Hotel H10 Costa Adeje Palace

The Costa Adeje Palace is location in the southern resort of the same name, away from the hubbub of the tourist centre, on the way to the town of La Caleta. It's true that there is little of interest in the immediate vicinity of the hotel aside from a few other large properties, but it does mean that it is pretty calm. The hotel has direct access to the closest beach, Playa la Enramada, while the town centre is a short taxi ride away. If you are arriving by car, you shouldn't have too much trouble finding a spot to park in the road opposite. The island's southern airport is 17 miles away, while the northern airport is 53 miles away.

If you do not have a car and fancy getting to the town centre over in Playa de las Americas, there is a free shuttle bus service which runs between there and the hotel at specified hours (check with reception). Also of note is the hotel's Privilege Club, whose members have extra amenities in their room, as well as access to the Lounge. See 'Hotel Overview' and 'Accommodation' for more details.

Pulling up to the Costa Adeje Palace you'll immediately notice that this part of the coast is a little more exclusive than the main drag. We liked the square lobby dominated by a beamed pyramid roof just under which, running round the hall, are grilled windows allowing light to flood the room. In the centre of the room is a small fountain while to one side are views of the pool and the sea further off into the distance. There is also a certain buzz about the place, something intangible that many other hotels can't boast. The Privilege Lounge is situated in one corner of the hall where members of the club can enjoy free use of the business centre as well as hot and cold beverages and snacks. Members are also entitles to a dinner at the La Tosca à la carte restaurant, free entry to wellness centre and discounts on this latter's treatments.

Outside, the pool area and its surroundings are a real pleasure to be in. Not only is it calm and clean, but the grounds, comprising plants and trees and water features cascading over rocks, are superbly maintained and give provide one the finest pool settings we saw. The main pool takes the form of a huge shell, while there is also a smaller pool, a kids pool and a jacuzzi. There is plenty of room around the pools and excellent exposure meaning a full day's sunbathing on the stylish loungers is a real possibility. As well as the cabanas, there are also a couple of tennis courts, a kids playground and crazy golf course. Note that there is a 15? deposit for towels.

There is a full day's programme for both adults and children run by the five English-speaking animators as well as a miniclub with climbing frames, ball pool, painting, games, videos and music. For the whole family there is a film club while in the evening, after the minidisco, is a professional show, followed by another hour of dancing for adults.

The Despacio Spa Centre is a charming little wellness and fitness outfit with a decent gym and six candle-lit treatment rooms for various treatments, including wine therapy! In addition to the hairdresser, there is also a jacuzzi, sauna, Turkish bath and an indoor heated pool with massaging jets.

The standard of the accommodation at the Costa Adeje Palace is certainly above average for the island. The standard rooms are spacious, well appointed and functional with terracotta coloured floor tiles, warm upholstery and attractive wood furniture. Amenities include a regular television, a safe (10? deposit and 6? per week thereafter), a fridge which can be filled à la carte and a well dressed double bed. Each room also has a balcony looking out either to the interior of the hotel or to the sea. The bathroom is brightly tiled in red and white and has sachet toiletries, a bathtub with shower, hairdryer and bidet. The general condition of the rooms is very high and even the standard would be comfortable for a fortnight's stay. Family rooms are decorated similarly and have an addition sofa bed to accommodate the children. Deluxe rooms are much more modern and sleek and boast not only a larger surface area, but also smarter furniture, jazzier upholstery, a flatscreen television, a coffee machine, bath robe and slippers. The junior suites, which are appointed in a similar way, have a corner balcony with loungers as well as a double vanity in the bathroom.

The hotel's main buffet restaurant, El Jable, is situated two floors down from the main lobby. The room itself isn't remarkably different from most hotel dining rooms on the island, however there is a very good choice of food, with many things on the menu that we didn't see elsewhere and plenty to eat for veggies. What's more, there are seven different themes which run on a two week cycle, each theme having two different versions, meaning that during a 14 day stay you won't eat the same thing twice. We recommend eating on the terrace in good weather. The other option for dinner is the à la carte restaurant la Tosca, which is a little smarter and which also has a lovely terrace near to the pool. Members of the Privilege Club are offered one free meal at the restaurant during their stay. La Choza covered pool bar, which is situated in the middle of the main pool, is stylishly appointed with contemporary armchairs, wooden decking and squares of perspex flooring revealing the pool underneath. Here, in our favourite part of the hotel, one can take a drink between dips in the pool and grab a snack (sandwich, burger, pizza, ice cream etc) during the pools' opening times. The other bar possibility is the piano bar in the main building near reception, open in the evenings until late.

Playa del Duque and its grey sand stretches for half a mile and boats straw parasols, loungers (both at a charge), public toilets and showers. There is also a water sports centre and games for kids as well as a bar/restaurant called Chiringito. The large beach is monitored, well set up and you can stroll easily to the other beaches in the area further down in Playa de las Americas. You'll also find a host of shops, bars, restaurants and games arcades.