Wintering in Tenerife

There’s something even more satisfying about holidaying in the depths of winter, when home temperatures are hovering around zero and the central heating is on constantly but you’re stocking up on sun cream and loading your Kindle in preparation. I’d almost forgotten what it’s like to feel the sun on my skin!

Upon arrival at the Gran Hotel del Duque we were offered a glass of chilled cava in the lobby bar, festively decorated with countless red poinsettias. Efforts were made to take in all the dining options on offer to us that evening but already I was slipping very easily into holiday mode. As there were not enough nights to try out all the hotel’s restaurants I knew the most taxing of decisions would be deciding on which cuisine each evening; Basque, Italian, Latin American, Asian, Mediterranean, Canarian or French.

One of my holiday highlights has always been a breakfast buffet and El Bernegal certainly did not disappoint - you really can want for nothing. A chocolate fountain and fruit skewers for the children (and adults), detox juices made to order and until now I have never encountered two types of bacon - overdone and underdone. A virtuous breakfast (most mornings) was usually followed by a chunk of homemade apple cake and more treacly strong black coffee.

Costa Adeje is one of the islands more upmarket resorts with upscale 5* hotels, authentic dining, local artisan markets and quaint courtyards. A surprise find was the bijou El Mirador marketplace - a series of peaceful, shaded patios, restaurants and local craft shops just a few minutes’ walk from the hotel.

The hotel resort’s main building is a series of interconnecting buildings in 19th Century Canarian style, using Victorian and Venetian influences; signage in decorative tiling, steeple roofs and a charming hourly chiming bell in the central plaza. The hotel is famous for its gardens with 63,000sqm of tropical and subtropical vegetation - opt for a garden view for all horticulturists. My recommendation would be to upgrade to a deluxe room with sea view and balcony, a perfect spot to take in the show-stopping sunsets before dressing for dinner.

To round off our week-long relaxation we treated ourselves to a day in the spa. Quite possibly one of the most impressive hotel spas I have ever encountered. The open-air thalassotherapy circuit is surrounded by a number or oversized day beds and shaded by mature palm trees. Two further floors are home to treatment rooms (each with their own private veranda) and the impressively ornate Thai Room Plaza - a peaceful relaxation area available to those booking a Thai treatment. Here you’ll find Thai teak and rattan lazy chairs, Thai chilled snacks and a secluded thalassotherapy area. The spa provides details of treatment special offers in your daily activities programme delivered to your room each evening.

Our stay concluded with an outstanding meal at the hotel’s ‘Senzu Kazan’ restaurant, a Japanese fine dining option, one of only two restaurants not included in the half board option. The restaurant has a lakeside terrace, but we opted for a table inside as I love the theatre of an open kitchen. Buttery salmon sashimi, spicy tuna rolls and crispy pork gyozas were the highlights.

With three of the nine restaurants still left to try, we have an excuse to return next year!