My Second Chapter of Five-Star Tenerife

Image credits: The Ritz-Carlton Tenerife, Abama website

Part one was about slowing down and settling into the island. Part two is about variety. Because Tenerife doesn’t do luxury in just one way - it offers completely different moods depending on where you stay and how you choose to spend your time.

This second part focuses on more five-star hotels I stayed in across the island, each with its own rhythm, personality, and idea of what rest should feel like. Some places are about space and silence, others about energy, movement, and being close to the ocean. And that’s what makes Tenerife so interesting - you can shift gears without ever leaving the island.

November is still the sweet spot. Warm days, softer light, fewer crowds, and hotels that finally get the chance to breathe. Service feels more personal, spaces feel calmer, and you’re not competing for sunbeds or spa slots. It’s when five-star living actually feels five-star.

This blog is a continuation of that experience - not a ranking, not a checklist, but a look at how different hotels shape different versions of the same trip. Because in Tenerife, where you stay doesn’t just affect your sleep. It changes how the island shows up to you.

How I Choose a 5-Star Hotel I’ve Never Stayed In

Before I ever book a five-star hotel I haven’t been to, I look at a few very specific things - and surprisingly, none of them are the star rating itself.

First, I look at real photos, not just the polished ones on the website. I scroll through recent guest photos and focus on the boring stuff: pools at midday, breakfast rooms during peak hours, gyms, corridors. If those still look calm and spacious when they’re busy, that’s a very good sign.

Next, I read reviews, but very selectively. I ignore the extremes and focus on patterns. If multiple people mention the same thing - good or bad - I believe them. Especially when it comes to noise, crowding, service attitude, and cleanliness. One angry review doesn’t scare me. Ten people mentioning “felt crowded” absolutely does.

Then I check the layout of the hotel. Is it spread out or vertical? How many pools are there? Are there quiet zones or adults-only areas? You can usually tell if a hotel manages space well just by looking at the map and photos. If everything seems concentrated in one area, I know it might feel hectic.

I also look at what the hotel doesn’t advertise loudly. Gyms open 24 hours, included sports courts, wellness spaces, small details like water stations or shade areas. Hotels that quietly include these things usually care more about guest experience than marketing buzzwords.

Another thing I always check is location in context, not just distance. Beachfront is great, but can you walk anywhere? Are there cafés, a promenade, or somewhere to escape the hotel if you want a change of scenery? I like knowing I have options without needing a car.

Finally, I pay attention to the language the hotel uses. If everything sounds like it’s trying very hard to impress me, I get suspicious. If the tone feels calm, confident, and practical, it usually reflects how the place actually runs.

For me, choosing a five-star hotel is about reducing friction. I want to arrive and immediately relax, not adjust, negotiate, or compete for comfort. The right hotel makes that obvious before you even book it - if you know where to look.

Las Terrazas de Abama Suites

A Golfing Gem That Accidentally Became a Lifestyle

This was the hotel that made me realise I could very easily build an entire life around a golf course and never look back. Las Terrazas de Abama isn’t just a hotel - it’s a full-on luxury refuge where everything feels spacious, calm, and slightly unreal in the best possible way.

Set in Guía de Isora, surrounded by palm trees and subtropical gardens, the views alone do most of the work. Ocean on one side, the legendary Abama Golf course on the other, and La Gomera sitting on the horizon like it was placed there specifically for sunsets. It’s peaceful, exclusive, and very intentional. Nothing feels rushed here - including you.

The golf course itself deserves real respect. Recognised by Golf Digest Editors’ Choice as one of the best in Europe, it winds across the western slope of Mount Teide like a perfectly designed balcony over the Atlantic. Eighteen holes, dramatic elevations, immaculate greens, lakes, waterfalls, and more palm trees than I could count. Even if you’re not a golfer, watching people play here feels like a cinematic experience.

I stayed in a 1 Bedroom Suite with partial ocean views, and it was exactly the kind of space that makes you stop unpacking and just stand there for a second. The suite was 87 m², bright, calm, and beautifully designed. A big living and dining area, a king-size bed, an elegant en-suite bathroom with both bathtub and shower, and a fully equipped high-end kitchen - dishwasher, washing machine, dryer, oven, microwave, Nespresso machine, even an electric corkscrew. Yes, I noticed.

The terrace sealed the deal. Partial views of the Atlantic and the golf course, surrounded by greenery and palm trees, with that soft Tenerife air that makes time slow down without asking permission. It felt private, serene, and incredibly comfortable - like a hotel room that decided to be generous.

