Is it attainable to have a luxurious vacation in Tenerife?
You wager.
Luxurious holidays and Tenerife, the biggest of the Canary Islands, are phrases you don’t normally discover collectively in a single sentence. The island caters extra for mass market tourism, undoubtedly, however if you’re in search of luxurious vacation choices, learn on, as I discovered one.
We just lately discovered ourselves boarding a airplane from London to Tenerife, for two causes:
- On the week that we travelled (early Could), it was the one place close to Europe that supplied temperatures above 25c
- Being a British Airways mid-haul vacation spot, we might get 160 Tier Factors (and on this case, 320).
I’ll clarify every little thing in a minute, bear with me.
When is the very best time to go to Tenerife?
Spring and Autumn appear to ensure temperatures above 25c, so from April to June and from October to November, you need to be assured glorious climate. Humidity kicks in from June and through the Summer time months (and far greater temperatures, after all).
Many guests love the Winter months the place it’s arduous to get beneath 20c (however personally I’ve established that 25c is my minimal temperature for sunbathing, and to ensure use of my seaside bag, espadrilles and flat sandals.
What’s the greatest luxurious resort in Tenerife?
We stayed (and actually loved) on the Ritz Carlton Abama, situated round 40 minutes from Tenerife South Airport.
It isn’t a small resort (400 rooms), however in case you journey outdoors the journey months and key financial institution holidays, it may be a breeze. We travelled in early Could (instantly after the Could 1st financial institution vacation, which is well known all through Europe) and the resort was at 60% occupancy, which was fairly good.
The resort is 10 years outdated plus and it reveals in some areas – however a number of renovations are happening. Rooms have been refreshed (and look good), however bogs may have an additional replace (though issues like faucets and bathe heads have been up to date). Toiletries are Asprey, a Ritz-Carlton staple.
Our reserving was final minute and I learn some on-line opinions to sort of gauge what to anticipate. After we went, there have been solely 2 room varieties obtainable moreover suites and villas (which we didn’t must as we had been travelling sans bebe, and all these infinite toddler journey necessities), and we paid additional after all to have a sea view room.
The opposite benefit is that you don’t overlook the citadell courtyard (the place some exterior occasions are held), so you aren’t disturbed by any noise. After we visited, it appeared that the majority villas had been being renovated.
One factor that we weren’t anticipating: the service to be glorious. And it actually was. Everybody was very variety and when issues weren’t proper, everybody was empowered to make issues proper there after which. It was refreshing to not hear Covid getting used as an excuse for something.
The expertise on the Ritz-Carlton Abama, in Tenerife
The resort is remoted (Abama is a newish space) – there are a few villages close by, and general you’re 20 minutes away from Adeje, La Caleta and Bahia del Duque (which provide a very completely different and positively much less luxurious expertise).
We usually don’t eat at lodges (until it’s one thing extraordinary) and on this event (we booked 5 days earlier than we arrived) we determined we didn’t need to exit because the eating choices seemed fairly good.
We truly bought the complete board package deal which was glorious worth at 75 Euros per individual per day – Ritz Carlton, regardless of being a part of Bonvoy doesn’t honour free breakfast for Elites, so we did the maths rapidly.
The resort presents 6 choices for dinner, of which I’d spotlight the two tremendous eating eating places – Kabuki (Japanese – Spanish fusion with 1 star) and MB by Martín Berasategui, one in all Spain’s greatest identified cooks. This restaurant has 2 Michelin Stars (youngsters not allowed, and rightly so) and there may be additionally Txoko, which carries Martin’s route and presents good Spanish delicacies. After we visited, Mirador was closed and the vegetarian choice was additionally closed and we didn’t go all the way in which to Tenerife to eat Italian meals. However there’s something for everybody.
With the complete board package deal (first time we have now ever finished it), they provide 65 Euros credit score on the tremendous eating choices (which assist in the direction of the whole invoice). I’d say 100 Euros/head is about proper per individual if you’re cautious (or need to be). Tasting menus are round 150/175 Euros per individual, which is excellent worth in comparison with different places on the planet. However you’re in Tenerife.
Notice: prebook the eating places earlier than you arrive so it’s one much less factor to fret about. We emailed the concierge ([email protected]itzcarlton.com) they usually had been very fast to reply and type every little thing.
A minus – how they offer you dietary supplements on the opposite eating places for no motive. I after all perceive that not every little thing prices the identical, and perceive a 5, 10, 20, 50 Euro complement on a wide range of programs – however the menu at Txoko (which presents poolside lunch and dinner) was plagued with 1 and a pair of Euro dietary supplements. It was a bit foolish.
The seaside membership had an entire separate menu for full board – which was fairly poor. I imply in case you fancy rooster or a Caesar salad or a burger (like as in case you went to the USA), it’s all there. However we didn’t go to Tenerife to eat rooster. That is the place we had the very best service restoration from the restaurant supervisor: we had been advised to decide on something from the menu (the costs had been fairly related) and on sure days throughout our keep, they even bought us fish from the market to be grilled. It was good.
Drinks is clearly the place they make their cash – at lunch you’d get away with a glass of wine for 10-15 Euros however at dinner, every little thing began at 20 Euros. A bit a lot for Spain (specifically after we recognised half the wines). You possibly can dig deeper and discover some properly priced bottles however costs had been greater than Finca Cortesin nearly.
The resort had a semi non-public seaside with white sand and clear water (a beautiful shock as I assumed every little thing can be volcanic) – however you needed to take a prepare each half hour from the resort reception (a little bit of a faff as there’s a funicular which for some motive was not working, and would have meant a pleasant stroll – however not up and down the steps).
