British Guild of Travel Writers 2010Annual General Meeting 26th to 29th January

Luxury Tenerife

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Travellers looking for an up market holiday destination within a four hour flight

of the UK should take a fresh look at Tenerife. Boasting year round sunshine,

beautiful beaches, a rich and varied landscape, UNESCO World Heritage sights,

stylish bars and clubs, plus great food and wine, the island also offers many

luxurious five star hotels and resorts.

These hotels are some of the best in Europe offering impeccable service and

facilities, contemporary design and architecture and many including world-class

spas and golf courses.

In the past five years many new luxury hotels have been opened in the south of

the island, in the area of Costa Adeje, just three kilometres from the lively areas

of Playa de Las Americas and Los Cristianos.

The north has also seen its fair share of new five star properties opening and

as the lesser known, more traditional part of the island this has added to the

feeling of exclusivity. Many of the luxury hotels here have been designed in

typical Canarian style with wooden balconies or in historic mansion houses. The

following are some of the top luxury properties on the island:

South of Tenerife

• 5* Hotel Resort Gran Meliá Palacio de Isora – Sensatori Hotels

This new hotel opened in July 2008 and offers a variety of luxury rooms and

villas with spectacular ocean views and is situated on the shoreline of Guía de

Isora on the southern side of Tenerife. The hotel offers a unique Red Level that

provides a very personal and red carpet experience, exclusively designed for

adults. Guests on this level are offered in-room aromatherapy, a wide range of

soft pillows, personal butler service, a private pool, a media lounge and many

more VIP facilities. Another highlight is the creative degustation menu by Chef

Dani Garcia at the Calima restaurant. www.granmeliapalaciodeisora.com

• 5* Gran Hotel Bahía Del Duque Resort

This well-known luxury resort is located on Costa Adeje. The buildings in this

resort have been designed to recreate the feeling of a typical Canarian village

and are set within 63,000 square metres of terraces and gardens that lead down

to the stunning beach. The hotel opened its 40 new villas in January 2008,

decorated by the internationally acclaimed interior designer Pascual Ortega.

Each Villa enjoys its own private swimming pool in a resort set within landscaped

subtropical gardens. The new Gran Hotel Bahía Del Duque Resort spa is run by

prestigious consultancy ESPA, offering the very latest in luxury and treatments.

www.bahia-duque.com/index.php/hotel_en

• 5* Vincci La Plantación del Sur

This hotel is set in an old banana plantation dating from the early nineteenth

century and due to its location, it offers stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean.

The hotel is a member of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World brand. There are

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165 rooms furnished with a combination of traditional and Indonesian furniture.

There are also small terraced houses each with their own Jacuzzi in the sun

terrace or garden. The hotel’s facilities include 5 freshwater swimming pools, 3

restaurants, 3 bars and a mini club. There is also a 2,500 square metre spa with 16

massage cubicles and an extensive programme of beauty treatments. The hotel

is popular among couples and arranges weddings upon request.

www.laplantaciondelsur.com

• 5* Hotel Royal Garden Villas & Spa

This exclusive hotel offers 28 luxury villas located on a cliff overlooking the Costa

Adeje Golf grounds. Each villa has a vast private terrace and swimming pool a

well as spacious rooms with furniture from antique dealers and craftsmen from

all over the world. The “Estanque Dorado” SPA is decorated with wood, stones

and exotic Asian sculptures.

Within these magic surroundings lies an indoor thermal circuit with Jacuzzi,

waterfall and water beds, as well as Turkish bath, power showers, ice fountain

and beauty treatment rooms, so that both your body and mind can enjoy pure

health and luxury. www.royalgardenvillas.com

• 5* Abama Gran Hotel and Resort

This luxury resort, in Guia de Isora (on the slopes of Mount Teide) consists of a

five tar hotel, spa and wellness centre, golf course, luxury villas, beach club and

gourmet restaurants. The complex covers 160 hectares that run down towards

the beach and over 25,000 tropical trees line the 18-hole par 72 course with

9 additional holes. The course was designed by golfing legend Dave Thomas,

responsible for designing over 60 golf courses around the world including Seve

Club in Tokyo and Stanley Hall in the UK. It is windy, highly technical, with lakes,

marble-liked sand bunkers and huge greens. The lowest point is 75 metres above

sea level and its highest point, the fifth hole, is 315 metres. The restaurant has

a fine selection of restaurants including Kabuki with Japanese cuisine and the

Beach Club, set by an almost private sandy beach. In addition, the prestigious

M.B Restaurant run by Chef Martín Berasategui. www.abamahotelresort.com

• 5* Eco Resort San Blas

Opened in December 2008 and it is surrounded by a beautiful nature reserve.

