The Ritz-Carlton Tenerife, Abama

Moorish-inspired buildings sit among tropical gardens on a cliff above the Atlantic at The Ritz-Carlton Tenerife, Abama. The setting is built around space, sea views and a proper choice of places to eat, rather than the usual one-pool, one-restaurant resort routine. The hotel website is available in English, German, Spanish and French, which makes planning straightforward before you arrive.

Couples get the privacy and restaurants for a grown-up break; families have family rooms, a kids’ pool and two dedicated children’s areas, The Ritz Kids and The Zone. There is also a golf course, a tennis academy, a spa and a beach below the resort, so you can make the stay as active or as idle as your legs allow.

You are in Guía de Isora, on Tenerife’s south-west coast, rather than in the middle of a resort town. The property is on the seafront, set on a cliff, with the Atlantic in front and La Gomera across the water. The resort’s own beach is reached by a free shuttle and a resort train, with sun loungers and parasols waiting at the bottom. Sensible footwear is a good idea; this is a cliff-top property, not a bungalow village at sea level.

The nearest listed beach, Playa del Barranco de Erques, is about 1 mile away. Playa de San Juan is roughly 2.5 miles away by road, while Teide National Park is listed at about 1.5 miles from the property. Tenerife South Airport is about 22 miles away by car, with a journey of around 30 minutes. The setting favours staying on site, although a hire car is available when you want to explore further.

Rooms and villas are spread through Moorish-inspired buildings, with an ethnic-style interior rather than a standard business-hotel look. Most have views towards the gardens or the Atlantic, and every room and villa has a marble bathroom, interactive television, internet access and air conditioning. That last item earns its keep when Tenerife has done its usual work on the temperature and you want the room cool enough for a proper night.

Choose a villa when you want more separation and a stronger sense of having your own corner of the resort. Family rooms and interconnected rooms are available for groups who need to stay close without sharing every square metre. Couples can focus on the view and the restaurants; families can prioritise the extra sleeping arrangements. Room service is available when the sensible evening plan is shower, food and an early night rather than another walk across the grounds.

Eight restaurants give you room to vary the evening, and two carry Michelin stars, with opening depending on the season. The named restaurants cover rather different moods: Melvin Restaurant serves Canarian cuisine with Martín Berasategui’s signature and sea views, while Atlántico brings Mediterranean cooking and Spanish tradition to a terrace. Tágara handles breakfast, lunch and dinner indoors, with traditional Canarian dishes given a contemporary turn.

Breakfast is a buffet with continental, full English and Irish, vegetarian and gluten-free choices. Special-diet menus are available on request, and breakfast can be brought to your room when an early start makes the dining room feel like unnecessary admin. A snack bar and an on-site coffee house cover the less formal moments, with room service available as well.

There are three named bars. Pool Bar Sunway works around cocktails and Mediterranean-style appetisers, Zumeria Bar focuses on freshly prepared juices and smoothies, and Ambar Gastro Bar is a sunset bar serving wines from Las Terrazas de Abama Suites. In short, you can have breakfast properly, eat Canarian food, or simply find something cold without turning the evening into an expedition.

Seven outdoor pools give you more choice than fighting for the same rectangle of water every morning. There is also an infinity pool, a solarium, sun loungers, parasols and pool or beach towels. The beach below the cliff adds a change of scenery, reached by the resort’s free shuttle and train rather than by a heroic descent in flip-flops.

Sandára Wellness & Spa is the serious recovery option, with massage and facial treatments, a hammam, sauna, jacuzzi, relaxation area and beauty services. The spa works with Anne Semonin products. A fitness centre is available too, alongside yoga, meditation and Pilates, so you can stretch out without pretending that a quick walk to the bar counts as mobility work.

Away from pools and treatments, you can play tennis, use the golf facilities nearby, hire bicycles, play table tennis or billiards, and join excursions. The programme includes visits to Teide and La Gomera, cultural excursions and boat trips for whale watching. Families have The Ritz Kids and The Zone, plus indoor and outdoor play areas, a playground and a kids’ pool.

Tenerife South Airport is the practical arrival point, about 22 miles away and roughly 30 minutes by car. An airport transfer is available through the hotel, either privately or as a shared shuttle, and should be arranged with the property. Car hire is also available. Free private parking is provided on site, with no reservation possible, and accessible parking is available.

Check-in starts from 4 pm and check-out runs until noon. You need photo identification and a credit card at arrival, and the hotel asks you to share your expected arrival time in advance. The minimum age for check-in is 18. Children of all ages are welcome, while extra beds and cots depend on the accommodation selected and availability.

A 24-hour front desk, luggage storage, concierge service, tour desk, currency exchange and an on-site cash machine keep the practical side reasonably contained. WiFi is free throughout the hotel. The property is non-smoking, and pets are not accepted.