Far from a shrinking violet, The Ritz-Carlton, Abama is a blooming rose citadel that closer resembles a small town than a hotel. Despite its vast size (it covers 400 acres), this is a place that feels like a quiet and exclusive club for those eager to quickly sneak off for a week of warmth in Spain’s sunniest spot. With nine restaurants/bars, seven swimming pools and over 450 keys, there’s few desires to leave its comforts and trust us, there’s no need to.
Travel notes:
Once you wrap your head around its location – a clifftop on the south-west slope of the imposing Teide volcano surrounded by banana plantations and overlooking the Atlantic – it is difficult to imagine this hotel anywhere else. A mythical place of vibrant colour where Moroccan-style dominates, the robust reds and pastel pinks mix with lush greens and ocean blues to create a design that is distinctly Abama.
…jet lag free sun whatever the season. Tenerife’s generous climate and proximity to the UK makes for an ever-tempting easy escape without venturing out of Greenwich Mean Time. Abama’s golden sandy beach beckons to savvy sun seekers all year round, drawn in by its exclusively serviced area of sunbeds and parasols. And with only a four hour flight and short shuttle journey between breakfast at home and an attended beach lunch, it’s no wonder this true has-it-all destination is an island favourite.
Dining at Abama is so diverse you’d need a 9 night stay just to sample all its options. Top of our list is two Michelin-starred M.B. where traditional Basque dining is given an experimental make over. For the foodies not content with simply one Michelin-starred venue, the second, Kabuki, serves up Japanese dining with a twist. The options don’t end with food, on the Dave Thomas-designed course, where every hole has a view of the ocean, golfers will struggle picking their favourite spot.
This is a place that knows families, the various accoutrements that accompany travelling with a child are thoughtfully provided, freeing up precious suitcase space for extra swimming costumes. The fountains and inflatables of the dedicated family pool means sunbathers won’t be disturbed by joyful squeals and splashes. While over at the kids’ club, there’s a staggering eight distinct zones including a scientific area, planetarium, theatre space and rolling gardens, plus the Explore and Discover sessions for little eco-warriors.
The suites and villas exercise neutrality with touches of Moroccan accents. Most notably though, despite their quantity, none sacrifice on square footage or views. Indeed, citadel suites are spacious and come complete with salmon-hued balconies that look out onto the ocean, while a stroll through the Moorish gardens reveals a cluster of Adults-Only Villas that have been designed purely with romantic seclusion in mind and guests have priority access to the grown-up El Mirador pool, quashing the out-dated myth that villa living is intended for families.
An island renowned for its natural splendour, it is worth remembering that some of Tenerife’s best views can only be found at night. But of course, everyone knows for Ritz-Carlton, stargazing has to be more than just lying on a blanket under the night sky; instead ask us about the dedicated astronomer who is on-hand to explain the constellations as the restaurant M.B. handles the picnic.
Mainland Spain’s climate varies from temperate in the north to dry and hot in the south. Spring and autumn are pleasant and warm whereas July and August are hot, particularly inland. In Mallorca sunshine and warm temperatures are the norm from April to October with the cooling influence of the sea preventing excessive temperatures during the peak summer months, winters are mild and dry with occasional showers. Tenerife and Gran Canaria are year-round destinations, the climate being constantly warm for most of the year with July and August being hot.
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