01 Jun Where to Stay in Tenerife – Honest Experience After Two Long Trips
After finishing the main Tenerife guide, I started working on the next important article: where to stay on the island and how to choose the right area depending on your travel style.
The first time we arrived in Tenerife, we chose to stay in the south of the island. We had never been there before and, honestly, for a first visit it was probably the easiest and most comfortable option possible.
We landed at the southern airport, picked up the car and after about 20–25 minutes of driving we were already at the hotel, without long roads, mountain curves or the exhaustion that sometimes comes after a flight.
Out of all the places we later stayed in across Tenerife, this accommodation in the south remains probably the best one in terms of comfort and facilities.
Gara Suites Golf & Spa
The complex itself was built almost in a U-shape or circular layout, with all the apartments facing inward. In the middle there was a large common area with a swimming pool, sunbeds, palm trees and an outdoor bar. Everything had that classic resort holiday atmosphere where you could easily spend entire days without feeling the need to leave.
The apartment was huge. It was basically made up of two separate rooms: a large living room with a TV and sofa, plus a separate bedroom. Each room had its own balcony facing the pool area.
At first we were slightly worried because of that. We thought evenings would probably be noisy, with music, people staying late at the bar and generally poor sleep.
Surprisingly, during all nine days we spent there, we had absolutely no issues with noise. The atmosphere was calm, relaxing and much more civilized than we initially expected.
And the bathroom… the bathroom was absurdly large. I honestly think it was bigger than my bedroom back home and I’m not exaggerating at all. Even now I still don’t understand why it was that big. It literally felt like another room entirely.
The entire apartment was very clean and, honestly, we had nothing to complain about from that point of view. Everything felt properly maintained and even after nine days there we never had that feeling you sometimes get in heavily used tourist hotels.
Parking was available in a specially arranged semi-covered area next to the complex and it was paid separately. There was also the option of trying to find free parking on the nearby streets, but we personally preferred the convenience. We would simply walk past the pool area or take a small detour around the complex just to get a few extra steps in and within minutes we were at the car in the hotel garage.
After many hours spent driving around Tenerife, especially during long exploration days, this type of detail honestly starts to matter more than you would think.
The hotel is located near a golf course and the area has a lot of greenery and a much calmer atmosphere compared to the main tourist crowds in Playa de las Américas.
It is not directly on the beach and you do have to walk a bit to reach the main Las Américas area, but we personally had no problem doing that. At the same time, the fact that it was slightly removed from the center actually made the experience much more relaxing and far less chaotic.
Another important advantage is the location itself for exploring the island. You can get onto the highway extremely quickly and, if your plan is to see as much of Tenerife as possible and take daily trips around the island, the south works extremely well as a logistical base.
I think we probably found some kind of special offer at the time because the price was incredibly good. In fact, we were never able to find anything similar afterward in the south of Tenerife.
And that was actually one of the main reasons why, the second time we visited Tenerife, we ended up staying in the north instead.
Our initial plan was to split the holiday: two weeks in the south and two weeks in the north in order to experience both areas properly. But once we started searching for accommodation for such a long period, prices in the south had become almost absurdly expensive.
Meanwhile, in the north we found many more good and affordable options. In the end, our entire 21-day accommodation cost in the north was probably cheaper than one single week in a similar hotel in the south.
Going back to this hotel though, I think the thing that impressed us the most was the breakfast.
It was served in a massive dining hall and honestly it was probably one of the largest and most varied breakfast buffets we have ever experienced. And I say this even though we have stayed in all-inclusive resorts in Egypt and in many other large hotels.
The entire space was organized around different food stations and islands where people could choose whatever they wanted. One thing we particularly appreciated was the fact that they even had dedicated sections for vegetarians or people who do not eat meat, something you do not always see everywhere.
The variety was honestly impressive. From eggs, fruit and yogurts to hot meals, desserts, local products and all kinds of combinations that you probably would not even manage to try during a short stay.
And the fact that everything was essentially unlimited turned breakfast into an experience of its own.
Still, we tried not to overdo it. Ironically, even though we were on vacation, we had recently started a fitness and weight loss program, so we preferred to keep breakfast relatively simple: eggs, fruit, yogurt and a few lighter things before heading out to explore the island.
When everything is taken into account, honestly, we have almost nothing negative to say about this accommodation and I can easily recommend it to anyone wanting to stay in the south of Tenerife.