What I really loved was the balance. You get full access to the entire resort: restaurants, spa, pools, while still having the freedom of an apartment. Some meals out, some relaxed dinners at “home,” depending on the mood. That flexibility made the stay feel effortless rather than structured.

The shuttle service deserves a special mention. It runs around the resort and down to Abama Beach, and I never waited more than ten minutes. No stress, no planning, no long walks in the heat unless you want them. Small detail, huge quality-of-life upgrade.

Golf, Without the Commute (Which Changes Everything)

One thing I didn’t fully appreciate until I was there was how life-changing it is to have the golf course on site. No packing clubs into a car, no early alarms, no driving across the island hoping traffic behaves. You wake up, have breakfast, look outside and the course is just there. Calm, green, perfectly kept, waiting.

Playing at Abama Golf felt different because of that. The course itself is genuinely beautiful - dramatic elevations, immaculate greens, lakes and constant views over the Atlantic with La Gomera quietly sitting on the horizon. It’s technical enough to keep you focused, but so scenic that you sometimes forget to be competitive about it.

What really stayed with me was the rhythm. Golf became part of the day, not the main event you have to organise your whole schedule around. A round in the morning, a swim after, lunch somewhere on the resort, maybe the spa later.

Even just watching golfers move across the course from the terrace was relaxing. The setting is so well integrated into the resort that golf doesn’t feel separate - it feels like part of the lifestyle there. And honestly, once you experience golf this way, going back to driving an hour each way starts to feel a little unnecessary.

Then there’s the spa. Incredible. Calm, beautifully run, and paired with genuinely kind staff. Add heated infinity pools, live music on the lobby terrace in the evenings, lush gardens everywhere, and that constant feeling that everything is exactly where it should be, and you start to understand why people talk about this place the way they do.

What stayed with me most was the atmosphere. The staff were consistently warm, attentive, and professional. The temperature was perfect. The pace was perfect. The whole place felt like it was designed for people who appreciate space, quiet luxury, and doing things properly.

Las Terrazas de Abama isn’t loud about being five-star. It doesn’t need to be. It simply delivers - views, comfort, service, and a sense of calm that’s genuinely hard to replicate. A golfing hotel, yes… but also a place where luxury feels lived in, not performed.

Red Level at Gran Meliá Palacio de Isora - Adults Only, Finally

I didn’t realize how much I needed an adults-only hotel until I checked into Red Level at Gran Meliá Palacio de Isora. Something about walking into a place where everyone is quiet, unhurried, and clearly here to rest immediately puts your nervous system at ease. I swear my shoulders dropped about two centimeters at reception.

This part of Tenerife feels calmer already - near Alcalá, facing the Atlantic, with La Gomera floating on the horizon like a painting you forget is real. And then there’s Red Level itself, which feels less like a hotel and more like a very well-run sanctuary for people who are done being stressed.

I stayed in the Red Level area, and honestly, that’s where the magic is. Separate lounges, separate pools, separate breakfast spots - all designed for people who appreciate silence, space, and service that anticipates what you want before you say it out loud.

My Room: Red Level Deluxe

I stayed in a Red Level Deluxe room at Gran Meliá Palacio de Isora, and it felt calm, grounded, and quietly confident. Very much my kind of luxury.

The bedroom had a warm, earthy palette - dark wood, soft creams, touches of bronze. The bed was big, properly comfortable, and positioned so that mornings felt unhurried by default.

There was space to move, space to breathe, space to exist without bumping into furniture every five seconds. A small lounge area made it easy to sit down with a coffee and do absolutely nothing, which I fully embraced.

And then there was the bathroom - honestly, a highlight. Spacious, beautifully designed, and very spa-like. Double sinks (always a win) and a deep bathtub that practically invited long soaks. Warm lighting, textured walls, and dark stone details made it feel indulgent without being cold or clinical.

Pool Days That Quietly Disappear

The infinity pool is famous, and yes, it really is that impressive. Long, dramatic, facing the ocean, and somehow never chaotic. The Red Level pool especially felt sacred - calm water, wide spacing, and Balinese beds that are actually worth the money. Proper shade, proper comfort, no fighting for loungers, no awkward towel diplomacy.

I spent hours there doing very little. Reading. Swimming. Thinking about swimming. Thinking about lunch. This hotel is excellent at making time feel optional.

Pool service deserves a mention because it was genuinely next-level. Drinks arrived quickly, always with a smile, never rushed.

Food That Makes You Stay In

I usually like leaving hotels for dinner, but Red Level made me reconsider that habit. The variety is huge, but more importantly, it’s good. Like, actually good.

