Parque Santiago Villas

On the flip side of the area's hyperactive beach resorts is Parque Santiago IV (which, with its charming Spanish stucco style, looks like the mid-range Tenerife-resort answer to iconic Hotel del Coronado in southern California). Whereas most of the hotels along this stretch of coast are surging with life and movement (or fuss and frenzy, depending on your outlook), Parque Santiago IV maintains a calm and quiet atmosphere -- a doubly impressive feat, considering its location in the eye of the proverbial party-scene storm. There are a few big factors contributing to the resort's tranquility. One, it is set a way's back from the always-buzzing beach promenade, and has a large, L-shaped layout, meaning it is effectively insulated on all sides. The hotel's entrance is in its central tower is on the main street, but the two resort wings form a protective barrier around a beautifully landscaped garden, blocking out most noise and distractions. Another cause for Santiago IV's quietness is that more that half of its units are private apartments, so the hotel isn't catering to an occupancy of 100 percent tourists with activities, entertainment, and all-inclusive everything. This laid-back vibe appeals greatly to the self-catering couples, families, and friend groups; younger folks or more party-oriented guests are better off at sister property, Parque Santiago III, next door. (Santiago Parque I and II are privately owned and totally separate.) British guests dominate in the summer, but in winter, they give way to travelers from Scandinavia, Austria, and Germany. 

Parque Santiago dominates a triangular part of Tenerife that juts into the Atlantic, so it has double the shoreline of most beachfront lots. It's the real-estate equivalent of a corner office. Directly next door is Santiago III's shopping complex, with perfume stores, gift shops, bars, electronic stores, and restaurants. A three-minute walk away large grocery store -- ideal for stocking the in-room kitchenettes. A little farther is the Safari Shopping Center, with its many glossy retailers (Guess, Samsonite, Timberland, Nautica), tech shops, jewelry stores, and popular restaurants with outdoor seating. Tenerife South Airport is 16 minutes away by car.

There's nothing revolutionary about room style at Santiago IV: the floors are basic white tile and furnishings and decor in most units seem unchanged since the hotel's 1991 opening (the complex plans to refurbish many of its rooms in 2017). Heavy cherry-wood accents are found throughout: The thick room doors look like wood, but they are actually fire-resistant, and coffee tables, dining tables, and dressers are all solid wood. Rooms are available as Studios; One-, Two-, and Three-Bedroom Apartments; and there are also Penthouses. Studios feature two twin beds, and all rooms have living areas with flat-screen TVs and sofa beds, as well as dining tables and small separate kitchens with mini-fridges, stovetops, coffee machines, and toasters. Kitchen cupboards are stocked with silverware, glassware, pots, pans, plates, and bowls. Only rooms in the wings have ovens; rooms in one of the hotel's three towers don't have them for safety reasons. Rooms lack air-conditioning, but they do have ceiling fans and some form of outdoor space furnished with white plastic patio furniture -- whether ground-level patios facing the pool, or balconies with views of the ocean, Mount Teide, or neighboring hotels Europe Villa Cortes or Parque Santiago III.Bathrooms are as straightforward as the rest of the rooms. Expect small sinks on a wood base, wood-framed mirrors, shower-tub combos, bidets, and hairdryers. Above the toilets are wood storage shelves. Toiletries are not provided. Note that some apartments are bi-level. Wi-Fi is free in the rooms, but there are reports of weak signal in some. Housekeeping visits daily.

Compared to other beach resorts in the vicinity, Santiago IV has trimmed-down offerings. It doesn't run its own full restaurant (though the upscale Restaurante Gula, managed by a third party, is on-site) or a entertainment program. Its large, V-shaped pool area, however, is a delight. There are two sloped-entry pools, surrounded by a brown-tile deck with blue-cushioned sun loungers and yellow umbrellas. Each pool is cleaned twice-daily by computerized pumps. The larger of the two is not heated, and the smaller saltwater one is. The pool bar offers light grill fare and ice cream, plus lots of outdoor games, like billiards and ping-pong, and there is also outdoor playground for kids. Inside, there is an octagonally shaped, glass-enclosed gym with eight pieces of Technogym cardio equipment set up in a circle. An unsupervised kids' club is across from the gym (parents must ask for a key) and a meeting room, where reps tour operators like Tui, First Choice, and Jet2Holidays present. Near the reception are courtesy showers for guests with evening flights.