A lovely peaceful hotel in a proper historic Spanish city.

This was our second visit to the Botanico - we first came at the end of January last year - and we enjoyed it so much that I have decided to award it the full 5 stars this time, something of a rarity for me. Actually, the more we talked to other guests the more we became aware that most were, like us, returning guests, many having been coming for several years. In my review last year I knocked off a star because the restaurants were somewhat iffy but I am pleased to report that they have improved. We had reasonably decent meals this time in both the Italian and the Spanish restaurants. We didn't try the Asian restaurant but it is interesting to note that it is one of only very few restaurants in Puerto de la Cruz to get a mention in the Berlitz guide. But one shouldn't go to a hotel or mainly rate a hotel for its food. The overall experience of the stay is the question. And we loved the Botanico more the longer we stayed there. There are so many good things about it. The room was big and comfortable and the bathroom with a separate bath and excellent shower was as good as any. The views from our big balcony- we chose a room with a view of a snow covered Mount Tiede - were fabulous. The hotel is quiet for the simple reason that the rooms and corridors are all carpeted. The public areas are full of works of art of such quality that the hotel publishes and sells a book about them. Not only are the paintings by famous Canarian artists such as Cesar Manrique superb but the collection of Asian statues, bronzes and ceramics is remarkable. The breakfast buffet is spectacular by any international standards - eggs and various omelettes cooked to order in front of you, etc. Lunch in the open air restaurant in the delightful area by the pool was always delicious and served with great charm. The grounds are vast and the gardens are very beautiful - several pools with Koi the size of small salmon - a big pitch and putt golf course with an immaculately maintained green area, a bunker and a longer grass fairway area - two good tennis courts, etc, etc. These, I came to realise, are facilities enjoyed by very few of the good hotels on the south west coast of the island. Take a good look on Google Earth and compare! The spa at the Botanico is also first class - excellent saunas, steam rooms, etc - and the cost of the treatments are, my wife assures me, very reasonable. The location of the hotel is also superb. Being some way up the hill from the sea front it is very quiet and being surrounded by the wonderful mature gardens - many of the palms must be 15 or 20m tall - it almost feels as if one is out in the countryside instead of within easy walking distance of the city centre, And that's another thing. We hired a car this time and drove down to have a look at some of the well known hotels on the south west coast - the Sheraton, the Bahia del Duque, the Riu Palace, the El Mirador, etc, and came to the the conclusion that the problem with all of them was that they are all in a horrible area - a concrete construct with none of the character of Spain in evidence at all. But in contrast Puerto de la Cruz is a proper small historic port city with a lovely old quarter to the south west of the harbour with all the little streets and variety of restaurants and bars that make Spanish towns such fun. The small town of La Orotava, a couple of miles inland to the south is completely unspoiled and just gorgeous, as is the drive along the valley of the same name. There is nothing like that down South. As I predicted in my review last year, we did not go half board this year. To be honest after the huge and wonderful breakfast and a light lunch by the pool we found we really didn't need any more food but most evenings we still enjoyed walking down into town and having a bite and a glass or two of wine in several of the little restaurants in the old quarter near the Plaza del Charco. A taxi back up costs less than 5E. So looking at the whole experience of our stay in the round, we loved it more and more. We totally relaxed and forgot all our usual stresses. Isn't that what a good hotel should do for you?