Weekend at the Ritz Carlton Abama Tenerife

Two weeks before Christmas I jetted off to the island of Tenerife for three nights. I have stayed at a lot of hotels in Tenerife but the Ritz Carlton Abama was the only one missing. We arrived after a quick flight on EasyJet which was very good and on time. The sun was shining, and the temperature was 24 degrees. A 25-minute journey and we reached our hotel. The entrance was grand, very clean and well thought out, with no queues and there was such a relaxed atmosphere. Plus, we arrived high up with views swooping down to the ocean. We were greeted with a choice of beverages; champagne please! We checked in and were escorted to our gorgeous suite overlooking the resort. We arranged a tour of the resort to find our feet. I find sometimes when you’re visiting somewhere new a tour is always good so at least you know or have an idea of where your heading. The hotel had a real Arabic feeling. I felt like I was in a small village with small walk ways, arches, carved signs, cobbled areas and a huge pond full of the biggest gold fish I’ve ever seen. All I could smell was the grill - lush! To give you an idea of the layout, we arrived on the third floor in the main building called the Citadel which housed rooms and suites and overlooked the main pool. There is also a small children pool. The hotel is built on a slope, as you look down towards the ocean there are rows of villas and tagor villas. These have slightly different decor within but are nestled away having that exclusivity. Amongst the villas were plenty of small pools, very quiet and perfect for a rest after a game of golf on their 18-hole championship golf course. Beyond the villas we got to the very end of the hotel where there is another pool and the El Mirador restaurant which has incredible views (the salt crusted sea bass is yum!) You also have a lift down to the beach which isn’t private, but the hotel has a dedicated area. The water was so clear, and the sand was a sandy colour, not the black volcanic sand that Tenerife is famous for. The Ritz Carlton Abama is a large property. Walking around is easy but for those with walking difficulties you have the option to take a golf cart. (You even get your own or have access to one if you stay in the villas) or they have a funny looking train that runs every 30 minutes from reception to different parts of the hotel. The facilities are endless with lots of activities, great children’s/teen club, great spa and you are spoilt for choice of cuisine. Most of the restaurants are in the main building. I would always pre-book before you go especially in high season. If you are on half board there are restrictions on plates you choose. I dined at Txoko, El Mirador, La Veranda (breakfast) and Los Chozos over the course of the three days and all of them were excellent. We also went for lunch to the nearby town of San Juan, five minutes by taxi. Nice, not luxury but simple and local. Overall I can honestly say that I was delighted and this is by far one of the best hotels in Tenerife. You cannot walk out from the hotel, but you are spoilt for choice on facilities so there’s no need to leave. If you are a keen golfer and don’t wish to travel far then this is perfect. For more information I have added a few videos of the resort to my Facebook page or contact me for further help.