RF San Borondon

We booked a superior double room and a studio. The studio was in a separate building and felt a little disconnected from the main hotel, but it had the appliances and everything we needed except oil and salt. Our other room overlooked the pool and ocean. There are several buildings, so even though the hotel was full, it didn't feel crowded. The grounds were gorgeous, with palms, a lovely building and pool. Staff were friendly and helpful, and they coordinated our transfers among themselves. The rooms were tidied daily. The location was convenient for the centre and beach, and quiet despite nearby shops, restaurants and people staying out late. The hotel arranged transfers to and from the South airport. We enjoyed our stay and would like to return, but there are a few things that could be improved. A regular hand soap would be better than a bar, which made a mess around the sink. Our sink was blocked when we arrived and clogged again during the stay. The pool shower area looked old and dirty, and the floors needed a proper clean. With a crawling baby, we could see the dirt left behind. There wasn't a lot, but a mop would have helped. The biggest disappointment was the trip to Teide. It took three people to book it, and once on the bus we were told the cable cars might not be working because of the weather. They could have explained before booking that there was a chance we wouldn't get close to the volcano. We were told the tour would take around 4-5 hours, but it took over six. That would have been okay if we'd known, so we could plan food and things for the baby and whoever was looking after her. The tour itself was educational, and the guide told us about the island, its plants and animals. I wouldn't recommend taking a baby to the volcano because the road to the top has dangerous turns. I'd definitely take a motion sickness pill, as the road zigzags for an hour.

The stay was okay in December, though the facilities felt dated. Showering was difficult because the hot-water pressure on the second floor was much lower than I'd expect at a hotel with this rating. I told reception about it the same day. I lowered the service rating to be fair.

Three days after our free-cancellation deadline, we had an unexpected family emergency and had to cancel or postpone the trip. We contacted reception to explain and ask if our dates could be changed. The reply was brief: change it through booking or cancel. Booking said our room wasn't available on the new dates, so I asked whether any other rooms were free, but got no answer. I then tried to change to a shorter stay, the only option available for our room, and they cancelled the request without another message or explanation. We know they weren't obliged to help, but we expected at least some empathy or a possible solution that wouldn't hurt their business. It left us feeling they cared about money more than customers.

A quiet, good-value hotel with a very large room and terrace, great staff and good amenities. Breakfast at the restaurant was great, but dinner was mediocre. There were lots of choices, but the meat and fish weren't very tasty. Everything seemed to lack seasoning, and at 20 EUR per person it didn't feel worth the price.