coastline. However, all rooms face internal courtyard where the entertainment takes place so quite noisy. Does stop by 11pm and can't say it really bothered me except I couldn't listen to my radio while the music was playing.

Food was fairly standard for Spanish buffets but restaurant not very accessible. Had to go down 5 quite high steps to access the restaurant (no alternative option for wheelchairs) and then 4-5 more to get to food. Everything was self service and no pots for tea or coffee so got used to cold tea in the mornings by the time I'd got tea, milk, water  toast, fruit (for later) and breakfast. Fortunately there was a ramp so I could carry stuff in too hands.

On the plus side  wine was included with dinner even on half board. However, it was not allowed to finish the wine with a cigarette afterwards and no one could explain why.

Room was very nice but lacked storage space, hanging area was only high enough for short tops so any dresses had to be hung on the outside of the wardrobe. Only one drawer. Can't decide if the bed was comfortable or not, felt as of I was rolling uphill when I tried to turn over but I had no problem sleeping. Way too many pillows, 4 on the bed with 4 extra cushions that I just piled up on the floor.

Shower was brilliant, walk in rainfall shower, although the rest of the bathroom was a bit small.

Had to pay for use of the safe €3 per day with €20 deposit and in quite an awkward position under a shelf.

Pool was lovely, cold when you first went in but definitely heated and comfortable once you were in. Not too chlorinated which was good as I forgot my goggles.

Resort Caleta de Fuste

Very quiet resort with no major attractions nearby. A few bars and restaurants around but mostly of the fast food, "lager lout" mentality, (although that might be a bit cruel as most people were well behaved) and not a lot happening before 10am.

Mixture of rocky coves and sandy beaches and nicely paved walkway. Very few trips to take, one company seemed to do everything and €49 for a dolphin boat trip seemed expensive. 

Buses not easily accessible, over half a mile to bus stop and not as easy to understand as most Spanish buses. No sign inside to tell you the stop and no app to tell you times. The one bus I did catch was fine but the step to get onto it was very challenging so I was a bit reluctant to try again. 

Being on the east of the island the only direct bus was to Puerto del Rosario which didn't appear to have much to tempt me.

Weather 

Not as hot as I'd expected, definitely not as warm as Lanzarote at Christmas and I could have done with warmer clothes, including my raincoat!

Day 8 - Coming home

Coach pick up is 9.45 so got up as normal and went down to breakfast. Although the temperature is 18° it's very cloudy again with rough sea and no sunrise. 😒

Bus arrived to pick me up at 9.40 and I was through the airport by 10.20. Did consider doing my own check in but the queue was so long I decided to use the special assistance I had booked. They were great whizzed me straight through and even took me to get a cup of coffee before parking me in the waiting area. Could even have gone out for a fag if I'd wanted, not seen that at an airport for a while.

Plane took off 12.45, about 30 minutes late and landed 4.15, 15 minutes early. All good. Cab waiting for me and home by 5.50.

Day 7 - Market day

Still no sunrise but supposed to be a nice day today. Windy but temp is 17°.

Went for coffee over the road, then decided to pop into the Barcelo to see the TUI rep. He told me that open spaces, ie places where you can smoke, don't include balconies as the only have one open side. He also said that some places enforce it more than others, although technically it is illegal. For this reason it is not possible to find out in advance the policy in each hotel. He also suggested that it has something to do with licensing laws as to why you can't take a glass (or bottle) from one area to another. Definitely need to do more research before my next trip to Spain. 

He also told me that they had sent me multiple texts and messages through the app but that most had been undelivered. Good job I got the one about tomorrow's departure time.

After leaving him, I decided to head up to the market as I really wanted to replace my handbag as I suspect the strap is about to go. Very lucky as I found exactly what I wanted and managed to negotiate €14 which is less than the last one I bought over a year ago in Benalmadena. 

Wandered down to the promenade then ambled back for a beer. I've posted enough pics of the beach so today just took this one.

Temperature up to 19°, sun hot, wind chilly so need to find a sheltered spot.

Headed back to my local bar for a beer, then back to the hotel for a swim. Dried off in the afternoon sun before heading back up to my room to shower and pack.

