Hotel Gala

Hotel Gala is a family-friendly hotel, and while there are generally lots of kids running around, the place is big enough so that you won't be tripping over them everywhere you turn. The lobby is pleasant and functional, with minimal seating and a large check-in counter. The bulk of indoor activities are situated on the second through sixth floors, in large atrium covered in a gorgeous, verdant tangle of vines. Many rooms are located off of the atrium, but their balconies face the exterior of the hotel, and so they feel more private. The lower two floors are dark, with halls so narrow they could be on a cruise ship. The resort's atmosphere is lively but not overbearing, and there's also local charm. During our visit, we encountered a pair of women in quintessential Mexican dresses selling white-linen blouses typically found in Mexican tourist shops.Evening entertainment abounds here, with the action taking place just outside of the main restaurant, on a level below the lobby. Along with a mini-disco for kids, adult entertainment is provided well into the evening, but it stops early enough for guests to get some rest.

Hotel Gala is located a short walk from one of the main drags of Playa de las Americas on Avenida Rafael Puig Lluvina, where there are bars, restaurants, supermarkets, and kebab shops. It's about a five-minute walk to Troya Beach from the entrance of the hotel, though guests can shave off a few minutes by going through a back gate that leads straight down to a shopping strip. Siam Park and Siam Mall are about a 15-minute walk from the hotel. Farther afield, the main beach at Playa de las Americas is a 20-minute walk away, and Playa de las Vistas is a seven-minute drive. Mount Teide and its surrounding national park takes just over an hour to reach by car, while Masca Valley, known for its great trekking, is a 45-minute drive. Tenerife South Airport takes about 20 minutes by car depending on traffic.

Hotel Gala offers only two room types: Standard and Club Alexandre, plus some larger Family Rooms on the hotel's lower levels with extra beds for up to two kids. Standard Rooms have light-wood floors and peach-colored walls accompanied by wooden furniture, while Club Alexandre Rooms have fresher, more modern decor, including white-tile floors and white-and-red accents. Standard Rooms feature terraces or balconies, 24-inch flat-screen TVs, huge safes (for a fee), and mini-fridges that can be stocked and transformed into minibars (for a fee), but in-room Wi-Fi costs extra. Club Alexandre Rooms add Nespresso coffeemakers and a few little extras in the bathrooms (such as shaving kits and toothbrushes). These units also come with free passes to the spa's hydrotherapy circuit, and all have full or partial pool views. Both types of room can get noise from entertainment, particularly those closest to the interior courtyard, but things die down early here. Units are accessed by key cards (which also turn on the electricity). Water in the bathrooms automatically shuts off when the cards are not in the slots. 

Hotel Gala's amenities are geared squarely toward families, with an evening mini disco for children and an animation team offering tons of activities for younger guests. The huge Magic Park kids' club includes a playground, special kid-size bathrooms, crafts, and even a cinema for children. There are also two huge pools that draw in guests of all ages, along with a splash pool for kids, but the area can get busy and guests have a tendency to get up at the crack of dawn to "reserve" lounge chairs with their towels. Swimsuits are available from a small poolside boutique. For adults, there's a spa open during the day, offering wraps, massages, facials, and beauty services, plus a hydrotherapy circuit (free for Club Alexandre Room guests). The fitness center has cardio equipment and weights, but is has the same hours as the spa, so early-morning or late-evening workouts aren't an option.  All three meals are served buffet style (with a la carte table service for drinks), and guests are greeted at dinnertime with a free glass of cava. While lunch and dinner selection is excellent, breakfast options aren't quite as varied, though there are a few hot dishes available. If you choose to sit by the window, there are often people smoking right outside, and the room is far from airtight. The resort also has an a la carte Canarian and international restaurant -- Kalahari Restaurant -- for those who want something a little quieter. Room service is available for a fee. Note that although the hotel does offer all-inclusive packages, cocktail service is only available for a set period in the evening. Guests who want afternoon drinks stick to beer and wine, or purchase cocktails. In addition to the pool bar, there's the evening-only Bar Gala, with regular nightly entertainment. Just beyond the bar is a game room with bop-a-mole, air hockey, foosball -- and people staring at their phones and laptops, as it (and the bar) is the only spot in the hotel where Wi-Fi is free. Additional pool tables can be found in the lobby, along with a car rental desk, coin-operated internet workstations, and a privately run tour operator office.The hotel has only six parking spots (for a nominal fee) and there's no elevator from the parking lot to the main building, so guests will have to drop off their bags first and then go park.