The Ritz-Carlton Tenerife, Abama

Really disappointed. We have been looking forward to this holiday for months and months. Arrived to be told all of the restaurants were booked solid for the entirety of our break and were told we should have booked 6 months ago. Luckily we managed to get into 2 restaurants after pleading to the one member of staff that has been helpful. We were never told this when booking otherwise would of course of booked well in advance . It took us 3 hours to be able to get access to our room even though I was asked if I would like to check in early so arranged our flight accordingly. We were called to say our room was ready but when I asked for the key they couldn’t locate the people with our key or our luggage. Once in the room we discovered the most of the amenities weren’t here and had to call multiple times to ask to sort. This place costs a small fortune and feel completely neglected after only half a day here. I am a loyal Marriott member and have been for years but this has put me of staying away for a family break with them again

To describe this resort as a disappointment is a gross understatement. The setting is lovely. The buildings, handsome and well maintained. The problem is this facility is toxically understaffed. It is so understaffed that the answer to everything is no because the staff has neither at the time nor the inclination to do what you ask. These folks hold themselves out as a five star hotel, but this is no five star. I am not inclined to detail all the problems, hassles, disappointments, and insulting service that we endured. We did speak to a very nice assistant manager by the name of Adrian, who seemed competent and acknowledged all of the mistreatment that we recounted for him. He assured us the Hotel manager would contact us to address our concerns. If you were to ask me if the manager ever did contact us that would be a rhetorical question as you can gather from the balance of this review. Never heard from him. On top of everything else, this facility squeezes every single penny out of you that they possibly can ,here extras, there extras, everywhere extras. It's borderline criminal. They're desperate for your money and when they get it, they don't spend it on staff. Go figure. And when I say go figure I mean go figure another hotel to stay on Tenerife. This is a must to avoid unless you're interested in developing an ulcer on your vacation. MUST TO AVOID!

Firstly, the bad things… this hotel is completely no-smoking. This seems to be a big secret which you only discover once you arrive – Had I known I would not have booked. It is not mentioned prior to booking, not on their website, or indeed displayed anywhere in the hotel itself, it was not explained when checking-in – I only discovered when I requested an ashtray from the bar. You cannot smoke on the outside bar terrace, or by any of the pools. I found it quite bizarre that they still had a cigarette vending machine though! Indeed Tenerife itself is pretty un-smoker friendly now – if you are expecting to be able to smoke outdoors in restaurants or outside bars, forget it Upon arrival at Tenerife airport our transfer cancelled on us. This was actually a good thing, as the taxis are cheaper! There was a long queue though. So do not bother booking an airport transfer The Ritz Carlton Hotel is just too big for its own good. It is vast. The lift/floor allocation is ridiculous – the Lobby (Ground Floor) is on floor 6… Anyone with any sense would make the Lobby floor 0, and floors below, -1, -2, etc. The signage around the hotel is also extremely poor. I got completely lost many times on first arrival The hotel is in the middle of nowhere and its prices are 5 Star high. A starter in one of the restaurants was 37 euros… A beer is 8 euros. We taxied to Adeje on most nights which costs about 15 euros each-way, and ate and drunk there – the Titanic Restaurant is very nice (also you CAN smoke on the terrace in the Hard Rock Hotel). In Adeje you can get a large beer for about 2 – 3 euros. You can however, notice that the "class-level" of customers is lot lower than at the Ritz Carlton! Getting a taxi is quick and easy from the concierge at the front door of the Ritz Carlton. I don’t think we waited more than 2 minutes on any occasion. All the taxis are official, and prices are the same. Most of the drivers didn’t speak English, but the concierge explained to them where we going. They all accepted credit cards At reception we were told one pool was adult only. The other 2 large pools were very busy so we went to the smaller adult-only pool. That was fine until 2pm when a lady and 2 children turned up shouting and screaming. We did ask the pool lifeguard and were told it was now not adult only – so the reception are ill-informed On one occasion the lights in the room didn’t work. I went to reception and was told maintenance would have a look. Fortunately my partner found a master switch near the door, which the cleaners had obviously switched off. This brought the room to life again. Surely this must be a common issue yet Reception didn’t know this. The maintenance guy turned up about 2 hours later, even though we had told Reception we had fixed the issue Now the better things… The whole place is like paradise! All – well most – of the staff are very friendly, and can’t do enough for you Checking-in was quick and easy and the lady at the desk was lovely and very helpful. The information given is a little daunting. The free glass of Cava was nice The room was very very nice (way nicer than the Hard Rock Hotel). The bed was wonderful – it was massive. The balcony had an excellent view of some of the golf course and the sea. The supply of free drinking water was excellent – every day we would be left 4 bottles in the room. However Tea and milk seems to be a commodity and we were only given 2 English Breakfast and 4 milks – fortunately I expect this sort of thing so had brought a box of Twinings with me and each morning I would borrow a jar of milk from breakfast. The shower in the room was wonderful - I miss it, now I’m home. The toilet area with bidet is separated by a door so there is privacy from the sinks and shower area. Bath robes, slippers, shampoo, body wash, hair dryer, iron/ironing table, mini-bar and safe are all in the room. Every day the room was cleaned in the morning and the bedding was turned down in the evening – excellent Breakfast each morning was good. They have a bit of a strange set-up where you have to queue at a desk, and be asked your room number and what drink you’d like, and then taken to an allocated table. This generally worked okay, but on one day the queue was huge. Pretty much everyone is catered-for, with full-English (sausages were absolutely vile and gave me the runs!), omelettes, boiled eggs, cheese, fish, croissants, salad, meats, doughnuts, and a great selection of breads. Again Tea seems to be a commodity and on some occasions I was allowed 2 tea bags and on others only 1. There is ample juices and freshly squeezed orange. All in all I thought the breakfast was very good. We did not eat in any of the hotel’s other restaurants due to pricing One day we took the “train” down to the beach – the hotel’s own beach. This is a bit of an “Italian Job” experience in the train. We were warned it is quite steep, and we were very glad to have not attempted the walk. The beach area is nice and they have their own bar and provide towels. There is a restaurant half-way down, and another at the beach too. The swimming area has wave breakers, but the waves do come over the break. One second I was standing on sand, the next I was waist-high with water – I actually rather liked it, but my partner found it quite frightening. The sea current is very strong and I wouldn’t swim in the sea, but lots of people did Back by the pool – there are two large pools, the life guards are normally very attentive, putting the towel on the bed for you, offering free sun cream and even to clean your sunglasses! At different times of the day they normally bring round a free smoothy and flavoured ice. The pool was a perfect temperature and wasn’t too crowded. Drinks are served around the pool, but they are not very attentive to this – surprising, since this is an obvious money-maker The coy-carp pond was very relaxing and clean, my only worry is that it is easy for a youngster to full in and it is quite deep On our last morning, a very large group (40+ people) arrived, and took over the pool, just standing in the pool, shouting at the tops of their voices. Anyone trying to swim was frowned upon by them. This ruined the final day and I am thankful this didn’t happen earlier in our stay. This shattered what was otherwise a very relaxing, quiet, holiday Checking-out was quick and easy, our only gripe was they didn’t bother to ask how our stay was. Seems a bit strange. Our stay was lovely, but it would be nice to be asked All-in-all I would say this is the best hotel I’ve ever stayed in. It isn’t totally perfect, but it’s close. It was a very relaxing holiday – exactly what we both needed. I would certainly return

