Terrific Tenerife

Andrea Hill on 09 September 2015
Having been to Tenerife 3 times previously (2005, 1997 and 1998) I was looking forward to a return visit and seeing how things had changed. I still wasn't prepared for such a big change! Playa de las Americas is known as a lively resort and sometimes a place that people try to avoid due to it's reputation. Yes, there are still nightclubs and bars along the 'strip' known as Veronicas where you can really let your hair down until the very early hours but that is just a small part of a very big resort. We didn't venture to that particular area but passed it in the car (still looks the same as when I was 18!).

However, the area around the Parque Santiago complexes has been dramatically transformed to appeal to families and couples looking for a trendy and upmarket area. Miniature golf, Segways, Watersports, Designer Shops, Live Music, Entertainment, Play Areas and fountains adorn the palm lined walkways known as 'The Golden Mile' with the star of the show being the Safari Center. Opposite the Hard Rock Café, the Safari Center has designer shops, cocktail bars and an array of restaurant choices surrounding beautiful fountains that 'perform' in a light and sound show every evening. We had a beautiful Mexican meal in 'Hacienda Miranda' followed by cocktails at 'Harry's Bar' for the ideal spot to watch the show - it's popular though, so go early to get a good spot! During the day, 18 holes of miniature golf followed by a Sangria or two in a pavement café was a lovely way to spend the afternoon.

As we're not a beach loving family, we spent several days exploring what the island has to offer. Our car hire allowed us to do what we wanted at a pace that suited us. A trip to Mount Teide was an adventure with lots of winding roads and intense heat. Cameron (my 8 year old) took lots of photos and loved being above the clouds and seeing the lava rock and the stunning scenery. The following day took us to the tropical north side of the island and a visit to the amazing Loro Parque in Puerto de la Cruz. This was our first visit to the popular zoo and we were blown away by the beautiful grounds, well-kept animals and amazing shows. We saw both the Dolphin and Whale shows and Cameron described them as "Epic!" and they've made family memories to cherish. Flat shoes, lots to drink and sun lotion are a must as it's a long and hot day but well worth it. The zoo was well organized and the pre-booked mobility scooter was appreciated by my Father-in-law. During the middle of our stay we had a wander around Costa Adeje which is at the far end of Playa de las Americas and offers mainly 4* and 5* hotels and very upmarket shops and restaurants with stunning views. On the other end of the scale, we had a brief visit to Los Cristianos but were a little disappointed with the seafront which had derelict buildings on the beach and a slightly 'tacky' promenade area. Siam Park came highly recommended by everyone we spoke to and offers great value for money - waterparks just aren't our thing so we chose not to visit.

Our hotel was the 4* Gran Oasis Resort located next to the golf course at the back of Playa de las Americas. It's a good choice for families and has lots to offer with the best choice of food I've seen at an All Inclusive. However, the accommodation was a little dated and the attention to detail on the cleaning was slightly lacking. We had a look around the H10 Conquistador during our stay and really loved it's contemporary interiors and great location - would thoroughly recommend. I'm so glad that we went back to Tenerife and saw so much. It really has changed since our last visit and I'd have no hesitation to recommend Playa de las Americas.