For years, Tenerife has been a staple for us – along with so many others – when looking for some winter sun. Perfect for a quick escape from the UK weather, and less than five hours away. Having tried numerous Hotels on the island, Gran Melia Palacio de Isora has become a firm favourite for us, and one that I continue to recommend to others.
Although the location is more isolated than our previous Tenerife stays, the hotel provides everything you could possibly need for a week of relaxation in the sun, and there is always the option of hiring a car if you wish to explore! For us, we are more than happy to check-in, unpack and enjoy our time at the hotel.
The decor throughout the hotel is definitely leaning towards more of a traditional style, and although there are currently no plans to change this and bring it in line with Melia’s ‘shinier’ five-star Paradisus brand, it is receiving a refresh and some maintenance, to eliminate some of the wear and tear that is to be expected within a year-round hotel.
ROOMS:
Rooms are spacious, with more than enough storage, and also sizeable balconies, some of which have incredible sea views. We stayed in a Family Deluxe Room and, although some of the rooms would now benefit from a little care and attention, it was perfect for us!
FACILITIES:
The hotel is home to Europe’s largest infinity pool, although I should stipulate that it is not heated, so it is definitely not for the faint-hearted in the winter months, and I am yet to brave it! We spent most of our time at the family pool, which is heated, and has plenty sun beds to accommodate all guests.
On a separate floor, there is another pool, aimed at the younger kiddies: you’ll find a shallow pool with pirate ships and slides, a small baby splash pool, and a newly-installed splash pad, with water features and a bigger slide. The Kids’ Club spend some time here during their sessions, with staff playing water games and having water fights with the children.
Speaking of Kids’ Club, our daughter thoroughly enjoyed it. Sessions take place in the morning and in the afternoon, with pre-booking for sessions not necessary for either of these. Kids are kept busy with science experiments, arts and crafts, and treasure hunts throughout the hotel grounds. Sessions generally finish at the Family Pool or the Pirate Pool, with kiddies being given the chance to play water games, and build up an appetite for lunch or dinner!
FOOD & DRINKS:
The food and drink offering in the hotel is fantastic. We alternated between Agave, the hotel’s on-site Mexican, and the Mediterranean and seafood offering, for lunch. Both of these have great food, and there was never too long of a wait for a table!
With regard to diner a la carte restaurants, Italian (L’Olio) and Asian (Nami) are included to All Inclusive guests. There are also Steak, Teppanyaki and Seafood restaurants, with All Inclusive guests receiving a discount at these. Making reservations for the a la carte restaurants can unfortunately be extremely frustrating, and was the biggest issue for us during our stay. Reservations cannot be made until 48 hours prior, meaning Guest Services was swamped every day, as – despite what staff advise at check-in, the app was extremely unreliable!
With that being said, I would still recommend All Inclusive to anyone considering a visit here; eating and drinking could otherwise become very expensive! Reservation frustrations aside, the All Inclusive offering does provide virtually everything that you could need. There are some paid extras if you fancy treating yourself, and I would highly recommend the Carbonara in L’Olio!
There is nightly entertainment at the hotel: live singers, various musicians, and ‘Cirque du Soleil’ performances – our daughter loved this one! Aside from this, there are giant inflatables most nights for the children to play on: wall climbing, bouncy castle, football target practice and bowling, as well as face painters on site. The Kids’ Club also held regular Movie Nights for kids to attend, to allow parents to have dinner in peace!
The hotel also has an exclusive ‘Red Level’ area – with adults only and family areas throughout the hotel; we have never upgraded to this, as haven’t felt it was something we needed during our stays at this hotel, and so I am unable to comment personally on the experience that is offered here.
I continue to recommend this hotel to colleagues and clients alike, and why we continue to return. Although our stay came with some frustrations, most hotels do! – the positives definitely outweighs the negatives in our opinion, for a quick dose of relaxation in the Winter sun.
TOP TIP!
Would I return in the height of summer, when the hotel is at full capacity and restaurant reservations would likely prove even more challenging? Unlikely. But will I return in February, for a week in the sun with my family, while the UK remains in the depths of its long, dark Winter? Most definitely.
This review was written by Hannah Wilson. Hannah is an Independent Travel Agent and Online Travel Business Owner who loves travelling with her husband and daughter Molly.
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