Been wanting to come here for a long time. As I’m celebrating a milestone, my daughter organized an early surprise trip here with me. I was thrilled! The moment I stepped into the hotel, I am home. A great welcome from Estelle and she offered us a welcome drink. Much appreciated. Our room is beautiful overlooking the private pool. A surprise cake awaits which my daughter and I devoured complete with bubbles and also a birthday card and balloons. Thank you to the concierge team for organizing this wonderful surprise. The hotel is isolated and so tranquil although my daughter organized a car rental we decided to have dinner at The Mirador which was very pleasant and great sunset setting. The sea bass baked in sea salt did not go amiss with Canarian potatoes and salad. The affogato dessert with pistachio was so delicious! Our first two days we ventured out with our car rental which is highly recommended. Mount Teide is a must and the hairpin turns of Masca too. We also had dinner out in the evenings for steak and seafood nearby. The next two days of our stay we just relaxed at the resort which is so beautiful lush garden and interesting banana plantation which is in season right now brimming with bananas next to the resort. Love the beach so much for the seclusion complete with complimentary deck chairs and towels. For late November the sea is so refreshing. I’ve never seen colorful crabs by the rocks. Bring your googles with you next time you swim. I like the fact that there are two lifeguards from 10 in the morning. Friendly Carlos and Alessandro took care of us sorting our towels and deck chairs. Also accommodating Laura and Gladys didn’t rush us as we enjoyed our drinks at the Beach Bar as we just lingered on two occasions enjoying the sea air and the good for the soul view. The train is a fun way of going to the beach but we walked down on the road which was very pleasant and took the train back. The main pool is also beautiful with lifeguard and an attendant taking drinks and food. We did not miss breakfast as the display of food is a feast to the eyes and tummy. There’s something for everyone, chai latte, my favorite which Edelyn prepared for me. She also offered me Matcha which is nice. Enjoyed the fresh juices of mango and orange or simply fresh orange juice. Sampled the local cheeses for my breakfast. Would love the come back here again perhaps try the heavenly spa…

A Solid 4*+ Hotel but lacking the in room amenities and some of the special touches that give Four Seasons, Rosewood, Belmond etc a true 5* experience. What’s stranger is that whilst in a base category room you wouldn’t necessarily expect anything in particular, the same carries through to higher level club ocean view retreat suits where just a welcome note could be left with no drinks or treats as has always been the case when we’ve stayed in a club room, let alone a club suite. I’ve heard the retreat f&b offering is also being watered down next year which is a shame - there are enough wealthy Europeans who would actually be happy paying a higher room rate for better amenities and service, especially in the retreat club area. Nevertheless a decent hotel for Tenerife….but expect 4*+, not 5*+, with scant amenities when you arrive in your room - even if it’s a club suite.

