Bahía del Duque *****

Our dream stay at the Bahía del Duque

Jérôme, 37 years old, married, father of Achille, 5 years old

We recently stayed at this hotel with our family. Here is a summary of our holidays.

A PERFECT CLIMATE

Last November, I escaped from the greyness to spend a week of relaxation with my family under the sun of Tenerife. The area where the hotel is located enjoys an average annual temperature of 23 degrees. So, as soon as we arrived, we gave up jumpers and trousers in favour of T-shirts and Bermuda shorts!

During all our holidays the mercury was close to 30 degrees. We only had a grey sky and a few raindrops for half a day, but apart from that the sun shone continuously in the blue sky. It’s really incredible to enjoy such weather only 4 hours flight from Brussels.

The hotel is located 15 minutes from Tenerife South Airport and we had chosen to rent a car to be autonomous. We also thought we would visit the island but, in the end, we stayed most of the time at the hotel as everything was perfect.

THE HOTEL FOR DEMANDING FAMILIES

Let’s be clear: we had enormous prejudices about Tenerife as a destination, which evoked for us the quintessence of mass tourism. To be frank, these prejudices turned out to be correct: the island is mostly populated by chain hotels, as gigantic as they are impersonal. The Bahía del Duque is one of the few establishments that escape this rule.

The hotel is designed as a small old Spanish village and everything is charming. Here we are far from the standardised hotel industry. The decoration has been thought out down to the last detail and the service is impeccable.

Thanks to Little Guest we have been upgraded to a room with sea view. It was very pleasant to admire the ocean from the terrace of our room where two deckchairs were installed. I highly recommend this type of room.

Everything has been planned for the children: paddling pool, kid’s menus, theme evenings, kids-club, sports activities etc.

Our son Achille has been to the kids-club several times. Gemma, the manager, was very charming and spoke French. Since it was Halloween, one day he even had the opportunity to paint a personalised t-shirt on the theme of monsters! Another day he played football with his little holiday friends. He also took part in many games in the swimming pool, always under the watchful eye of the kindly Gemma.

During our stay we met many families with young children and even babies.

THE GOOD CHOICE

The Bahía del Duque is one of the few establishments in Tenerife with direct access to the beach. Unlike some of the local beaches, which are covered with stones or black sand, the Bahía’s beach is a very pleasant white sand beach. The sea is warm and we swam there every morning before breakfast.

The hotel has sun loungers on the beach and it will cost you 10€ per day per person. The walk along the beach is very pleasant and every morning I used to go for a 5 km jogging run through a charming little fishermen village.

Twice a week, the hotel organizes free diving lessons for adults and children from 8 years old. Every day, a musical entertainment or a show is organised. Sports lessons are also given free of charge, such as aqua gym sessions, which my wife enjoyed very much. We have also played several games of tennis.

We had opted for half board at €44 per person per day. I recommend this formula, which includes starter, main course and dessert, and which allows you to eat à la carte in each of the hotel’s restaurants. The cuisine is refined and the decor of each restaurant is very warm. The staff wear traditional Spanish uniforms that take you back in time.

The hotel has many unheated ecological swimming pools where chlorine has been replaced by sea salt. There is also a heated swimming pool. Some of the pools have bottoms covered with large volcanic rocks that give the impression of swimming in a wild cove.

This stay did us a lot of good and allowed us to recharge our batteries by filling up with sunshine and to have a good time before going through the winter. We particularly appreciated the entertainment, the comfort of the room, the children’s activities and the gastronomy.

I therefore recommend this address!

Jérome

FOR CHILDREN

At Bahía del Duque, your little ones will be well looked after. Experienced babysitters will cuddle the little duchesses and dukes.

The Mini Club looks like a fantastic movie set. Between bridges and secret passages, enchanting gardens and fairy pools, your little ones will live adventures worthy of the best Hollywood scenarios. The instructors will help them display all their talents. Thanks to the workshops, your children will take turns becoming gold diggers, Pablo Picasso, Jamie Oliver or Jean-Paul Gauthier. Indeed, the Mini-club offers treasure hunts, painting, cooking, T-shirt creation workshops, etc. As for the John Travolta's in the making, they will meet at the end of the day for a crazy Mini Disco.

Teenagers will meet in their dedicated relaxation area, the Teen Lounge. The decoration owes its inspiration to the film "Big Wednesday" which depicts the lives of young surfers in the 1960s. They'll rest in the comfortable lounge after a tour through Playa del Duque. What better way to end the day than in style, after a day of crazy activities, playing Wii, PlayStation or board games. Moments of guaranteed disconnection and relaxation!

FAMILY EXPERIENCES

Bahía del Duque has 5 swimming pools, tennis courts, paddle courts and squash courts, so you're sure to find what you're looking for.

Lovers of outdoor sports will be delighted. They will see the island of Tenerife as a sacred place for outdoor activities to be enjoyed with the whole family.

Rafael Nadal has only to behave himself! Thanks to the private lessons given in Bahía del Duque, you will soon be able to take to the best courts. In the meantime, a game with your family or friends in the sunshine of Costa Adeje seems to be just the thing for you.

One of the 5 golf courses near the hotel or the 9 holes of the Pitch & Putt will allow you to perfect your swing on the grass. With a little practice or beginner's luck, maybe you will have the opportunity to make an ace?

Are you more into water sports? The Costa Adeje will be a perfect starting point for you. Surfers, kitesurfers, windsurfers will take the wave on the right side. Row, young paddle surfers and slow down to catch a glimpse of the depths of the seabed from the outside. To get closer to it, go diving. Dance with the turtles and colourful fish and take part in this colourful spectacle.

At sea or in the air, gain height. Flyboard enthusiasts will use the sea as a runway, while paragliding and parasailing fans will spread their wings. And if you like speed, a little ride on a jet-ski will thrill you.

Leave the paradisiacal beaches to admire the beauty of the scenery on a family hike. The scents of laurel, majestic cliffs and lush ecosystem will spice up your walk. Yet, you don't have to leave the hotel to keep beautiful memories of nature! The proof is in the hotel's 63,000m2 garden, which invites you to take a botanical walk and discover palm trees and dragon trees.

FOR PARENTS

Not far from Vipassana or Bali, Bahia Wellness offers unforgettable spiritual retreats. Health and vitality, detox, wellness, sleep or Ayurveda, choose the formula that suits you. Holistic rituals, thousand-year-old Asian recipes and an oriental atmosphere are the magical ingredients for a spiritual awakening in full consciousness. 20 treatment cabins allow you to let your 5 senses travel. Carpe diem!

Hand in hand, stroll along the seafront promenade of Playa del Duque. A wide variety of restaurants, cafeterias and shops will make your mouth water... and reach into your wallet.

On board a yacht, take in the temperature of the coastal waters and admire the scenery, the softness of the beaches that give way to steep cliffs, or look down and admire the splendour of the seabed.

At La Torre del Mirador restaurant, dine outside with your partner. Don't miss a bit of the natural spectacle unfolding before your eyes. On the horizon, the sun is lost in the immensity of the ocean. Their meeting gives rise to a gradation of colours and an explosion of feelings.

In the evening, the sky of the Canary Islands is adorned with incandescent stars. Raise your eyes this time. From the observatory, admire the constellations that brighten the celestial vault in the company of the chosen one. Observe the firmament and if you see a star, don't let it go. Make a wish!