The Ritz-Carlton, Abama hotel review: Fun in sunny Tenerife

In a nutshell: The stylish set’s choice in the Canary Islands, with architecture like an exotic palace, great restaurants and enough breathing space for all.

The neighbourhood

Tenerife is known for year-round, budget-friendly holidays, but its wild west coast has swathes of craggy volcanic rock unbothered by anything other than cacti, succulents and the odd banana plantation. Here, in Guia de Isora, is where you’ll find the Ritz-Carlton, Abama – a terracotta-hued cluster of palatial, Moroccan-style buildings trimmed with serene infinity pools and manicured tropical gardens. It’s less than a 30-minute drive from Tenerife South Airport, served by several affordable flights per day, but far enough removed from the “Brits Abroad” Canaries scene many picture when they think of the island.

The vibe

The baking Canaries climate converges with palm trees, banana trees, hibiscus bushes and North African architecture to end up feeling akin to Morocco or Dubai. Being a golf and spa resort, with 400+ rooms, it’s not boutique – but great care has been taken to make sure everyone has enough space to enjoy themselves. That goes for the nine food and drink venues, including multiple breakfast zones, nine swimming pools and the sizeable hotel beach at the bottom of its clifftop setting. The Abama attracts a gym-fit, camera-ready crowd, including golf-loving older couples and plenty of young families, who love the mini motorised train to and from the beach, as well as the Ritz Kids Club. The swish restaurants and high-end design means this is a place to dress up for dinner.

Bed and bath

Rooms may play it safe on the decor front – think soothing tones of sand, dove grey and cream to offset the bright-salmon exterior of the building – but they’re cool and comfy, with generous balconies and living areas. Huge sunken tubs and ‘his and hers’ sinks satisfy the luxury crowd in bathrooms, while soft towelling robes and Nespresso coffee machines will delight the business crowd. Little touches, such as light-up make-up mirrors, mineral water in glass bottles and mosaic-tiled balcony tables, all up the luxe factor.

Food and drink

This isn’t just a pretty face – the RCA has not one but two Michelin-starred restaurants to tick off during your stay. The first, two-Michelin-starred M.B, serves deluxe Basque cuisine dreamt up by Martin…