p26-28_ttg_lux_tenerife 27/11/09 14:57 Page 26
TENERIFE
TURNS A
NEW LEAF
Wine-tasting, spas, suites, gastronomy, quaint
seaside towns and the highest mountain in Spain
– does this sound like the Tenerife of old? The
agents on the latest ttgluxury Experience didn’t
think so either. April Hutchinson joined them
Heading to
cultural positioning and the charms of
towns such as Garachico, Puerto de la
the warmer climes of the Canary island of Cruz and La Orotava, part of the verdant
Tenerife was just the tonic the latest group Orotava Valley in the north of Tenerife.
of ttgluxury Experience agents needed to Yet many in travel would still have it
escape the impending UK winter gloom. pegged as a place for timeshare and cheap
Even more enticing was the prospect package holidays. That is where Tenerife
of fine dining, local culture, spa visits, made its bread and butter, but there is
wine-tasting and time to relax in some of now much more to this ancient isle than
the island’s finest five-star hotels. meets the eye.
Tenerife has increasingly been pitching perception of Tenerife was one of a place
itself as a more upmarket proposition, Changing perceptions for just sun – a good choice for a short-
with the evolution of Costa Adeje in the Karen Milbourn, from Spear Travels in haul winter destination and a favourite for
south of the island, capital Santa Cruz’s Upminster, said: “Over the years my the 18-30 age group during the summer,
especially Playa de las Americas. Beyond
this, my knowledge was limited.
“My perception of Tenerife has now
changed completely and I am confident to
sell it as a luxury destination.
“The hotels are outstanding and offer
a wide range of facilities to cater for all
tastes. You can be as active or as lazy as
you like, with superb golf courses and
beaches, and interesting sightseeing.”
The island is now home to more
five-star hotels than Barcelona and its
impressive properties include Ritz-
Carlton’s Abama and Gran Hotel Bahia
del Duque – the group spent two nights
at each – as well as Gran Melia Palacio de
Isora, the company’s new flagship.
Above (clockwise, from
The island also has plenty to do away
main): Abama; Mount
Teide; the Plaza Atlantica
from the beach, including Spain’s highest
restaurant at Gran
peak, Unesco-listed Mount Teide, an
Melia Palacio de Isora
other-worldly landscape that is a
Left: Gran Hotel Bahia complete contrast to the rest of the island.
26
del Duque Warner Bros has even filmed the remake
agent report
winter 09 ttgluxury.com
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