Walked about 2 miles today.

Day 6 - Rain

Woke up about 4am to the sounds of rain which continued until I got up at around 7.30. No sunrise this morning. 

Hotel atrium really quite flooded when I went down to breakfast and staff were mopping in all directions. 

After breakfast rain had almost stopped so I  took myself off to the cafe opposite for coffee and cigarette while I mulled over the day. Forecast had been 20° and sunny all week so I hadn't really come prepared for this.

Sat there until, surprisingly, the sun started to come out then decided I ought to get a bit of exercise. 

Just had a short wander along the beach path, watching all the staff tidying up and drying off their areas. 

Tried to stop for ice cream but both (and yes there are only two) weren't open, still clearing up from the night before. Decided to have a beer instead and found a spot in the sun to while away the afternoon. 

Only walked a mile and a half today 🤫

Went down for dinner as normal but tonight as I headed to the smoking area got stopped and told I couldn't take my wine with me. Nobody could explain the reasoning why other than if I did everyone would want to!!! Might go and complain to the TUI rep tomorrow as I've just got a message that they are in one of the neighbouring hotels several times a week. Would have been good to know that Monday rather than Thursday. 

Thus hotel is definitely anti smoking as there is one small area where they allow it and unless you can climb onto a high bar stool you have to drag a chair across every time 

Now, not getting woken up by BS alarm during the night but waking up high aarrrgghhh.

Day 5 - Heading to the salt flats

Another nice sunrise, although I was a bit late for it, sleeping well on this trip even though my blood sugar alarm is waking me up at least once a night. 

Temperature was 14° at 7.30 rising to 19° by lunchtime but very cloudy.

Headed along the promenade towards the salt museum, knowing that I could easily get the bus back.

Stopped halfway for refreshment then realised I had reached the end of the paved footpath and had a choice of unmade gravelly/sandy/rocky terrain or following the road.

Decided to follow the road 😁

Got to the salt flats and probably should have gone into the museum but just had a quick wander then caught the bus back.

Longest walk yet, 3.7 miles, basically 3 miles to the salt flats and .7 from the bus stop.

Click here for more pics

Day 4 - Heading west

This morning I did manage to catch the sunrise and it was good but not spectacular. 

Now that I've explored the coastal path to the north and the south, decided to head west today, in search of the bus stop.

Temperature when I got up was 16° again  going up to 19° in the afternoon. 

The last couple of days my room has been done early, she was next door at 9.30 yesterday, so decided to head out for coffee rather than have it on the balcony. However, it appears that nothing opens until 10.00 at least so had made it to the bus stop by then.

Wandered back down to the harbour in search of ice cream instead but at the 2 places I saw, either no one was serving or there was a long queue. Eventually ended up back at the bar by the hotel where I settled for a beer and a read.

Got back to my room around 1pm and my room had yet to be done! So much for going out early. One of the cleaners was there and she said it would be about an hour so changed into my cossie and went down to the pool.

It appears, though, that it gets cloudy every afternoon and without the sun the swim didn't seem so appealing so just sat and read for a while.

Walked about 2.4 miles today

Did something this evening I don't usually do  wentvto the bar on the corner for my after dinner glass of wine. They've told me I can't smoke on the balcony and the hotel's smoking area is not very relaxing so thought I'd be more adventurous. All in all I think it was a good idea.

Click here for more pics although there aren't many - sure I took more 🤔

Day 3 - Heading south

Found out this morning that I can actually watch the sunrise from my balcony but was a bit cloudy this morning so no pics. Maybe tomorrow. Nice morning, temperature 16° when I got up.

Decided to head south today and see what it's like past the harbour. 

Stopped in the harbour to find out about boat trips but decided to play it by ear as the weather is a bit iffy. Sunshine and clouds with the odd spot of rain. Looks like this will be the same for the rest of the week so may decide not to go out to sea.

Nice walk along the coast, the main beach looks sandy but is a very coarse sand whereas further up it becomes proper soft sand. Would have been good for a swim if not so far.

More populated in this direction and I managed to find a nice spot for refreshment. 

