Picture a last-minute fly-and-flop holiday to Tenerife and you’re probably not thinking of Michelin-star dining, smartly dressed pool bums and a private golf buggy parked up outside your oceanfront suite.
But this is exactly the reason that the Ritz-Carlton, Abama, has become so popular with well-heeled Brits looking for a more luxurious dose of reliable winter sun that the Canary Islands are famous for.
The five-star, 400-acre golf and spa resort is built in the style of a Moroccan fortress and in many ways you’ll remind yourself that you’re in Europe: think cliff-top infinity pools against a dramatic backdrop. volcanic landscape, beautifully manicured tropical gardens overlooking banana plantations, and year-round sunshine, all set within a distinctive terracotta-colored palace of dusty-pink buildings. No wonder the place attracts a prestigious crowd. Penelope Cruz, Javier Bardem, Bill Clinton and Stephen Hawking are among the hotel’s A-list guests so far.
From the seven sparkling swimming pools to award-winning fine dining across nine different restaurants, here’s what to expect.
Where is he?
Just 25 minutes’ drive from Tenerife South airport, on the south west coast of the island. The hotel itself is perched on the cliffs and nestled amongst banana plantations, with views of the Atlantic ocean and the nearby island of La Gomera.
Teide Hill and its snowy summit are only an hour’s drive away. You can rent cars near the reception.
Style
Step away from any ‘Brit abroad’ budget-holiday preconceptions and think about the kind of opulent, exclusive luxury that hotels in Dubai or Marrakech would be. Indeed, the Ritz-Carlton has this style, with characteristic pink terracotta walls and large, Moorish references to Arab forts.
The place is huge — 400 acres, in fact — so don’t expect a small boutique hotel, but come for expansive, manicured tropical gardens, lavishly dressed dinners and seven sparkling pools looking out over the Atlantic. The sprawling estate is spread out nicely (and steep!), so bring comfortable shoes if you’re planning to get around on foot, but the upside is that you never feel on top of other guests and transfers are cheap free available to go from place. his place. There is also a mini train or cable car to whisk guests down to the beach.
All that said and despite the 400+ rooms, there’s still an exclusive, intimate feel – especially if you’re staying in the premium ‘villa’ rooms down towards the sea, with large, generous balconies, neutral tones and views out on the sea. palm trees and hibiscus plants.
The Villas area comes with its own restaurant, El Mirador, and each series of Villas comes with its own semi-private infinity pool overlooking the island of La Gomera – a standout, even by five-star hotel standards. If you don’t believe me, believe a well-traveled PR who later messaged me on Instagram saying she still has a picture of the pool next to her bed.
Which room?
Each of the luxurious 459 Abama rooms is contemporary in design, with a simple style and neutral tones. Of these, 315 sit in the hotel’s main ‘Citadel’ building, while the other 144 sit in the Villa Club, Abama’s premium boutique-style area, spread over four village streets down by the sea, surrounded by large subtropics. gardens.
Each room comes with Nespresso coffee machines, large baths, large marble bathrooms and their own terrace or balcony, many with outdoor Jacuzzis overlooking the sea. Connecting rooms are available for families and there are options suitable for both adults only and families.
The Villa Club rooms are extremely luxe, with their en-suite bathrooms, lounge areas and large private balconies (the corresponding light switches and lights can be confusing in places, but that’s probably the price which you have to pay for the amount). You will also benefit from access to a semi-private pool (with complimentary drinks and canapes), dedicated ‘Ambassadors Villa’ staff, private check-in and check-out, breakfast in the hotel’s exclusive El Mirador restaurant and access to El Mirador Club Lounge. Expect free cava, beer, wine and snacks by the pool, as well as the cocktail of the day at 5pm. Don’t be fooled by the word ‘tapas’ when the staff remind you of the tapas selection set out at El Mirador in the evening – it’s enough for lunch.
Choose a penthouse, including the 10,000-square-foot, four-person Imperial Suite, if you’re looking for a truly premium option. Highlights include two spacious king-size bedrooms, a personal ambassador suite available 24/7 and a private heated rooftop pool with panoramic views of the Atlantic.
