Tenerife...Canarian Adventure
I flew with a good friend from London Gatwick with British Airways. The flight was only 4 hours, and BA service was good. We were served breakfast after take off, and then I was able to get an hour of sleep before we landed
We decided to hire a car, as it gave us so much more flexibility to go wherever we wanted, when we wanted to do it! The car was very cheap, and we picked it up from the airport
From there, it was a 30 minute drive to the amazing Abama hotel. We arrived and checked in to our amazing room. The hotel is built on the hillside, so there is a sloping, meandering collection of buildings and gardens leading down to the cliffs...from there, you catch the small funicular down to the beach. Its unique architecture really stands out...you can't miss the red hue of the buildings as it makes its way down the hillside....very easy to find, and great parking.
I loved the range of activities you can do at the hotel.....golf, tennis to name a few. There is a small town nearby (you really need to car to get there), but the main attraction of the hotel is that it gives you the perfect opportunity to relax. There are many restaurants to choose from (including Michelin star options) so you are never far away from a good meal, and there are facilities for the kids too...meaning Mum and Dad can switch off too. To be honest, most of our days were spent by the pool. there are kids free pools as well as those designed for families, and there are also smaller pools for villa guests ..this is where we stayed.
After 5 amazing days at the Abama, we ventured north to the resort of Puerto de la Cruz. We chose the inland drive, which is a very scenic. You have to concentrate however, as the road has lots of twists and turns. You are rewarded with great views of Mount Teide all the way, and also some great towns or villages to stop for lunch. Puerto de la Cruz has a different feel to the south of the island, but as we checked in to the Botanico Hotel, I knew we were in for a treat. The hotel has the most amazing spa, and with the sights and sounds of Puerto de la Cruz on your doorstep, its a great place to visit if you want to be a bit more active. It can be a little cooler than the south, but not noticeably so...take a jacket or cardigan for winter evenings only
The hotel has a great food, but if you want to eat out, there is an amazing selection of every kind of food you can think of on your doorstep.
A week goes by so fast, but before we knew it, our time was up. We drove for around 1.5 hours to get back to the southern airport, and as we were flying in business class, we were able to use the business class lounge at the airport, and enjoy a good meal on the flight as well.
If you have thought of Tenerife, and been put off by the thought of Los Cristianos or Playa de las Americas...think again, the island has so much more to offer