I felt the seaside space might do with a bit of improve (the picket platforms had seen higher days, the chairs had been clearly not cleaned from at some point to the opposite as I even discovered some magazines I had left behind the day earlier than). However the seaside towels had been beautiful.
Room charges begin at 300 Euros per night time, which we felt was superb worth.
Click on right here to guide with ASW Assortment, which is able to give you perks corresponding to complimentary breakfast each day, potential upgrades, a 100$ credit score per keep and clearly the flexibility to earn Bonvoy factors. They’re a Virtuoso company and you may merely guide on-line, as it is a easy reserving.
Is there any buying to do in Tenerife?
Properly, I knew it was good for alcohol and tobacco merchandise as there is no such thing as a tax or responsibility, however I wasn’t anticipating to see all the wonder manufacturers there and at actually vital financial savings.
I stocked up on Loewe (with 50% financial savings in each Eau de Toilette and Parfum), Dior Photo voltaic vary (at round 30% saving). Manufacturers like Sisley, La Prairie and others supplied very superb reductions. And it isn’t simply on perfumes – all skincare ranges had been obtainable.
There are many outlets specifically in essentially the most touristic areas, however we went to Siam Mall, which is quarter-hour from the resort on the principle motorway (and supplied different Spanish staples like Massimo Dutti and Sfera for instance) with straightforward parking. There’s one magnificence store (Sabina) which bought us every little thing we needed and extra.
We additionally went to Plaza Del Duque buying centre because it was cloudy one morning, but when the solar is shining, I’d say don’t trouble.
Tenerife presents Double British Airways Tier Factors
One factor that made our choice crystal clear was the truth that Tenerife is a mid hail vacation spot and as such, as a substitute of the standard 80 Tier Factors return supplied in enterprise class, it comes with a bonus: you get 160 tier factors (the flight is 4 hours and on a traditional quick haul airplane). This will get you properly on the way in which for silver or gold.
Nevertheless, till the top of 2023, in case you guide a flight and a automotive (or resort) for five nights, on the similar time (you can’t add it later), it turns into a British Airways Holidays reserving and as such, you’ll get double tier factors. On this case, in case you guide a automotive and a enterprise class flight, you’ll earn a pleasant 320 Tier Factors (you want 600 for Silver and 1500 for gold).
Keep in mind that in case you guide the resort with BA Holidays you’ll not get resort factors/night time credit if they’re vital to you.
Click on right here to guide British Airways Flight and Automotive Rent Bookings (Uk Departures solely)
Click on right here to guide British Airways Flights to Tenerife (UK Departures solely). Keep in mind to guide enterprise class as a way to get 160 Tier Factors.
Click on right here to guide the Ritz Carlton Abama Lodge individually (you’ll earn Marriott Bonvoy factors and nights will rely in the direction of their annual night time rely for Elite standing).
Renting a automotive in Tenerife
We booked the resort instantly (it presents good redemption choices when you’ve got Bonvoy factors) so clearly we would have liked the automotive (which is at all times useful to have). We didn’t use it on daily basis, however discovered it useful and in our case, nearly free, because it labored out.
Once you guide a automotive with British Airways, you at all times guide a automotive with Avis or Finances, which provide these days nearly at all times mixed operations. And normally, Avis has prime actual property. Nevertheless, this isn’t the case at Tenerife South Airport.
Should you guide a automotive with Avis, you’ll need to take a shuttle bus from the airport terminal to its location (not walkable and below 10 minutes from the terminal). The BA Holidays reserving talked about it, but it surely didn’t say from the place and that is the place issues bought fascinating.
Avis doesn’t have a desk at Tenerife South Airport (once more, most weird) and ‘there could also be somebody there with an indication’ we heard others say. Properly, you’ll need to go to Bus Stand A6 and hope it doesn’t take half-hour for the bus to reach. It felt a bit low hire – however it’s what it’s.
Eating outdoors the resort in Los Abrigos, Tenerife
After we first arrived, it was previous 8pm and with a French air-traffic management associated delay (plus the automotive rent debacle), we had been going to reach to the resort after 9.30pm which appears to be the lower off time for any dinner bookings – a bit random in Spain, however it’s what it’s.
After a fast search on-line, I found the little fishing village of Los Abrigos, situated below 10 minutes from the airport. We had dinner at Restaurante Los Abrigos on our first night time, and went again to the village once more for our final lunch.
Our last meal in Tenerife happened at Restaurante El Mirador – and it was gorgeous. If you’re in search of a fantastic lunch close to Tenerife South Airport, I’d extremely advocate it. We had limpets (one thing I solely ever bear in mind consuming in Madeira), and a pleasant native fish, which was served merely grilled, accompanied after all by the Canary Island’s staple: papas arrugadas served with the two mojos: picon y verde (they’re new potatoes boiled with salt so that they get wrinkly and the sauces are divine).
Did we take pleasure in our luxurious vacation in Tenerife? Would we return?
We actually did take pleasure in our 6 days in Tenerife and I assumed that the Ritz Carlton Abama was a real gem. We felt very snug and as I mentioned earlier, service was excellent.
We liked the clear waters and the little seaside and general we ate extraordinarily properly. We might undoubtedly return once more, however off season.
Xo
Mrs. O
Click on right here to guide British Airways Flight and Automotive Rent Bookings (Uk Departures solely)
Click on right here to guide British Airways Flights to Tenerife (UK Departures solely). Keep in mind to guide enterprise class as a way to get 160 Tier Factors.
Click on right here to guide the Ritz Carlton Abama Lodge individually (you’ll earn Marriott Bonvoy factors and nights will rely in the direction of their annual night time rely for Elite standing).
