Special feature: Costa Adeje Gran Hotel, Tenerife

I stayed 7 nights at the Costa Adeje Gran Hotel in Costa Adeje, Tenerife earlier this  year and must admit to visiting with a small degree of trepidation due to the very mixed reviews on Tripadvisor.   One of the common statements within those reviews is that “it isn’t a five star hotel”.   Well, there’s really a misunderstanding here on the part of the mostly British reviewers – to explain,  the Costa Adeje Gran Hotel is a five star hotel, but five stars isn’t the highest accolade given to hotels in Spain.   The very  best hotels in the country are rated as ‘5 star Grand Luxe’. So… a five star hotel in Spain is probably more akin to a four star hotel in many other parts of the world where 5 stars typically  represents the highest standards.   If you go to Costa Adeje Gran Hotel knowing this, then you will probably be more forgiving when standards aren’t quite as infallible as you’d expect from a traditional five star hotel. When you arrive, the first thing that hits you is the lavish reception area.   You are greeted by a central fountain and a spacious, airy atmosphere.   Checking-in was a smooth process and, because we arrived late and had the kids to settle, I asked if we could have dinner brought to our room so we were able to enjoy this from the comfort of our balcony – a wish that was more than admirably accommodated.   We stayed in Room 398 which had a balcony with a pool and sea view – a better side of the hotel to be on, in my opinion, than the alternative mountain view.   The room was clean and spacious, with ample room also for a cot and single bed for our children.   The corridors outside, although covered, were exposed to the outside elements (there is no ‘roof’ as such)  – a luxury that can be enjoyed with a reliable Canarian climate. The pool area is very much the heart of the Costa Adeje Gran Hotel – here you’ll find a snack bar, two pools,  a smaller children’s pool, and lots of sun loungers.   This is a great facility that enables you to easily while away the day without even leaving the hotel. Unfortunately,  though, it was slightly marred by an early morning  mentality of reserving sunbeds with towels and then disappearing off. Although I imagine it’s difficult to ‘police’, the management really ought to try to address this, I think. Buffet-style meals were served  at La Finca, or the option of a more exclusive buffet or an a la carte menu is available at the more refined  La Laja, whilst the hotel’s spa is equipped with sauna, Turkish bath, Jacuzzi and gym, for which there is a dedicated website, Tenerife Wellness.   Costa Adeje itself is one of the more up-market destinations on the island of Tenerife but,  for my liking, a little too dominated by the British pub scene, rather than giving you any true insight into Canarian culture. That said, venture to El Mirador and you’ll find a variety of exclusive shopping, entertainment and dining opportunities. If you enjoy a more lively night scene, then this destination is well worth considering.