Last Minute Getaway In The Sun!
We booked a 1-bedroom, self-catering apartment for a last-minute getaway to the Canaries in April 2024. I travelled with my wife and our two boys, aged 5 and 2. While we travel abroad 3-4 times a year, this was our first self-catering experience—and it turned out to be a pleasant surprise! Arrival and Check-In Check-in was smooth and efficient. We were provided with a map and clear instructions to locate our apartment. There was no luggage service, but I didn’t expect one, so this wasn’t an issue. Apartment and Facilities The apartment was clean, spacious, and equipped with everything we needed for our 8-night stay. The terrace was a highlight, featuring a table, chairs, and two loungers. The air conditioning worked perfectly. Our 6-year-old slept comfortably on the sofa bed. Although a cot was not provided in our apartmentfor our 2-year-old, a quick call to reception resolved the issue within 10 minutes. The cot, complete with a proper mattress, was a great touch. You are very close the airport so planes fly over all day but never bothered us, in the evening we would sit on the terrace and have a 1st line view of the planes flying over us, it really did not bother us at all but if your going to complain about it, dont come here. Car Rental and Shopping We rented a car from a business near the hotel (5-minute walk). A word of advice: check prices online beforehand. The in-store price was €80 higher than online, but after I requested a price match, the staff called the manager and honoured the online rate. With the car, we stocked up at a larger supermarket about 15 minutes away, The on-site shop is convenient for essentials but may not suffice for full self-catering. There is a supermarket 10 minute walk away near the irish bar and a smaller one opposite if you prefer not to drive. It was really nice to get out and about so if your confident driving i would recommend, a short drive into Costa Adeje, Los Cristianos and surrounding beaches were really nice days out. Dining Experience We enjoyed breakfast in the apartment most mornings, featuring fresh croissants, ham, cheese, and bacon—a refreshing change from buffet dining. We ate out for dinner most nights and snacked at the hotel for lunch. Having the car really helped that as there was not much choice for eating out with a lot of places closed in the area so driving into nearby towns was nice, we did attend in April, in season may be different. We only had two dinners at the onsite restaurant. Our son has a dairy allergy, and options were limited; for instance, they couldn’t make a pizza without cheese, and the burger buns contained milk. We improvised by buying dairy-free burger buns from the shop and asking for a burger to be cooked with no bun. Eating out worked better for us overall, and for an occasional treat, McDonald’s and Burger King are a 10-minute drive (or delivery via their app—great for the kids!). I did order an Indian one night via Just Eat and was being messaged in Spanish! , a quick trip to reception who phoned the restaurant for me and explained where my apartment was resolved the drama! Pools and Activities The main pool was refreshing in April, though a bit chilly at first, while the kids’ pool was warmer and ideal for our youngest, who had just started walking. The pool is very deep at the deepest point, so much so if your 6 your old drops your goggles its a challenge to swim down and get them back. there is shallow sections and the deep section is clearly barriered off with signs advising. The on-site bar offered happy hours for cocktails and allowed guests to bring drinks back to the pool—a convenient option I often used. They also showed football matches and allowed table reservations. Our 6-year-old loved the kids' club. He made plenty of friends and attended daily. The staff were fantastic and worked tirelessly to keep the kids entertained. Evening entertainment was minimal (a live singer at most), but we knew this in advance and appreciated the quieter atmosphere. Departure and Late Checkout Unfortunately, late checkout wasn’t available as the hotel advised me there are consistently full. We stored our luggage at reception and used the complimentary "room" near the kids’ club after enjoying a final few hours by the pool. However, the “room” was essentially a wet room/toilet with a lock and operated on a first-come, first-served basis—not ideal for those with late flights. No mirror, hairdrier etc My wife and I opted to rinse off in the poolside showers instead, which worked fine for us but might be inconvenient for others. Final Thoughts Overall, it was a fantastic family getaway in the sun. The clean, spacious apartment, great kids' facilities, and relaxed atmosphere made for a memorable trip. We’d happily return—especially if the price is right! Next time we would opt for a two bedroom villa just to have a little more space and separate sleeping for the children not the youngest is out of a cot.