La Siesta Hotel

La Siesta is a mid-range, four-story resort hotel that attracts a majority British clientele, with a pretty even mix of older couples and families with children. The lobby was renovated in 2017 and parts of it look more like something you'd find in a hipster boutique hotel than in a mid-range Tenerife resort -- think a long unfinished wood table, piano, and rustic-chic wooden bookshelves. Unfortunately, most of the resort looks well past its prime, with lots of dated decor. Off to one side is an internet room with a coin-operated games console and a set of stairs that lead down to the main restaurant. While the lobby is fairly busy with comings and going, the heart of activity is at the large outdoor pool, right at the center of the hotel. 

La Siesta is located right in the center of Playa de las Americas, in an area with many shops and a five-minute walk from the city's namesake beach. The larger Playa de las Vistas is about 15 minutes away on foot. Nearby theme parks include Aqualand (an eight-minute drive) and Siam Park (six minutes by car), and the popular Siam Mall is a seven-minute drive away. Mount Teide, a beautiful volcano at the center of the island -- complete with a cable car, an astronomical observatory, and plenty of high-altitude hiking opportunities -- takes just over an hour to reach by car. Masca, the base for trekking through the popular Masca Valley, is a 45-minute drive from the hotel. Tenerife South Airport is about 15 minutes away by car and can be accessed by busses 711 or 450 in around 40 to 45 minutes.

La Siesta Hotel offers Standard and Club Alexandre Rooms, which are all about the same size (although a few Standard Rooms at the end of the hallways have separate entry rooms and sleeping areas). All have two twins pushed together and feature sofa beds for up to two kids, plus flat-screen TVs and desks. Safes and minibars, however, require fees. Decor is dated in some of the units, with plain wooden furniture and faded patterned bedspreads, though the Club Alexandre units are contrastingly contemporary, with red-and-white decor and extra amenities such as slippers, bathrobes, and Nespresso coffeemakers. All rooms have balconies, but Club Alexandre Rooms have pool views instead of the Standard street vistas. A few Club Alexandre units come with big whirlpool hot tubs for two and separate walk-in showers, but these have to be booked directly through the hotel. All other rooms in the property have shower/tub combos. Hairdryers and toiletries are also provided.

La Siesta offers a ton of features, mostly aimed at vacationing families. These include an indoor game room with lots of air hockey tables, foosball, two coin-operated pool tables, and claw-grabber machines filled with toys. There's also a kids' club for children aged 4 to 9, complete with play structures, a coloring area, and a TV with kid-friendly shows, but parents must be present as there are no babysitting services. Outside, there's a colorful playground with a climbing structure and an animation area with archery, darts, and a sandbox.At the center of the property is a gigantic lagoon pool that's heated in the winter and gets enough sunlight to stay warm in the summer. A kids' pool and a pool bar are also here, plus a grill area where Thursday barbecues are held (guests with meal packages can opt to eat here rather than at one of the restaurants for no extra charge). There's also a stage by the pool, though it doesn't get much use, as well as a backstage areas with a few foosball, billiards, and ping-pong tables.Along with the pool bar, there's an indoor lounge bar -- La Palapa -- with nightly entertainment that runs the gamut from comedy performances to snake shows, in addition to a mini-disco and a sports bar section where matches are screened. Meals are served buffet-style at El Drago restaurant, with evening thematic dinners (Italian, Canarian, and pan-Asian). It has a bit of a fast-food vibe and can seat upwards of 600 guests. Breakfast is included in room rates, and half- and full-board and all-inclusive packages are available. The fitness center is small but decent, with cardio equipment, weight machines, and handful of free weights. The spa is small and narrow and offers mani/pedis, massages, and an indoor hydrotherapy circuit, as well as hot tubs, a steam room, and sauna. It's free for Club Alexandre guests and is usually for ages 16 and up, but there is a special family hour every afternoon during which younger guests are permitted. Although La Siesta is not really a business hotel, it does have two meeting rooms, each of which can fit around 250 guests (and can be joined to create a larger space), though they are stuffy and windowless. Wi-Fi is free in the main bar and costs extra (though not much) in the rooms. At the time of our visit (April 2017), parking was not available, though the hotel does plan to have a small amount available in future (for a fee).