One night it was Italian, another French, another Japanese - including a teppanyaki dinner that was fun without being cringe. La Terrasse was a highlight: thoughtful dishes, great explanations, and staff who clearly care about what they’re serving.

Breakfast was à la carte and unhurried. No buffet chaos, no plate stacking Olympics. Just calm mornings, good coffee, and the ocean doing its thing in the background.

And then there’s the afternoon happy hour, which sounds innocent but somehow becomes the reason you don’t leave the hotel again that day.

Spa, Gym, and the Art of Balance

The Clarins Spa felt exactly how you want a spa to feel - soft lighting, calming scents, and an immediate sense that nobody is in a rush. Even walking past it slowed me down.

I appreciated that the gym was properly equipped and not hidden away like a forgotten room.

Why It Worked for Me

What stayed with me most wasn’t just the facilities - it was the people. From reception to restaurants to the pool, the staff made everything feel easy. Warm, professional, and genuinely kind.

If you’re looking for a five-star stay in Tenerife that’s elegant, peaceful, and unapologetically adult, Red Level is one of those places that reminds you what proper rest actually feels like.

Living Inside a Postcard: My Stay at The Ritz-Carlton Tenerife, Abama

Some hotels feel like a building. This one feels like a destination. Honestly, walking into Abama for the first time, I had a very clear thought: this could easily be the set for the next season of The White Lotus. Dramatic, yes, but justified.

The Room: Where I Slept Like Royalty

My room was everything I secretly expect from a Ritz but still get impressed by every time. Spacious, calm, beautifully designed, and most importantly that bed. Massive. Cloud-level comfort.

The balcony opened to views of the golf course melting into the Atlantic, especially beautiful in the morning light. Inside, every detail was thought through: plenty of free drinking water (bless), bathrobes and slippers, a powerful shower, and a cleverly separated toilet area with a bidet (privacy matters). Housekeeping came twice a day - fresh in the morning, cozy turndown in the evening, which somehow made the room feel new every time I returned.

Breakfast: A Feast (With Minor Drama)

Breakfast here is a full event. The food display alone deserves applause - fresh juices (mango, orange, everything), local cheeses, pastries, breads, eggs every way imaginable, fish, salads, chai lattes… something for everyone.

The system is a bit… ceremonial. You queue, give your room number, order your drink, and get escorted to a table. Most days it worked fine, one morning it felt like boarding a long-haul flight. Worth it though. Just a warning: the English sausages were a mistake - learn from me.

Pools, Ponds & Poolside Magic

There are multiple pools, all beautifully integrated into the landscape. The main pool was never overcrowded and always the perfect temperature. Lifeguards were attentive, staff appeared with towels, sunscreen, even offered to clean sunglasses (yes, really). At random moments, they’d walk around with smoothies or flavored ice - small details that make a big difference.

The koi carp pond deserves its own slow walk. Quiet, clean, calming - one of those places you stop “just for a second” and end up staying ten minutes.

The Beach: A Small Adventure

Getting to the beach is half the fun. There’s a little hotel train that takes you down the steep path. We were warned not to walk it… so naturally we walked down one day and took the train back. Both were lovely.

The beach itself feels secluded and special. Complimentary sunbeds and towels, a beach bar, restaurants on the way down and right by the shore. The water in late November was refreshing in the best way, and I spotted colorful crabs by the rocks - bring goggles if you swim. Two lifeguards on duty from morning, which I really appreciated. Alessandro, who helped me with towels and sunbeds, deserves a shoutout for being effortlessly kind and attentive.

Tennis, With a View

One more thing worth mentioning: tennis. Within the resort grounds, Abama has beautifully designed, world-class tennis courts set right into the natural landscape. It’s one of those rare places where playing a match feels more like a privilege than a workout - palm trees, ocean air, and zero rush. Opening times vary by season, and reservations can be made through the Concierge team, who make the whole process effortless.

Atmosphere & Service: The Real Luxury

What truly defines Abama is the atmosphere. It’s grand but never stiff, luxurious without being intimidating. Most of the staff genuinely seem happy to be there - friendly, calm, helpful. Check-in was smooth (with a welcome glass of cava, obviously), and while the amount of information can feel overwhelming, they’re always happy to explain again… and again.

Yes, poolside drink service could be more proactive (surprising, given how good everything else is), but honestly, when the view looks like that, it’s easy to forgive.

Final Feeling

By the end of my stay, Abama didn’t feel like a hotel. It felt like a perfectly designed world where everything runs a little slower, looks a little better, and tastes a little nicer.

The whole place is paradise - and dangerously good at making you want to stay longer.