The Luxury Side Of Tenerife: Featured in Forbes

Source: Forbes

When many people in Europe think of Tenerife, they think of the mass market resorts full of package holidays tourists. Irish bars, full English breakfasts, and restaurants with picture menus also spring to mind rather than fine dining.

However, there is a far more luxurious side to Tenerife, which many people are unaware of. For example, the island has five Michelin-star restaurants and many internationally recognized five-star hotels. Outside the water parks and beaches, there is also a completely different side of Tenerife to explore.

The "forgotten" village of Masca is regarded as Tenerife's most beautiful village set in the Teno Mountains on the western side of the island. It is considered to be the forgotten village primarily due to its inaccessibility. Before 1991 there was no road to the village. Today's road to the village is not for the faint-hearted, with multiple twists and turns, but the drive is well worth it. On arrival, you can enjoy the dramatic mountain scenery with lush vegetation surrounding the village. Several bars and restaurants have now opened in the village for visitors so you can stop and enjoy a drink while you take in the views or linger over lunch.

No visit to Tenerife would be complete without visiting Mount Teide, which towers over the island. Teide is an inactive volcano that last erupted in 1909 and is the highest point in Spain. If you don't fancy hiking up, a cable car can take you to the top at 3,718m. From there, it is only an hour's walk to the summit, where you can see panoramic views over Tenerife's neighboring islands—La Gomera, El Hierro, La Palma, and Gran Canaria on a clear day. The summit also is an excellent place for some star gazing if you go up at sunset. It's possible to see 83 out of the 88 officially recognized constellations in the right conditions.

Another scenic viewpoint is the cliffs of Gigantes in the Teno Rural Park, in Santiago del Teide, west of Tenerife. The best place to view the cliffs is from Mirador Archipenque, located further from the coast. You can even see La Gomera from this viewpoint on a clear day. Along the coast of Gigantes, you can see the cliffs from the water on a kayak or take a whale and dolphin spotting cruise.

When it comes to luxury hotels, there are plenty of different styles to choose from. If you want to get away from it all with a more traditional style, the Hotel Botanico and Oriental Spa Garden may be the best option. This luxury hotel is set in extensive subtropical gardens near Puerto de la Cruz on the north of the island, well away from the tourist masses. The hotel's Oriental Spa Garden has received numerous awards as the best hotel spa in Europe and the Mediterranean and offers wellness and weight loss programs.

In 2021 the hotel underwent an extensive refurbishment to bring it up to current standards. If you want complete relaxation, everything you need is onsite with various restaurants from Asian to steak and even a healthy eating restaurant. In addition, there's everything you could need to improve your general well-being with Yoga, Tai Chi, Chi Kung, Pilates, Meditation and an Aqua Gym, and a state-of-the-art gym.

If you would rather be somewhere more lively, the Royal Hideaway Corales is situated in the charming La Caleta fishing village. You can stroll to local shops and some of the best seafood restaurants on the island from the hotel.

While many hotels in Tenerife look traditionally Canarian, the Neo-futuristic style architecture of this hotel could have come straight from the futuristic designs of the 1950s, such as buildings seen in Palm Springs in the US. When viewed from the sea-facing side, the hotel resembles a ship, and its interiors are based on the island's corals. Royal Hideaway Corales even won recognition in the World Luxury Hotel Awards in the Luxury Architecture Design Hotel category in 2020 for its design.

The hotel is divided into two distinctive parts with their own style. The Corales Beach hotel is for adults only and features the one Michelin star restaurant El Rincon de Juan Carlos, which also has three Repsol suns and is led by the Padrón Brothers. The restaurant has stunning views over the sea and offers a Mediterranean-inspired set tasting menu with the option of wine pairings. There is also a beautiful spa with an outdoor hydrotherapy pool amidst lush planting.

The Royal Hideaway Corales Suites is for families, although you can stay on this side as a couple since they feature several room options with a private pool. Rooms on this side are more extensive and feature a kitchen. If you don't fancy one of the hotel's many restaurants, a chef can come to your room to prepare dinner.

Finally, one of the best-known luxury hotels on the island with its iconic Moorish architecture is the Ritz-Carlton, Abama which is situated on a large resort with a golf course and residences about 25 minutes from Tenerife South Airport. While still being close enough to the main towns to venture out, the hotel has more than enough on the resort for most of their guests to simply relax at the hotel. The hotel rooms offer views of the gardens, nearby banana plantations, and the volcanic seascape. Next year the hotel will undergo a renovation, even though the hotel is still in excellent condition.

The Ritz-Carlton, Abama is the perfect break for a foodie with two Michelin star restaurants. Abama Kabuki has one star and presents dining as a form of theater with a fusion of Japanese and Western culinary techniques. MB has two Michelin stars and offers twists on Mediterranean cuisine with a choice of a classic menu or a more modern tasting menu. Dishes such as Galician Beef Fillet with Spherical Truffled Gnocchis and cheese foam showcase attention to detail with classic flavor pairings in a contemporary format.

You can relax at one of the swimming pools or venture to the beach, which has full service for guests with umbrellas and sunbeds. The spa also takes inspiration from Roman bathing, with its water-based treatments and experiences designed to stimulate the body's metabolism. If you feel more energetic, there are jogging and hiking trails through the botanical gardens, plus the hotel is close to a leading tennis academy and 18-hole championship golf course.

Once you have decided on your hotel, how do you get the best price? It can sometimes work out cheaper to book the hotel and flight together. For example, British Airways Holidays feature all three hotels and can be booked with business class Club Europe seats. As well as often being cheaper, British Airways offer extra Avios on Holidays booking and are currently offering double tier points depending on the dates booked. British Airways restarts flights from Gatwick to Tenerife South from 29 March 2022.

Another option is to book through a specialist luxury agent such as those that offer Select or Marriott STARS benefits These can give extra such as upgrades or complimentary breakfast for the same price as a flexible rate with the hotel.

Finally, you could also look at joining the hotel's own loyalty program, such as The Leaders Club for the Leading Hotels of the World. With these, you can often get exclusive discounts and extras.