Located in a unique setting, this eco resort offers enjoyable boat rides in

its sailing lake, excursions, many leisure activities and its facilities include a

Multimedia Interpretation Centre, great for those who wish to learn about the

volcanic heritage on the island. www.sanblas.eu

• 5* Iberostar Grand Hotel El Mirador

Opened in January 2009. The hotel offers luxury and romantic escapes and it

introduced an adults only policy at the end of 2009. It is located on Costa Adeje,

just a 25-metre walk from “Playa del Duque” beach. Its most exclusive room is

“The Royale Suite”, offering a stunning panoramic view of the ocean.

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• 5* Iberostar Grand Hotel Salome

This new adults only hotel has just opened on Costa Adeje and it offers Thai

Suites along with a Thai Zen Space, offering wellbeing programmes, special

treatments and yoga or meditation sessions. It is just 25 metres from Playa del

Duque beach.

North of Tenerife:

• 5* Hotel Botánico & The Oriental Spa Garden

This hotel is situated in one of the most exclusive residential districts of Puerto de

la Cruz and is surrounded by 25,000 square metres of lush subtropical gardens. It

is a member of the Leading Hotels of the World and offers 252 rooms and suites,

all with spectacular views of La Orotava Valley and sea. Its exclusive spa “Oriental

Spa Garden” has been voted as one of the best ten spas in Europe by Conde

Nast Traveller and it has recently received the International Award of Sustainable

Tourism by the Institute for Responsible Tourism.

www.hotelbotanico.com

• 4* Hotel San Roque

In the heart of the charming town of Garachico this secluded boutique hotel is

an exquisite blend of traditional Canarian architecture and real Bauhaus design.

Set within a restored 18th century mansion, the rooms are located around a

traditional courtyard and the walls, patios and staircases throughout the hotel

are adorned with original paintings and contemporary architecture. www.

hotelssanroque.com

• 5* Vincci Seleccion Buenavista Golf

This new hotel is due to open at the end of February 2010. It will enhance

the luxury accommodation available in the north of Tenerife and will provide

another option for those who enjoy playing golf as it is surrounded by the scenic

Buenavista Golf Course.

Luxury Experiences:

Ø Stargazing

Ø Cruising on board a yacht or Sail boat (pilot whales and dolphins can be

seen year round)

Ø Jeep tours in the Teide National Park

Ø Wine tasting in wineries (Tenerife has a great selection of local

wines)

Ø Dining

Ø Enjoying the glamorous nightlife at bars such as El Faro Chill Art

and Monkey Beach Club

Ø Hiking and nature trails in the most hidden areas of the island

Ø Shopping in the exclusive shopping centres in the south or in the

city of Santa Cruz

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Where to eat:

- Lucas Maes: located in an old colonial-style restaurant in La Orotava and

decorated with modern and contemporary art, this restaurant offers a

quite and relaxing atmosphere where you can enjoy delicacies such as

Tartar of Tuna, Fulleted T-bone steak or vegetable lasagne

- Regulo: this beautiful Canarian mansion house in Puerto de La Cruz

offers a selection of international dishes including peppers stuffed with

cod, grilled entrecote or tasty prawns

- Marlin: located on a picturesque seaside promenade in the south,

restaurant Marlin offers the best of Canarian fish dishes and fresh

shellfish

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Tenerife Tourism Corporation

For more information visit www.webtenerife.com or contact Raquel Fonseca

Email: raquel@humewhitehead.co.uk Tel: (0) 20 8334 7026