Barceló Tenerife

You are choosing a full-service hotel built for days that can end in several different ways: a swim, a treatment, a proper meal, or a drink by the pool before the evening entertainment starts. The grounds include gardens, terraces and eight swimming pools, so there is room to spread out when the idea of another timetable is less appealing than a chair in the sun.

The all-inclusive format suits a diving holiday when you want the practical bits handled in one place. Families have plenty to occupy them, while couples can make use of the spa, the bars and the beachfront setting without needing to turn every evening into an excursion. It is a large resort, not a discreet little inn. That is either exactly the point or the first thing you will want to know.

The hotel is in San Miguel de Abona, on the south of Tenerife, directly on the beachfront. Playa San Blas and Playa Grande are nearby, while Playa San Miguel de Abona is about 1.4 miles away on foot and Playa Chica about 1.7 miles. You are also close to restaurants outside the resort: La Proa is about 0.2 miles away on foot, and Plaza Breeze and El Tiburón are each roughly 0.5 miles away.

Tenerife South Airport is about 2.2 miles away by road, around a six-minute drive. For a day away from the water, Teide National Park is about 8 miles away by road, with a drive of around 21 minutes. San Miguel de Abona gives you beaches, nearby places to eat and straightforward access to the airport, without placing you in the busier resort strip farther west.

The choice is mainly about how much space you want around your dive bags and how many people need to sleep behind the same front door. A double room works for two, while the connecting-room arrangements make more sense for a group that values separate sleeping areas. Suites are the more comfortable choice for a couple wanting room to sit down properly, or for a small family that would rather not negotiate every item of luggage from the edge of the bed.

Balconies give you somewhere to step outside without going all the way to the pool, and the rooms include air conditioning, soundproofing and extra-long beds. There is also a sofa, desk, flat-screen television, telephone and electric kettle. The hydromassage bath is the useful detail here: less decoration, more chance to let your legs recover while the rest of the day catches up with you. Bathrobes, slippers, towels and toiletries are included, with daily housekeeping taking care of the routine.

Side sea-view and pool-view double rooms let you choose what you would rather look at from the balcony. The larger suites include two bathrooms, which is a small but convincing argument when two people are trying to get ready at the same time. Family rooms are available, and cots can be requested for very young children; extra beds are not available.

Three restaurants cover the main business of getting fed, with both buffet and à-la-carte dining. Breakfast is a buffet, and the on-site coffee house, snack bar and room service give you alternatives when a full restaurant meal is not what you want. There are four bars, including a pool bar, so the distance between swim, shower and drink is kept sensibly short.

The all-inclusive option is the natural fit if you prefer to settle in and stop thinking about each meal. Half board is also available, but drinks are not included with that arrangement. Two restaurants, El Arrozante and La Trattoría Dolce Vita, sit outside the all-inclusive package, so check the formula attached to your booking before deciding where dinner will happen.

Special-diet menus are available on request, and the buffet includes child-friendly choices. Breakfast can also be brought to your room. No elaborate culinary promises are needed here: the useful point is range, with buffet convenience, à-la-carte meals, snacks and four places for a drink.

Eight swimming pools give you plenty of scope for a day when the sea can wait. Sun loungers, beach chairs, umbrellas and pool or beach towels are available, while the gardens and sun terraces create several places to stop moving without having to retreat indoors. A hot tub and solarium cover the simpler end of post-dive recovery; the spa adds body treatments, body scrubs, wraps, facials and massages.

The fitness centre offers fitness classes and yoga, and tennis courts, table tennis and beach volleyball give you more energetic options if your legs have not already filed a formal complaint. Bicycle hire, cycling, hiking and canoeing are available for a change of scenery, with bike and walking tours also on the programme. A golf course is within 1.9 miles.

Evenings bring live music, performances and organised entertainment in the show hall. That makes the hotel workable for couples who want something to do without arranging transport, while families have a kids' club, outdoor play equipment and babysitting services. The gardens also give you easy access to the nature reserve, adding a little daylight interest beyond the pool complex.

Tenerife South Airport is close enough to make arrival uncomplicated: about 2.2 miles by road and roughly six minutes by car. An airport shuttle and a general shuttle service are available to arrange with the hotel. If you hire a car, private parking is available on site without advance reservation, and there is a charging station for electric vehicles.

Check-in runs from 15:00 to midnight, and check-out from 05:00 to 12:00. You need photo identification and a credit card at check-in, and the minimum check-in age is 18. Cash is not accepted, so bring a payment card rather than relying on loose notes left over from the flight.

A 24-hour front desk, concierge, tour desk, currency exchange, luggage storage and car hire keep the practical side fairly well covered. Wi-Fi is available throughout the property, and lifts serve the upper floors. Wheelchair-accessible facilities are available. The hotel also offers daily housekeeping, laundry, ironing and dry-cleaning services.