Simply the best

This is a superb hotel - one that ticks every conceivable box for service, cleanliness, friendliness and impeccable standards, all in a quiet, convenient location. Indeed, after our fourth stay recently – which was every bit as good as our first - we couldn’t recommend this hotel more highly. That said, it very much depends on what you want from a hotel. If you revel in the glitz of waterfalls in foyers and a bathroom big enough to wash a limousine then this hotel is probably not for you. But if you prefer one where your custom is valued, where staff are warm, courteous and efficient (and immaculately groomed), where every carpet and surface is spotlessly clean, where high quality food and drinks are beautifully presented and where flowers, plants and art are in great abundance, then this is for you. As with so many experiences in life, it’s the little things that count: such as fresh flowers on every table, a daily news-sheet at breakfast, Cava with breakfast at weekends, canapés with evening cocktails, fresh fruit and bottled water replenished daily in the in your room, free daily exercise classes and spa and gym facilities included in the room rate. Oh yes, and there are tennis courts and a putting green too. Recommendations? Each evening at 6pm there’s a different presentation in the bar. For example, how to make the best gin and tonic or how to make the best Sangria or cocktail, plus cheese and wine tasting - all free to hotel guests. It’s a thought-provoking way to start the evening. Additionally, there are guided tours of the gardens with a botanist and, if you ask, a guide will take you on a tour of the hotel as well. The manager hosts a weekly drinks reception for hotel guests and from Monday to Saturday there’s a free bus service to and from Puerto de la Cruz. If you need softer pillows, a firmer mattress or a kettle to make a hot drink in your room, just ask. It’s all done with warm efficiency. The hotel’s tropical garden is another special feature. It’s immaculately kept and so peaceful to walk around any time of day. Criticisms? Yes, a few. Some bathrooms begin to look a little tired now, particularly the bath and shower. Showers used to be incorporated in the bath but now they have been fitted in a cubicle shoehorned into the space where the bidet was, so when it’s used it makes the surrounding floor wet and slippery. A rubber mat is provided, but a towel is needed to step on when leaving the shower. Everything works, but it’s not the best arrangement. The non-smoking area outside at breakfast could be better separated from the smoking one. Tea and coffee in the rooms can be provided for a small charge. But you can also bring your own and ask for a kettle, which the staff will provide for free. We also think some of the stair carpet needs replacing and the sofa and chairs in the foyer near The Oriental restaurant are badly worn and need replacing. The hotel also has a wonderfully comfortable bar/lounge area which is seldom used as well as it deserves to be - possibly because drinks are now just a little too expensive when compared with bars nearby. A happy hour incorporating cheaper drinks for hotel guests would be a welcome addition. That said, we like this hotel for the way it makes you feel. Unlike so many hotels this one has a homely and comfortable charm. It’s not huge (around 250 rooms) yet it’s informally sophisticated, civilised and welcoming. We love it.