Hotel Sol Tenerife

The Tenerife has a great position right on the beach in the southern resort of Playa de la Americas. It is very close to the main tourist centre with plenty of shops, bars and restaurants to tempt you should you choose not to eat at the hotel (which is not a bad idea now and again). The hotel does have a car park but there may not be enough spaces so you'll have to find one on the roads around. If you are coming by car then pay attention when approaching the hotel as trying to access it is a bit of a pain and if you miss the entrance you'll have to negotiate the one way system again before retrying. The island's southern airport is 12 miles away while the northern one is 50 miles away.

The hotel does welcome guests in wheelchairs and there are some rooms dedicated to their use however they are not fully adapted and so may not be entirely suitable for these guests. For guests with families you should note that there are not specifically designed family rooms at the hotel. A family room simply comprises two interconnecting standard rooms.

The hotel is comprised of two unsightly 11-floor towers although this does mean that there are many uninterrupted views of the sea to be had from the bedrooms. The lobby is a low-ceilinged, two tier affair with the reception desk on the superior part where, while we were there anyhow, the staff wasn't particularly upbeat although they did deal with our requests. Aside from the several seating areas and green plants adorning the space, there is a bank of coin-operated PCs in the lower part for surfing the internet (2? for 15 mins, wifi is 4? per hour). Outside are three swimming pools, including one for kids, which all have views of the sea just beyond the palm-lined wall in front of them. The space is fairly calm and there is plenty of space to take in the sun's rays all day long (despite the tall accommodation buildings, the sun is not blocked). There are plenty of loungers to go around, however we did notice that some of them were not in the best shape and were a little grubby. Note that there is a 10? deposit for towels and a 1? charge for changing them.

The pools are also the scene for several daily animation activities such as water polo and aerobics, while other fun for adults includes cooking demonstrations, rifle shooting and volleyball. For the kids, they can amuse themselves with magic tricks, makeup sessions and of course the mini disco in the evening. There is, between the months of May and October, a mini club too where they can paint, play games and watch videos (minimum 5 children). The evening's entertainment, which takes place either outside when the weather allows, or inside on the purpose built stage, can include such performances as fashion shows, acrobatics and flamenco, with, at other times, chill out music or disco dancing.

There are no real wellness facilities at the hotel, instead a rather old and tired massage centre with not ambiance. It is quite basic but offers a small range of treatments should you feel the need to unwind. In addition there is a hammam and simple fitness room. Other amenities at the hotel include a tennis court, mini football pitch and a TV/games rooms. The general condition of the hotel is good but would look a lot nicer if more plants and colour was added. Access to the rooms is quick and easy with two lifts in each tower and there is only one corridor on each floor so difficult to lose yourself.

There is just one type of room at the Tenerife and most of them have a sea view. The surface area isn't huge which means that staying over one week might become a bit of a strain. The furniture, which comprises a desk, table and chairs, bedside tables and butler, is all in a turquoise coloured wood and the amenities include flatscreen television, safe (deposit plus 1.50? per day charge), fridge and telephone. There is a Dali print above the bed, while the tiny balcony is redeemed thanks to its sea view. The bathroom, which stunk of bleach on our visit and which is quite pokey, has a bidet, bathtub with shower, hairdryer and personalized toiletries. For groups or those with families, the only option of being together is to reserve two interconnecting rooms are there are no family rooms or suites here.

There is just one buffet restaurant at the Tenerife which serves all three meals. The room itself is pretty uninspiring with no real effort having been made to brighten it up. It is best to try and get a seat at the back of the room where there is a glass roof and therefore more light. Our lunch there was not the best of experiences. While the food was edible, the salads looked like they had been prepared some time before the lunch service. The rest of the meal was better and the service was attentive and efficient. The food changes on a two-week cycle which means that you probably won't come across the same menu twice during your stay. If you fancy a snack between meals then head to the pool bar open during the day where light bites can be ordered as well as a range of drinks to sipped buy the pool or at the bar's terrace by the pool. The Bar Barcelone is open in the evenings and is where the night's entertainment takes place if the weather doesn't allow for it to be outside.