8 luxury Tenerife hotels for a fabulous holiday in the Canaries
Amazing restaurants, sumptuous spa facilities and villas with private pools… follow the A-list to these luxurious five-star hotels
With year-round sunshine and a warm subtropical climate, Tenerife is an easy win for those looking to escape wet summers and cold winters. It’s particularly popular with families who want to take their kids on an activity-led or pool break, with resorts offering large hotels with oodles of amenities, as well as golfers who can take their pick of decent courses around the island, especially in the south.
There’s plenty of choice when it comes to luxury holidays, whether you’re looking for a private villa with a personal pool ─ like the ones at Royal Garden Villas & Spa ─ or a fun-filled, party-led stay somewhere like Hard Rock Hotel. Celebrity guests like Mariah Carey and Brian May favour spots like Bahía del Duque and the iconic pink The Ritz-Carlton Abama for their vast sense of space, Michelin-starred dining and facilities.
Enjoy a slice of paradise in the Canaries with our pick of the best luxury Tenerife hotels.
Bahía del Duque, Adeje
With its own helipad, three reception areas (because the resort is so vast), an incredibly attractive spa with outdoor thalassotherapy circuit, and beautifully styled rooms, the Bahía del Duque does not scrimp on pampering and is ideal for guests seeking the ultimate luxury holiday in the Canaries.
To feel like Brian May and Mariah Carey ─ famous guests to have stayed at the hotel ─ opt for the Villa Las Palmeras with its private pool surrounded by tropical foliage. Dining options span the gamut from market food to Michelin-starred cuisine.
Europe Villa Cortés, Costa Adeje
Europe Villa Cortés is perfect for a luxury break and suits couples and families of all ages looking to push the boat out in south Tenerife’s original resort. Hacienda in style, the Canarian hotspot (it’s a draw with celebrities including J.Lo) is a love letter to Mexico, as evident in its architecture and Day-of-the-Dead figures dotted around.
There’s a spa with rituals, treatments and pools cut into stone, while tasting menus at Taste 1973 are suitably indulgent, offering experimental takes on Canarian classics. In terms of rooms, go for the Royal Hernán Cortés Suite for oodles of space and terraces.
Gran Meliá Palacio de Isora, Alcalá
The luxury tone is set as soon as you reach Gran Meliá Palacio de Isora’s suitably grand entrance ─ and doesn’t stop there, from the enormous saltwater infinity pool (the longest in Europe) overlooking the beach to the verdant gardens.
There is so much to see and do here: several pools, a spa, watersports, excursions including stargazing trips, and live entertainment in the evenings are sure to keep boredom at bay. Go for a Garden Villa to make use of a Balinese bed, free minibar, and heated pool.
Royal Garden Villas & Spa, Adeje
The 28 beautifully appointed villas at the luxurious Royal Garden Villas & Spa all have heated pools ─ if that doesn’t scream luxury, nothing much will. It’s also the ideal destination to head to anytime of the year due to the subtropical climate.
There are a couple of dining options but Jardin serves up imaginative Canarian cuisine and on Mondays guests can tuck into a tasting menu under the stars to the tunes of a live music performance. If you can pull yourself away from your two or three-bedroom family villa, there’s a soothing spa with thalassotherapy pool.
Royal Hideaway Corales Suites, La Caleta
Royal Hideaway Corales Suites have created self-contained rooms with kitchens that linger in the memory ─ and indeed make you want to linger in them. Designed with the shape of a boat in mind, and styled with inspiration from the island’s marine corals, the hotel makes the most of its ocean-facing setting.
Most of the suites come with a private pool, others come with balconies only, and a couple of categories have hot tubs. All have kitchens ─ but make time to sample Michelin-starred El Rincón de Juan Carlos' experimental tasting menu.
Hotel Hacienda del Conde Meliá Collection, Buenavista
This adults-only enclave in Buenavista, an area in the less-touristy northwest of the island, has a striking position fronting the Teno Mountains, which is a rather fantastic look. Hotel Hacienda del Conde Meliá Collection is a winner with couples looking for a medium-haul holiday with year-round sunshine.
It’s particularly appealing to the cycling set as guests can get access to a bike workshop, bike storage and adventurous itineraries if they book one of the Cycling Junior Suites. Amenities are also luxurious, with products by Rituals and Damana.
The Ritz-Carlton, Abama
The Ritz-Carlton Abama is probably the most iconic hotel on Tenerife, its dramatic pink exterior and clifftop location never fails to make an impression.
Guests can look forward to huge grounds that give everyone a good sense of space and privacy, sports facilities (that have attracted the likes of Gary Lineker and Greg Rusedksi), and a sandy beach which you can reach by funicular. There are a couple of Michelin-starred restaurants and the Imperial Suite with its own pool and ambassador is the one to go for if you’re looking to splurge.
Hard Rock Hotel, Adeje
It’s no surprise that the Hard Rock Hotel draws crowds of music-lovers and families to its Playa Paraíso location, the brand is synonymous with fun, parties, performances and nostalgic memorabilia. Up the luxe with a stay in The Rock Star Suite; on the top floor of the Nirvana Tower the suite includes butler service and a terrace with sofas and incredible ocean views.
Even if you choose a lower category, beds come with 300-thread count sheets, designer furniture and a furnished terrace. Three pools, wellness activities, sports facilities and workshops like wine-tasting and music lessons complete the offering.
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