Headed back towards hotel but decided against a swim today as it was a bit cloudy this afternoon. 

Did just over 3.2 miles again

Click here for today's pics

Day 2 - Heading north

Up at 7.30 and down to breakfast just after 8am. Normal buffet but a bit disappointed that you can only get tea in a cup  no little pots so needed to keep going back to refill. 

Took coffee up to balcony afterwards to plan my day. Temperature 16° with lovely blue sky.

Decided to turn left out of the hotel today and head north along the coastal path

Beautiful paved path that goes along the coastline with great views over the rocky bays and the Atlantic. BUT it did start to get monotonous after a while as, although lots of people around, no bars or cafés to stop and take it all in.

Did find one little distraction as there were a few barbary ground squirrels (or chipmunks depending on which website you believe) along the path providing a bit of entertainment.  Definitely not as fat as the squirrels in Kelsey Park.

Went for about a mile and a half without finding anywhere for coffee and decided to turn around and head back. By then it was beer o'clock 🍺 

Did about 3.2 miles

After that went back to hotel, put on cossie and headed to pool. Ventured in, not too cold and splashed around for a while then settled down to read my book and dry off. However, this was not to be, as all of a sudden there were a few drops of rain. Not enough to worry about normally but in a wet bathing suit decided to adjourn to my room and get dry.

Down for dinner just after 7pm then joined a couple of others in the bar where we came last in the music quiz. Adjourned to my balcony for a final glass of wine about 9.30 then off to bed around 10pm. 

Click here to see more pics

Day 1 - Getting there

Another really early start as cab booked for 4.30am. Hardly slept and despite going to bed ready for sleep at 8.30 was still wide awake at 1am. Cab arrived on time and got to Gatwick in record time. 

Bag check was busy so made the most of the special assistance lane, then took myself through security to the special assistance lounge. Was going to try to be fully independent but airport seems quite busy this morning so decided to just go with the flow.

As always  although we were all on board quite quickly we took off  at 7.35, about 15 minutes late. Good flight, bigger seats than TUI and I did manage a couple of hours sleep.  Landed at 11.25, 10 minutes early. 

Decided to take myself through passport  control which involved a bit of waiting but was ok. On coach and on the way to Hotel by 12.05. Temperature at airport announced 18° but feels much warmer.

Only 8 of us on the bus and I was the penultimate drop-off so got to check-in about 12.25. Then things started to go a bit downhill...... There was already someone at reception who I thought was being served but it turns out he too was waiting for the receptionist to finish her typing. Finally, she went to him and then went off with him to change a light bulb.

I took a seat while I waited looking at this, thinking "should I open it"?

Anyway when she came back she sent a couple more emails, apologised to me a few times and slammed the phone down on 2 calls. Finally, she announced that my room would not be ready for 35 minutes (about 1.15 by my estimation) and gave me a voucher to have lunch on the house. 

Went down in search of the restaurant only to be told it didn't open until 1pm 😱 but I did manage to persuade the bartender to give me a glass of wine.

Decided to go down and have something to eat, nice but no step free access then back to get my key at about 1.30

Room (118) is lovely but severe shortage of storage, one drawer and 8 hangers for short things (of which I have none!). However, balcony has great view, right on the sea front.

Decided to go out for an orientation walk and see if I could pick up some supplies. Found a good supermarket where I was able to get some water, wine and even cigarettes so took them back to the hotel before exploring further. Also found out I had to pay for the safe so sorted that out as well.

Then set off towards the harbour and the main beach. Outside the hotel (the one with the green roof) the coastline is all rocky.

Then when you get to the harbour you can see a lovely sandy beach.

Came back on the inland route where there were typical Canarian streets and a few little castles which seem to be frequent here, after all the place is k own as el Castillo. 

Then back to hotel for a quick glass of rosé on the balcony before trying out the shower.

Down for dinner 7.30, standard Spanish buffet then retired to my balcony for a quick nightcap. Bed by 9.30 and asleep by 10. Woken up twice by blood sugar alarm but overall a good night's sleep. Woke just after 7am with BS at 14.5, never will get to grips with this bloody alarm!

Click here for more pics