REVIEWS


GRAN MELIA PALACIO DE ISORA Tenerife, Spain


LOCATION: Situated on Tenerife’s tranquil west coast – away from many of the island’s more touristy areas – Gran Meliá Palacio de Isora is a half-hour drive from Tenerife South airport.


FIRST IMPRESSIONS: This gargantuan resort feels quite imposing on arrival. After clambering from our car, we were whisked from the main reception and taken to a ‘RedLevel’ space – an area dedicated to those who upgrade for a more premium experience. I’d suggest Ìhi «Ào«iÀÌÞ ià moÀi voÕÀ-ÃÌ>À Ìh>n wÛi] LiV>ÕÃi Ãomi areas feel a little dated, although many fans of Tenerife will appreciate its grand design and Moorish features.


THE FACTS: The choice at this 579-room resort is im«ÀiÃÃiÛi\ iÌ Lo>ÃÌà £x ÀiÃÌ>ÕÀ>nÌà >n` L>Àà >n` wÛi swimming pools, including what is surely the largest hotel pool in Europe, spanning almost the 400-metre length of the property. Our favourite dining option was Italian trattoria L’Olio, located in the hotel’s Plaza Atlántica. Other options include Mexican-inspired Agave; French eatery Le Bistrot Provençal; Asian fusion Nami Asian Bistro; and Basque/ American steakhouse Duo. The Clarins spa is divine – I thoroughly enjoyed a customised pregnancy massage here. The aforementioned RedLevel service grants guests access to a special lounge, an exclusive breakfast space and one complimentary tennis or padel court session per day, among oÌhiÀ LiniwÌð /hi ,i` iÛil ovviÀin} >imà Ìo Li moÀi personal and tailored, and this is certainly how it felt during my stay, as we had access to team members via WhatsApp each day to book restaurants and spa treatments.


IDEAL FOR: Families will feel completely at home here. The children’s splash park, complete with pirate ships and a play area, was always a hive of activity, even during our stay in January. From the sweets bar at breakfast to the impressive kids’ club, there’s something for youngsters of all ages. Don’t worry, though – there are also numerous adult-only areas. Agents should be mindful that this hotel is


Ài>llÞ > }oo`-«iÀvoÀmin} voÕÀ À>ÌhiÀ Ìh>n wÛi-ÃÌ>À o«Ìion] Ão i̽à `iwniÌilÞ noÌ voÀ `im>n`in}] hi}h-niÌ-ÜoÀÌh VliinÌð


EXPLORE: A stroll down the coastal promenade was a daily occurrence. Within a couple of minutes, you reach natural ÀoVk «oolà >n` > Ll>Vk-Ã>n` Li>Vh° /hi loV>l wÃhin} Ûill>}i ov ƂlV>l? V>n >lÃo Li Ài>Vhi` on vooÌ° /o iÝ«loÀi v>ÀÌhiÀ >wil`] hire a car and head to Los Gigantes, a 10-minute drive away.


WOW: The food was exquisite, while the gigantic pool was a hit with our son, who said it was “as big as the whole sea”.


BOOK IT: A night in a Two Bedroom Master Suite leads in at £586 during peak season.


MELIA.COM Hollie-Rae Brader


118 ASPIRE MARCH 2025


aspiretravelclub.co.uk


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