The apartment was large, comfortable and very well suited for a longer stay. The bed was big and comfortable, the balcony was spacious enough to sit outside peacefully in the evenings after spending the day driving around Tenerife and the overall atmosphere of the complex was surprisingly calm.
And I say that even though all the rooms faced the pool area. We honestly expected noise, music and constant activity, but the real experience turned out to be the exact opposite.
The cleanliness throughout the stay was very good and at no point did the place feel tired or poorly maintained, something that sometimes happens in highly touristic areas.
As for breakfast, the experience was genuinely excellent. Probably one of the best and most varied buffets we have experienced during our travels.
From what I remember, there was also a half-board option available for people interested in that type of package. Personally, we prefer eating as much as possible in local restaurants and trying different places around the island, but I completely understand why this type of setup could be ideal for certain travelers.
Especially for people visiting Tenerife purely for relaxation, families, older travelers or simply tourists who, after a long day of exploring, no longer feel like searching for restaurants in the evening.
In those situations, having access to a large meal, plenty of variety and everything conveniently available inside the hotel becomes a major advantage.
Overall, clearly a very solid option for anyone looking for a comfortable base in the south of Tenerife.
Hotel Casa del Sol
The second time we arrived in Tenerife, we ran into a small problem — and not necessarily because of the length of the trip itself, but also because we wanted to spend both Christmas and New Year’s Eve on the island.
Which, as you can probably imagine, pushed accommodation prices extremely high.
At first, we wanted to return to the south and stay in the same place we had already experienced during our first trip. But the absolutely outrageous prices eventually pushed us to move the entire base of the holiday to the north instead.
Now, looking back, I honestly think we got incredibly lucky because the next time we return to Tenerife, we will almost certainly stay only in the north again.
What we ended up doing was booking 21 days of accommodation and splitting them into two parts: 7 days at Hotel Casa del Sol and the following 14 days in another hotel.
The route itself was simple. We landed in Tenerife South Airport, picked up the rental car and drove roughly one hour to one hour and a half toward Puerto de la Cruz.
We probably would have arrived earlier, but unfortunately we landed exactly during rush hour. Around Santa Cruz there was heavy traffic, congestion and long lines of cars.
Under normal conditions the drive should not take that long and we know that from our own experience after repeatedly driving from north to south and back again during our Tenerife trips.
The hotel itself felt more like an older-style building rather than a modern resort. We checked in, left the car in a parking area lower down near the hotel and, from what I remember, parking was available directly through the hotel for a daily fee.
There honestly are not that many dramatic things to say about the accommodation itself. We felt good there, the room was large enough, the bathroom was perfectly fine and overall the experience was comfortable.
In terms of cleanliness, it definitely did not reach the level of the first accommodation we stayed at in the south, but at the same time it never felt dirty or unpleasant. It was still absolutely fine for us.
One thing we really liked was the very large terrace we had access to. Above us, the hotel had a rooftop pool and during the day you could occasionally hear people swimming or spending time there. In the evenings though, I think the pool closed around 7 PM or something similar, so noise never became an issue.
The terrace itself was honestly one of the nicest parts of the stay. From there we could see the ocean, parts of Puerto de la Cruz and the general atmosphere of the city below.
If I had to mention a downside, it would probably be the location relative to the city center. Technically, yes, you can walk into Puerto de la Cruz, but personally I do not really see why we would have done that regularly because the distance becomes tiring quite quickly, especially after a long day of exploring.
We almost always preferred using the car. We would drive into town, park somewhere, explore the city or go on day trips around the island and then return to the hotel in the evening.
As for the staff, absolutely nothing negative to mention. Just like with the first accommodation, everyone was friendly and everything went smoothly throughout the stay.
Overall, I honestly do not know if I would necessarily stay here again. We felt perfectly fine and the experience itself was absolutely okay, but I think today we would probably try finding something slightly closer to the center of Puerto de la Cruz.
I know we previously had some unpleasant experiences with heavily commercial tourist accommodations in places like Albufeira in the Algarve, but Puerto de la Cruz feels completely different.
The atmosphere is calmer, the tourists are different, the city feels more relaxed and authentic and because of that I do not think staying closer to the center would create the same kind of problems we experienced elsewhere.
To sum everything up, the hotel honestly helped us a lot and we are genuinely grateful for the price we managed to get, especially considering the period we traveled during.
