Hotel Andorra Tenerife

Hotel-Apartamentos Andorra is split into two sections, a main hotel portion, which sits on the southwest corner of where two major (and palm-lined) thoroughfares cross, and an apartment annex down the block. The hotel's main entrance faces the roundabout. Above the front door are balconied corner landings draped with vining plants, with two room building wings on either side. The lobby is straightforward and dated, with off-white tile floors; walls sponge-painted in yellow and blue; and frumpish chairs, tables, and sofas. There are racks of postcards on the reception desk, a vending machine with candy and pre-packaged sandwiches, and two hulking computer stations that seem a year or two away from being unusably obsolete. A small bar separates the lobby from the dining hall (during our weeklong stay, we never once saw the lobby bar gate open for business), and beyond the restaurant is the main pool, a lagoon-shaped pool with a gated-off shallow section for kids. No booming speakers or zealous animation teams here -- in lieu of the noisy, entertainment-packed pool scenes at many Playa de las Americas resorts, Andorra's pool area harbors quiet loungers thumbing through beach reads and nursing plastic cups of beer. There's really nothing exceptional about the hotel, but all in all, it's pleasant and convenient spot for the mostly pensioners and families who are drawn to the laid-back atmosphere and reasonable rates. As with most hotels in Playa de las Americas, the bulk of Andorra's guests stay for at least a week.  

Hotel-Apartamentos Andorra anchors a major roundabout in the middle of Playa de las Americas. It is a strategic location that's a few paces from restaurant strips and shopping arcades. The Caribe Shopping Center has a grocery store and is on the same block as the hotel, while the Safari Shopping Center is about three blocks away -- a six-minute walk. Guests can walk down either street that forms Andorra's intersection and hit multiple beaches within 20 minutes: Playa El Camison and Playa de las Vistas are seven- and nine-minute walks to the south, the famous surf beach La Izquierda is a 15-minute walk west, and Playa de Troya is a 19-minute walk to the west and north. Tenerife's TITSA bus system has a stop two minutes from the hotel. The bus ride to Tenerife South Airport is 45 to 50 minutes, though a car takes about half the time, 25 minutes.

Andorra's 102 apartment-style units include Superior Apartments, Studios, One-Bedroom Apartments, and Two-Bedroom Apartments. Superior Apartments and Studios are located in the main hotel, which has elevators (though they're quite pokey), and the One-Bedroom and Two-Bedroom Apartments are located in Andorra's annex building, which does not have an elevator. All units are bright, spotless, and practical, with peachy tile floors, pale yellow walls, kitchenettes, and large balconies (exception: Two-Bedroom Apartments do not have balconies). There isn't an emphatically fashionable detail to be found in any of the rooms: The busy curtains, wood-frame sofas with dated printed cushions, and other furnishings seem straight out of a 1980s rental beach house.Kitchens in the Superior Apartments are the simplest; they have mini-fridges, electric stovetops, cooking equipment, and eating utensils, while kitchens in Studios and One- and Two-Bedroom Apartments also have toasters, kettles, and microwaves. Some rooms have heavy wood kitchen tables and wooden chairs painted mossy green, while others have low breakfast bars with wooden stools. Bathrooms feature bidets, hairdryers, and wide countertops with a nice array boutique toiletries (though if you want them replenished, you'll probably have to ask). All bathrooms have shower/tub combos, except for the One-Bedroom Apartments, which have either shower/tub combos or walk-in showers. Double closets feature shelving units, safes (which require a deposit, but no daily fee), and extra blankets. There are no clock radios, but tech amenities include key-activated lights in the foyers, flat-screen TVs in the living rooms, and free Wi-Fi throughout the rooms, even on the balconies. Balconies come with tables and chairs, plus lines for drying clothes. Only a few units have air-conditioning, but fans can be rented from reception. There is poor soundproofing, and rooms that face the two main streets are susceptible to the round-the-clock noise from cars, buses (local TITSAs and monster tour coaches), and pedestrians -- especially the totally-inebriated-at-4 a.m. variety.

Andorra's principal feature is its quiet freeform pool, which is circled by blue-and-white plastic sunbeds (padded cushions are available for a daily fee), a pool table, an outdoor dining patio with umbrellas, and a small pool bar with a terra-cotta-tile roof. On the other side of the snack bar is a second pool, which is closer to the apartment annex. Bordering the pool area is Andorra's one restaurant, which serves a traditional English breakfast buffet (rolls, cereals, Canadian bacon, scrambled eggs, beans) in the morning and dinner buffets typically consisting of soup, pasta, pizza, fish, meat, salad, and multiple desserts. There is no lunch service at the restaurant, but the outdoor pool bar serves light snacks all day. A small bar connects the lobby area with the restaurant, but during our six-night stay, we never once saw it open. There are two computers, a securable luggage room, and a vending machine in the hotel lobby. Airport transfers and taxi service can be arranged at the 24-hour front desk for a surcharge. Parking is limited, but free. Wi-Fi is free throughout.