Food & drink
Eight-course Mediterranean-Japanese fusion menus overlooking the golf course. A locally sourced breakfast on a sweeping clifftop veranda. The Canary Islands’ only two-star restaurant.
Abama has an impressive range of dining options – nine restaurants, to be specific – but that size doesn’t come at the expense of quality. Far from it. The food is consistently five-star, whether you’re eating handmade pasta at the hotel’s Verona Italian outpost or melt-in-your-mouth jamon at contemporary Spanish restaurant Txoko from acclaimed chef Martín Berasategui.
Dinner on the heated terrace at Verde Mar – the hotel’s zero kilometer, vegetable-first restaurant – is a must. Everything apart from the truffle is sourced locally from the island (Tenerife has 23 micro-climates so ingredients are surprisingly varied) and the staff are extremely professional yet down to earth. Think homemade rye bread with oil made specifically for the hotel, boat-shaped vegetable-cruditee starters and sweet potato gnocci with hazelnut foam and coffee. All the wines are from the Canary Islands, too.
The hotel also has not one, but two Michelin-star restaurants: the Japanese-Mediterranean fusion restaurant, Kabuki, and the Basque-inspired restaurant MB, which has a total of two Michelin stars to its name. The Bento box is a must at the beginning of the Kabuki eight course tasting menu.
Breakfast is a hearty and generous affair, with mountains of fresh fruit, pastries, cereals, yogurts and juices, plus a little extra sweet fun (breakfast doughnut, anyone?). Dishes such as poached eggs can be ordered to your table.
Facilities
Seven pools. Yoga and walking paths in the Persian gardens on site. A spa inspired by the Romans. No wonder Abama guests tend to be toned, tanned Europeans looking for an active dose of luxury.
Much comes from the hotel’s proximity to Abama’s par 72 championship golf course, but regulars certainly vary beyond golfers and retirees. Walk the grounds and you’ll find everyone from fathers and sons enjoying Turkish baths in the spa circuit to lycra-clad cycling nuts hiring bikes for a day climbing Mount Teide.
Abama is also popular with families thanks to the hotel’s Ritz Kids club, the largest in Europe, and the variety of swimming pools, from the child-friendly Cascade pool to the Swimming Lake, the largest of the seven ( there is one for each series of Villas.in the Villa Club). It is also popular with spa-goers for the hotel’s ultra-luxe, naturally lit spa circuit, featuring heated marble rooms, a range of Roman-inspired hot and cold baths and a wide range of treatments including relaxing massages 90 minutes using it. Aromatherapy oils – a guaranteed sleep savior.
Gym-goers can expect all the usual exercise equipment from weights to bicycles on an outdoor terrace, while nearby activities include tennis, padel tennis, diving, whale watching and water sports. There are also many boutiques and jewelers on site.
The hotel is just steps away from Playa Abama beach, a public beach that feels private half the time thanks to guests’ access to sun loungers, parasols and towels and a choice of private train, bus or cable car down from the hotel . The team offer expertly guided stargazing sessions there at various times of the year and sea swimmers should definitely spend an afternoon exploring the natural pools.
What can you instagram
Your private golf buggy, parked in front of one of the hotel’s seven sparkling swimming pools.
Best for?
Luxury seekers looking for some winter sun. Multi-generational family holidays are popular here but active couples are the most popular guests. There’s a two-night Valentine’s Day package if you want a last-minute romantic break (with a couple’s chocolate treatment in the spa), and there’s a half-term package for families.
How to get there
Flights are only four and a half hours from Heathrow and Gatwick, then a 25 minute taxi to the other end.
When should I go?
Literally anytime, which is why Tenerife is such a hit with Brits. It averages 22 degrees Celsius all year round so it’s reliably warm and sunny – even in January, the coldest month, you’ll struggle to get a tan.
Rooms from £285, The Ritz-Carlton, Abama Carretera General, TF-47, km 9 Guia de Isora Tenerife, 38687 Spain, ritzcarlton.com