Parque de las Americas

Our first stay at this hotel went well, but the second was awful. While my wife was asleep and I was on the balcony, someone climbed through the window in broad daylight and took her purse and my wallet. We hadn't left the apartment that day. When we reported it, the manager smirked, called the story ridiculous and suggested we'd left our things somewhere, basically treating us as liars. The only people who had entered were the cleaner and maintenance worker. We got no help from the manager, who didn't arrive until the next morning, and was rude and seemingly indifferent. We called the police ourselves and went to the station the next morning. The manager wouldn't show us the CCTV. The police caught the culprit and we got our belongings back, but the way the check-in staff and manager at parque de las americas treated us was disgusting. We'll never stay there again. If something happens, don't expect support, they may blame you too.

The rooms are lovely and clean, though air conditioning would help. We struggled with the steps to the apartment until we bought a car park key, which let us avoid them. We were a party of 17, including five autistic children and one diabetic, so buying every meal wasn't practical. Yet although this is a self-catering holiday, the complex wouldn't let us bring our own food or drinks to the pool, saying they wanted to avoid bugs. You had to buy from the pool bar, which could attract bugs too. Going back to the apartment wasn't practical either, as it meant climbing at least 50 steps. If you left your lounger for 30 minutes, staff removed your towel. One day the bar was struggling with the number of guests, and when we tried to order, the man shouted at us to come back in ten minutes. We didn't use the bar again. One receptionist was unhelpful, and when we told her about how we'd been spoken to, she just shrugged and said there was nothing she could do. Reception also sent us letters on three days: for not locking the door while I was next door in my daughter's apartment as the maids cleaned, and twice for not parking the mobility scooter properly in its space. We arrived at 7 pm with three people to a room but bedding for only one bed. Reception said we'd have to wait until morning for sheets for the sofa bed, so we spent the first night without sheets or pillows. The next day they asked me to confirm the number of people, even though there were four beds and I wanted four pillows. The receptionist abruptly insisted there were only three people in the room, so there was bedding for three. This place kept us on edge. Look elsewhere if you want a relaxing holiday.

The location is handy, close to the beach and between Costa Adeje and Playa de las Americas. Turn left outside for a small spar supermarket; to the right is a larger one a little farther on. We picked up cheese, ham and bread for toasties, plus some good fresh pastries. We enjoyed meals along the beachfront, including good paella and bargain food at Bora Bora, where a pint was €1.50. Farther along are quieter, pricier restaurants. The curry house to the right of the hotel was delicious and reasonably priced. We might return, though perhaps somewhere more central to Adeje or Playa de las Americas. Reception staff were friendly, helpful and accommodating. The grounds are well maintained, and some people in our group got to watch parrots in the palm trees. We didn't try the steak house at the front, but the food looked fabulous. The pool bar is separate from the hotel; its boss acted like a bully and seemed to think he could change the hotel's rules to make guests buy his food. You can bring your own food and drinks to the loungers, but the tables and chairs are only for bar customers. Prices were fair and the basic food was okay. The pool is open 10-6, and that felt restrictive, especially with it closing at 6 pm. It slopes to around 6.5 feet in the middle. The lifeguard allowed some ball games while making clear not to bother other guests. Our half-board package covered breakfast and dinner. The restaurant was big enough to manage busy times with little queueing, and the food quality and choice were perfectly acceptable. The staff were friendly, helpful and quickly seemed to learn our preferences. There should be a couple more hot water or coffee machines, though, since waits for a hot drink could be long. The apartment was clean, spacious and well equipped. There was no air conditioning, but ceiling fans were enough for us in April; in midsummer, we'd need to rent air conditioning. The kitchen had a full-size fridge-freezer, two hobs, microwave and toaster, and washing-up liquid was provided. The sofa bed wasn't comfortable to sleep on, though fine as a sofa. There was a TV with analogue channels, a small table and chairs, and a balcony overlooking a walkway and garden with a pull-out clothes airer. The bathroom had a good shower, mirror, hairdryer, lighting and storage, but hot water was often hard to get. The bedroom bed was comfortable, and the double sliding wardrobe had about ten hangers. The safe was in the wardrobe, costing around €20 plus a €10 deposit. Some apartments have two balconies and three floors, while others are at the back of the complex, so it's pot luck. Those back apartments involve steps and require good mobility. For a €10 deposit, you can get a back-gate key and walk around the outside on a short, gentle incline to reach the highest apartments without climbing all the steps. As usual, they seem like they'd charge for fresher air or warmer weather if they could.

I've booked again for next year, and this is my second time here. The staff are nice, the apartments are clean and fabulous, and I can't fault much else. They're close to the beach and shops. The only real drawback is no air conditioning: the ceiling fans aren't great, though you can rent a fan. I also find the pool closing at 6 pm too early in peak season. Las Américas seemed less clean than it used to and has gone downhill, or maybe I'm just getting too old for that sort of thing.