Tenerife: The High Life of Hyatt

There’s something rather amazing, it has to be said, in a few hours to be air-lifted from one season to another, to override providence, to jump 20 degrees in temperature, to swap a dull, grim cloudy rain-sodden day for a bright, sun-drenched, wonderfully warm climate. How good to sleep deeply to the sound of waves with their own rhythmic heartbeat crashing or lapping and the gentle tinkering from a forest of masts.

The seven islands of the Canaries have long been a welcome retreat for the many. The largest, Tenerife, carries with it their familiar volcanic outline with stretched corniches and vivid cacti: a lunar landscape in the middle of the Atlantic with wonderful banana plantations throughout. It’s an island forged by the heat of Mount Teide, the pyramid-shaped and active volcano with its snowcaps reaching 12,000 feet: the highest point in Spain.

Half an hour from the airport is AluaSoul Costa Adeje, part of Hyatt's Inclusive Collection. www.hyattinclusivecollection.com/en/

It’s tucked away near the Puerto Colon marina in Costa Adeje which, along with Playa de las Americas and Los Cristianos, comprise the main touristic stretch. This adult-only hotel offers all-inclusive, half-board or breakfast-only catering. I upgraded to ‘My Favorite Club’ to enjoy my exclusive, peaceful sunbathing and lounge areas. The large open foyer has joyful, oversized paper-style orbital lanterns. Alua’s aqua-coloured brand helps offset the white walls. The 226 Rooms (with starting rates for double occupancy from €207) are spacious, fully equipped and recently refurbished. Terra, with its outdoor terrace, has a bountiful buffet while Mare Nubium is the à la carte restaurant for a special treat and Kentia, with its smart decking, a lunch bar for those jumping in and out of the pool. There’s certainly lots of action and activities. Bathers are summoned to paella and sangria-making classes. The Wellness Area has an on-site spa, heated indoor pool and Jacuzzi. Some ‘fly and flop’ while the more adventurous go off on bird or whale and dolphin watching excursions.

I hired a car with Canarias.com, the major supplier with 35 branches across the island (and soon to be in other Canaries islands). The smoothest of tarmac made my hour’s driving around the island so pleasurable. Even the motorways seemed like a Scalextric circuit. By having a car I got to see the island and those natural nuggets that make travel worthwhile and allowed me to hold onto those memories and those stories to take back.

On the way to the famous huge cliffs of Los Gigantes I came off at exit 81 to the coastal town of San Juan. Here there’s a wonderful walkway with views across to the island of La Gomera. Perfect for the daily ritual when people gather in clusters to honour the closure of the day as they wait for and witness the changing colours of the sunset with its differing performances. So spectacular. For another day trip in order to see the historic part of the island I drove the hour’s distance to La Laguna with its typical Canarian wooden balconies and its long, low, straight grid of streets so reminiscent of Latin America. 

Close to the airport on the seafront is the town of Golf del Sur and home to another Hyatt’s Inclusive Collection, Alua Atlántico Golf Resort.www.hyattinclusivecollection.com/en/resorts-hotels/alua-hotels/tenerife/atlantico-golf-resort/

This village-like complex is tucked away in a quiet corner overlooking the small marina of San Miguel. Golf buggies and departing boats create the movement in this still and tranquil spot. The 410 Rooms (with starting rates for double occupancy: €170) are spacious and light. With laminate wood floors the finishing felt fresh as though subject to recent decoration. No need for pictures or painting: such was the commanding view of the ocean that goes in a straight line all the way to Antarctica.

My experience at the hotel’s gastronomic restaurant Enyesque, was healthily light on my stomach. I loved sitting on my rope chair, beside wicker and beneath rattan lanterns. All very light and breezy as I tucked into my authentic local food. The hotel has four restaurants and five pools and much else on offer in the way of entertainment with evening performances that include my beloved flamenco with its dynamic, exhilarating clapping and stamping rhythms. Yes there are two 18-hole golf courses and yes there’s a nearby spot to dip in the sea but I chose on different days to turn left and right for my sunset coastal walks. Along these beautifully landscaped littoral walkways there’s a healthy energy expressed by walkers and joggers alike. Thus I got a proper experience of the island. I loved Los Abrigos the neighbouring ocean village, and then the long stretch of beach that’s Playa de la Tejita, before reaching the town of El Medano, with El Timon restaurant right on the sea. So authentic was this town. So magnificent this island. So perfect my winter getaway.