Puerto de la Cruz is much hillier than many people probably expect and the hotel itself was positioned higher up, which meant that getting back on foot often involved a long uphill walk.
And sometimes, after an entire day spent exploring the island, walking through towns, driving around Tenerife or sitting somewhere at a terrace in the evening, the last thing you really feel like doing is walking another 3–5 kilometers uphill just to get back to the hotel.
That was probably the main downside for us.
Other than that though, honestly, we do not really have anything negative to say about the place itself.
Coral Teide Mar
The final stop of our second trip to Tenerife was Coral Teide Mar, where we spent around 14 or 15 nights.
Just like some of the other accommodations we stayed at on the island, Coral Teide Mar is built as a large apartment complex arranged in a sort of L or U shape — honestly I no longer remember the exact layout — with a central area containing a swimming pool, sunbeds, a small bar and spaces designed for relaxing in the sun.
Before getting into the actual experience, I should mention one important thing.
After our very first night there, we asked to be moved to another room.
And honestly, we were extremely lucky that another apartment happened to be available because I genuinely do not think we could have survived two full weeks in the original one.
The first apartment was located on one of the lower floors facing the main street and directly underneath there was a sports bar that seemed to be very popular with tourists who enjoyed beer, football and late-night matches.
On evenings when games were playing, the atmosphere outside became extremely loud and the noise continued well into the night.
Thankfully, after the first night we managed to move to another apartment positioned on the opposite side of the complex and from that moment onward we had absolutely no issues for the rest of the stay.
The apartment itself was large, the bathroom was spacious, the bed was comfortable and overall the room felt very good for a longer stay.
We also had a balcony where we spent many mornings preparing sandwiches, drinking coffee and getting ready for the day trips we constantly took around Tenerife.
I think that by that point we had already realized something important about the way we travel.
In almost all our trips — especially in destinations with warm weather, ocean views and slower evenings — we really prefer accommodations with balconies.
Being able to sit outside in the evening, open a bottle of wine, relax quietly or simply recover after an entire day of driving and exploring genuinely changes the entire experience.
It feels completely different compared to simply sitting inside the room or lying in bed.
The balcony adds something extra to the trip.
As for the staff, everything was perfectly fine and we honestly have nothing negative to say. Everyone was friendly and helpful throughout the stay.
In terms of cleanliness, the apartment was definitely cleaner than Casa del Sol. I still do not think it reached the same level as the very first accommodation we stayed at in Tenerife, but overall we really had nothing to complain about.
Parking was probably the trickiest part of the entire stay.
The reason is simple: parking around the hotel was completely public, which basically meant you had to constantly look for available spots.
I have never really felt comfortable during trips leaving the car absolutely anywhere and simply hoping for the best afterward. I know there are people who park on sidewalks, in forbidden areas or directly in front of gates without thinking too much about it, but I personally could never do that.
Because of that, we sometimes ended up parking 300–400 meters away from the hotel and if we later noticed a better free spot closer to the accommodation, we would quickly move the car there.
So, in theory, that was probably the main inconvenience of the place: you may spend a bit of time rotating around the area looking for parking.
Another important thing to mention is the hotel’s position relative to Puerto de la Cruz itself.
To reach the city center on foot, you have to go quite far downhill using stairs and steep streets. At one point you even pass by the famous Agatha Christie stairs before finally reaching the center.
For us, this was never really a problem. We actually managed to do the route two or even three times per day without issues.
But realistically speaking, if you are older, out of shape or simply not comfortable with walking uphill regularly, this could become exhausting quite quickly because returning to the hotel means climbing a significant amount back up again.
Technically, there are alternative roads that avoid some of the stairs and steep sections, but I think taking those routes would probably make the walk even longer overall.
Now we also have to be completely honest and look at things exactly as they are.
When you stay somewhere for only 5 or 7 days, it probably makes more sense to choose accommodation closer to the center. Yes, you may pay a slightly higher price, but in exchange you are on level ground, closer to restaurants, closer to the promenade and you avoid a lot of unnecessary effort.
Puerto de la Cruz, however, felt genuinely crowded to me.
Because of that, you always need to pay attention to parking and whether the hotel offers private parking or not.
I remember one evening when we tried going to a restaurant and we literally spent around 5 or 6 full loops driving around a small area of maybe five streets because there was absolutely no parking space available anywhere.
In the end, we parked far away and walked roughly one and a half kilometers back.