We recently visited the Ritz-Carlton Abama as external guests and were genuinely looking forward to dining at the Verona Restaurant on a Thursday evening. The lobby staff directed us one floor down — only for us to discover that the restaurant was closed. When we returned upstairs, the team then suggested we try the Txoco Restaurant. After walking through what felt like half the resort, we again found a closed restaurant. At this point, we had already walked several hundred meters, only to inform the lobby staff that both restaurants were closed. How is it possible that, in a five-star hotel with such highly acclaimed awards, the front-of-house staff are unaware of their own restaurant closures? And how is it acceptable that, two weeks before Christmas, during high season, two restaurants are closed on a Thursday evening? For a property of this caliber, this is simply a no-go. We were actually planning to book a full week at the Ritz-Carlton Abama in January. However, due to this level of unprofessionalism and poor internal communication, we will now proceed with our reservation at Tivoli La Caleta instead. We sincerely hope that management will reconsider its operational decisions— • ensure proper staff training, • maintain accurate guest information, • and avoid closing multiple restaurants on key evenings. The explanation that restaurants “must be closed two days a week” is not valid in peak season, and certainly not on a Thursday night. If anything, such closures should be scheduled on a Sunday or Monday, not during prime guest dining days.

4 out of 5. The Ritz Carlton, if timed correctly is the place to go for a quiet break away from the U.K. weathers. School holidays can be manic, but it is a great place for adults only. The rooms are comfortable and quiet, cleaned regularly with a turn down service. The adults only pool in the Retreat was a haven, Alberto always on hand to serve drinks, remembering what to bring you before you ask. His infectious laugh and cheery manner is a pleasure The Ambassador service is not as good as it once was. Also the internet is shockingly slow, even paying the €20 per day for faster internet, the speeds were snail like Apart from that the restaurants are good, breakfast fantastic and a good break away

We stayed at the Ritz Carlton Abama for 10 nights over the last week of November and into the first week to December. Family of 3, toddler is 2.5 years old. We stayed in Citadel Deluxe and spent the entire time in the resort. Rooms are good size. Space for a corner little sofa and table. There’s both bath and shower which is helpful for toddlers. Decent size balcony. I travel a fair bit, also for work and I judge hotels by their breakfasts and they do very well here. Omelette station, waffle/pancake station. Good range of juices, meats, cheeses, salads, croissants. Loved the fresh orange juice machine! One minor note is that there’s a small waiting time that is mentioned by other reviews but it really was a non-factor (1-2 min wait max). Staff are wonderful and friendly (this will be a fixture), no exceptions. We will not forget Magda especially! There are a range of pools but we only ever used one, and walked by another. The one by Txoco restaurant has a nice family feel with other families of a similar demographic makes a lot of empathetic overlap and the smiley head nods/brief chats. Always toys around as well (we had our buckets, but lots of overlap again, and some inflatable toys from the house too) Restaurants we did Txoco (x3), Vera Mar, the Italian, Lobby Bar and a bit of room service. Food is great, no complaints. High quality, but expect to pay London prices / premium. You must also book a day or two in advance if you want an early slot due to toddler bed time. Service again is great and at Txoco we felt very welcomed by everyone especially Yaser, Junior and two other gentlemen whose names escape me (one Venezuelan gentleman who played Baseball, and a Spanish gentleman who I am overwhelmed with guilt that I forgot his name. Bald, around 5’9 and was very very nice to my family). Again, staff great minus one stern lady who I think expected us to teleport the pram through closed glass doors on our last night 😅 bit scary….😅 The beach you can access via a bus-train (if a word exists); it comes twice an hour and returns the same. 5-8 minute journey which is actually very pleasant and scenic. I’m not a beach person, but it’s good. The hotel is a large resort. It’s very similar to Al-Qasr in Dubai. There was a multi-day wedding at the time, but it didn’t feel crammed or overwhelming, and I don’t think we scratched the surface in exploring it as we found our comfort zone and stuck to it. One feedback potentially is given the size of the resort, they should have an in-resort supermarket. I understand it takes away some commercial elements, but helps with things like toddler/baby milk! Anyway, very pleasant stay made possible by the staff and service. Probably the best we’ve experienced across European holidays we’ve had. Thank you all and hope to be back.

Another wonderful, relaxing holiday at The Ritz Carlton. All the six restaurants are superb with great service, delicious food and efficient and friendly staff. We would like to especially thank Oscar in The Retreat who’s always upbeat and nothing is too much trouble, George who maintains all the pools, Miguel our poolside attendant and Ajus Bakutis the Manager On Duty who fixed all our personal needs. A fabulous team and a memorable holiday. Thank you to all.

Very noisy hotel - music you can hear in the rooms until well past midnight. Late check out refused to Marriott Bonvoy upper tier members, due to the focus of the entire hotel being on the corporate event playing music until the early hours. Reception and management were apologetic but oblivious to what they could do to change anything. The manager was not available to speak to due to their focus on the corporate event. We also noticed we were double charged for a meal on our bill.