A week in Tenerife

Tenerife is the largest of the Canary Islands off the coast of Morocco bordering on the Western Sahara. It is a place I've never had any desire to go to .. it just didn't appeal to me until now.

Every year HQ and her pals take a girls' holiday for a week to somewhere in the Mediterranean or surrounding areas .. and preferably to an island. I had been given a recommendation by a friend of a beautiful resort - The Ritz-Carlton Abama Tenerife, located on the Guía de Isora coast so after checking it out on the internet I liked what I saw and convinced my friends to give it a try. It is a beautiful resort, very Moorish in it's architecture. In fact this post should really be called 'A week at the Abama Ritz Carlton'! Because that's all we did - stayed on the resort for the entire time. There is no need to leave if you don't want to. It is a large resort with a feeling of space spread out over a vast area with different types of pools and a variety of restaurants and bars.

The adult pool

Sometimes all you need are nice surroundings, good food, good service and plenty of sunshine .. and that's precisely what we got. We even had the pleasure of an adult-only pool perched on the edge of the cliff overlooking the ocean. I have nothing against children but when you've been working hard and need a break, the peace and quiet is a necessity and was most welcome.

Because of it's size, there are battery powered buggies (golf carts) to transport you to wherever you want to go on the resort, and a trackless train which runs every half an hour until 10.30pm to take you through the resort and down to the beach.

Spa cafe terrace

There are 13 restaurants and bars plus the Spa Cafe which you can use when you book one or more treatments from the myriad on offer at the spa! I opted for the Tui Na massage on day 3 .. a Hands-on body treatment that uses Chinese Taoist and martial arts principles in an effort to bring the 8 principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine into balance. The practitioner may brush, knead, roll/press, and rub the areas between each of the joints, known as the eight gates, to attempt to open the body´s defensive (wei) Chi and get the energy moving in the meridians and the muscles. I felt well and truly centered and relaxed at the end of that one! It was truly worth the time and expense - at €110 (GB£80/US$125) it's not exactly cheap - but I gave myself a well deserved treat, especially considering the day job that I do. They like you to arrive at least 45 minutes or more before your appointment. There is an astounding range of water facilities, an outside garden cabana, Deluxe couple and single treatment rooms, wet treatment rooms and Spa Lounge. My personal favorite was the rosemary scented hammam .. I could have stayed breathing in that wonderful aroma all day!

The M.B restaurant was closed for refurbishment so we opted for La Veranda for breakfasts, lunch at the pool bar, dinners at the Tapas and Wine bar, Verona (Italian), El Mirador for delicious seafood and sunset views over the ocean and the star turn on this trip - Kabuki - superb, mouth-watering Japanese fusion food.  

 

Sunset from El Mirador

Once again, another fabulous, relaxing week with my girlfriends - good company, sunshine, swimming, enjoying amazing food and wine and watching beautiful sunsets. Life doesn't get much better than this! 

I feel I must thank and mention the wonderful staff at the Ritz Carlton who couldn't do enough for us - from the Concierge to the interns to housekeeping. Service with a smile and they remember your name!


HQ chose to fly with British Airways from London Gatwick to Tenerife South.