So yes, parking in Puerto de la Cruz can absolutely become a real issue.
Hotels like Coral Teide Mar or Casa del Sol probably make more sense for travelers staying longer periods of time — people spending multiple weeks on the island rather than short vacations.
Because when you stay longer, distance starts to matter less psychologically.
One evening you take the car into town, another evening maybe you stay near the hotel, another day you come back exhausted directly from a road trip around the island and simply rest.
But when you only have 5 days and every day is carefully planned because you are trying to see as much as possible, then things become a bit trickier.
For long-term stays though, I honestly think the most important thing becomes the balance between comfort, price and practicality.
The place needs to be clean. Hot water needs to work properly. You need reasonably accessible parking without walking one and a half kilometers every night carrying bags or equipment.
But price also matters enormously.
For example, during our 2024–2025 trip, we paid somewhere around 8,000 lei total for 21 nights of accommodation in the north, which was roughly around 1,800 euros.
Meanwhile, the first hotel we had originally wanted in the south cost around 14,000 lei for only 7 nights — almost 3,000 euros.
You can probably imagine what we were able to do with the money difference afterward.
I think this is probably the most important conclusion when everything is taken into account.
If you are visiting Tenerife for only seven days and your hotel includes parking, then it probably makes sense to choose something more central in order to avoid those extra kilometers of walking every single day.
But when you start talking about longer stays — two weeks, three weeks or even an entire month — these accommodations located slightly farther away from the center suddenly become much more attractive financially.
At that point, the difference in price can become massive and the trade-off starts making a lot more sense.
Now that we have finished the accommodation part of the Tenerife series, the next articles will focus on things like perfect days around the island, food, traditional dishes and many other experiences from our trips through Tenerife.
Final Accommodation Checklist – Honest Practical Notes
Internet / Wi-Fi
All three accommodations had good Wi-Fi and we honestly had no major problems with the internet during the stay.
Kitchen
The first and the third accommodations definitely had useful kitchens and enough space to prepare basic meals, sandwiches or breakfast before day trips.
For Casa del Sol, I honestly do not remember clearly enough and I would rather not say something inaccurate. I will probably double check older photos before confirming that part.
Supermarkets Nearby
None of the accommodations had a supermarket that I would personally describe as “very close” or conveniently nearby on foot.
This was never a dramatic issue because we had a car the entire time, but it is something worth mentioning.
Air Conditioning
All accommodations had air conditioning.
Beds / Sleeping Comfort
The best beds were definitely in the first and the third accommodations.
At Casa del Sol, we wanted a proper double bed, but instead ended up with two smaller beds pushed together, which was noticeably less comfortable for sleeping.
Elevators
All three accommodations had elevators, so stairs inside the hotels themselves were never a problem.
Is Tenerife Worth Visiting Without a Car?
Honestly, this depends a lot on your travel style.
At first, we actually considered renting a car for only part of the trip. But eventually we realized that without a car we would constantly feel tied either to the beach areas or to public transportation schedules.
And Tenerife is simply too spectacular as an island to experience it that way.
Having a car completely changes the experience. You can leave whenever you want, explore mountain roads, stop in random villages, visit beaches, viewpoints, restaurants or simply improvise your days.
And surprisingly, long-term rentals can be extremely affordable.
I remember that for 21 days we paid somewhere around 700 euros including full insurance coverage, which honestly felt more than reasonable for the freedom it gave us.
For us, renting a car in Tenerife was absolutely worth the investment.
We will definitely return to Tenerife for a third time as well. Whether it will happen this year or next year, we still do not know for sure, because the world is large and there are many beautiful places left to explore.
But one thing is absolutely certain: when we return, we will choose the north again.
There is absolutely no doubt about that.
Maybe we still do not know exactly which hotel we will stay in, but Puerto de la Cruz will definitely be the first place where we start looking for accommodation.
I will write a few more articles on the blog and hopefully through them you will understand why Puerto de la Cruz became such a special place for us, filled with beautiful memories and a place we genuinely want to return to.
I honestly do not see that changing anytime soon.
We explored the island from top to bottom, and both of us simply liked the north more.
And Puerto de la Cruz itself — the people, the cafés, the restaurants, the city atmosphere, the small harbor, the churros, the morning barraquito coffees — all of these things represent so many memories for us.
And honestly, we do not really see why we would stay somewhere else unless there was an absolutely massive difference financially.
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