Sol Arona Tenerife

TRYP Tenerife is a family-friendly hotel set in a 15-story gray-stone tower with a large parking lot in front and a pool and activities area out back. The entryway is partially covered by an awning and there are a few padded wicker sofas and coffee tables out front with ashtrays for smoking (interiors are smoke-free). The lobby is bright and open, with a white shelving structure adorned with multiple varieties of bonsai trees. There are a few brown faux-leather benches for seating, plus a larger seating area in the back of the lobby with tables and chairs where evening entertainment takes place in cooler winter months (otherwise it's held outdoors on a stage near the pool). TRYP attracts a lot of families as well as some older couples, and gets a lot of Brits, Italians, Belgians, and Germans. Some guests stay for months on end, and long-term discounts are available. Note that the property is not wheelchair accessible, with no alter-abled rooms or ramps.

TRYP Tenerife is located right on Avenida Juan Carlos I (the main road into Los Cristianos), a five-minute walk to the boardwalk and the beach. Playa de la Americas is a five- to 10-minute drive or a 20-minute walk from the hotel, and offers theme parks, shopping, and tons of evening entertainment options ranging from night clubs to comedy shows. Attractions farther afield include Loro Parque, with dolphins and other marine life as well as a smattering of mammals (including red pandas) -- reaching the park takes just over an hour. It takes around the same amount of time to get to one of Tenerife's most popular attractions: Mount Teide. This beautiful volcano at the center of the island has a cable car, an astronomical observatory, and high-altitude hiking opportunities. Masca, the base for trekking through the popular Masca Valley, is a 45-minute drive from the hotel. The airport is about 15 minutes away by car or around 25 minutes away by bus (lines 343 or 711). 

Rooms at TRYP Tenerife get progressively better the higher up in the building you get. Standard Rooms are located on the first and second floors, while family-style Double with Lounge units occupy floors three through twelve. Neither room type has air-conditioning; this luxury is reserved for the thirteenth floor Superior Rooms, all of which have balconies with tables and double beds as well as the Premium Rooms on floors 14 and 15, which add minibars and larger balconies with some gorgeous ocean views. Decor is consistent throughout and rooms have a predominantly white and off-white color scheme, complete with polished tile floors, white or brown wicker desks and bedside tables, and large bathrooms with white-and-gray veined marble countertops and shower/tub combos. Hairdryers and toiletries are provided. All rooms have balconies, kettles for tea and instant coffee, and safes for a fee. Irons and ironing boards available at reception for a deposit and fans and mini-fridges are available for rent. Twin beds are often pushed together to make a double bed. 

Features at TRYP Tenerife are geared toward families, and include lots of activities specifically for children as well as a changing evening entertainment schedule with DJs, comedy shows, quiz nights, and even the occasional acrobatics performance. Inside, there's a lower-level recreation area with arcade games, mini-foosball, air hockey, and a couple of coin-operated massage chairs, plus a mini-market selling snacks and souvenirs. A tiny gym with modern equipment including a single cross-training machine and lots of cardio equipment sits off to one side. Outdoors, there's a large pool area with a pool table, ping-pong, and a mini-golf course. An outdoor lagoon pool with a children's area is surrounded by rows of lounge chairs with parasols and palm trees for shade -- lounge chair mattresses are available for a fee. Guests should bring their own pool towels as the hotel doesn't offer a pool towel service.Free classes ranging from spinning to water aerobics are available throughout the day, either right in the pool or on a stage area nearby. The poolside Blanco Bar is open throughout the day and offers free self-serve beer, wine, and snacks for all-inclusive guests. Other outdoor features include a colorful playground with a trampoline, a mini climbing wall for kids, and a tennis court. There's no spa, but there is a privately run beauty shop in the lobby that takes bookings through the hotel's front desk.Meals are served at the hotel's sunlight-filled Agora Restaurant, which features themed buffets at dinnertime and a variety of Spanish and international options at breakfast and lunch, with special meal options for kids and a show kitchen. However, lots of past guests complain about food quality. Along with the above-mentioned pool bar, there's a Sport Bar in the lobby that's open in the evenings and shows soccer match screenings. Meal package options include all-inclusive and half-board (with either lunch or dinner, can change which meal to take from day to day). An all-inclusive gold package is also available and adds cocktails, wines, ice cream, and bottled drinks.Coin-operated and valet laundry services are available and there's plenty of free parking (around 60 spots in all) in the hotel's surface lot. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel.