Sol Puerto De La Cruz Tenerife

Room 312 had a bathroom ceiling leak on our second-to-last day. With the strong urine smell, I suspect it was coming from the toilet in the room above. We told reception straight away, but nothing was done. We ended up laying towels on the floor and more or less going without a bathroom for a day. The shared spaces, including the lobby and pool, look clean and new. The maids and restaurant staff were fantastic and did a great job. But the rooms are awful: very dated, with scratched floors and chipped old furniture, so they never felt properly clean. The location is pretty good, with bars and restaurants about a ten-minute walk away and Loro parque zoo around twenty minutes in the other direction. Facilities are limited to the pool and bar. Nightly entertainment is usually a singer with a Casio keyboard. The food is fresh and good, though it can get repetitive. If you stick to English food on holiday, you might struggle a bit, but I enjoyed it.

The room faced outward, with a football pitch right in front, and the bathroom window wouldn't close properly, so outside temperatures came through. The rooms and bathroom felt dated, and some things pictured in the booking photos weren't there. Breakfast was okay, but the croissants didn't seem fresh, and clearer labels on all the food would help guests know what they're having. We chose this four-star hotel as our Tenerife base expecting the usual Meliá Hotels International standard. It didn't meet that expectation and felt more like a two- or three-star stay at best.

The pool and palms were kept in good shape, and in May we had plenty of sun loungers. From our room we had a glorious view of the sea, beach, and sports grounds. The beds were extremely comfortable, and as someone who usually wakes at the slightest noise, I slept better here than anywhere else abroad. It was silent. The shower and bath had great pressure and the water could get very hot. We came back from a week here and had a wonderful time. We arrived around midnight because of our flights, and staff had left us dinner, which was a lovely touch. The hotel was spotless, with meticulous daily cleaning, even on the balcony railings. Reception, bar, restaurant, and housekeeping staff were all friendly and very helpful. The location is fantastic. Half board gave us plenty of varied choices for breakfast, dinner, and dessert. Dinner drinks cost extra, but coffee and sparkling water were €2, exceptionally cheap compared with UK prices, so I don't understand the complaints about that. The decor, rooms, and furniture aren't at a four-star standard, but at this price compared with other true four-star options, that shouldn't come as a surprise. A little music in the bar or pool area would be nice, and the paint around room light fittings needs touching up. The cracked balcony chairs should also be replaced. We'd happily stay again.

The location was a real plus, about a ten-minute stroll from the main square, with lots of bars and restaurants nearby. The inland-facing, south-facing balcony had a great view of the hills and Teide whenever it wasn't cloudy. Breakfast had enough variety for everyone, and the large bar hosted nightly entertainment from a guy with a keyboard and backing track. Mothering Sunday brought music and some elderly dancing, which made for a fun evening. The room is three-star at best, but don't let that put you off. If you want a chic, modern place with five-star facilities and standards, €55 a night won't get you that. The hotel is a bit dated and my room needed a makeover, but the bed was very comfortable and everything was clean. They serviced the room daily except Sunday.