I have spent many a year trying out different backpacking hostels, tents and budget accommodation. Eventually, father time catches up with you and there comes a stage in many people’s lives where you’re not just booking accommodation for yourself anymore you’re suddenly booking it for your family.
It goes from having very few things to consider when booking a hotel to suddenly having 10-20 things to consider to keep everyone happy! It seems daunting. Where do you start? The location is first and I think Tenerife as a destination makes this process easier.
Tenerife is a Spanish island off the coast of Morocco. It is a popular holiday destination for families as it is warm all year round being near the equator. It is known for its beautiful beaches, mountainous terrain and best of all there are so many activities to enjoy. I imagined it to be a warm-weather Blackpool before I went but it’s brilliant and caters to everyone.
Getting around Tenerife
A good thing about Tenerife is that it’s not huge. You can get a bus around the island end to end in around 45 mins. There are plenty of bus routes covering the main towns. You can pay via card on the bus too so there’s no need to buy a travel card as I learnt afterwards.
Another thing I discovered was how cheap the taxis are and that they almost always take toddlers without a car seat. Yes, that sounds a bit insane safety-wise but drivers seem safe and you’ll be glad when you didn’t have to carry that car seat abroad.
Main towns and cities in Tenerife
Costa Adeje
Los Cristianos
La Laguna
Los Gigantes
Santa Cruz de Tenerife
Puerto de la Cruz
Playa de las Américas
Often you’ll be led towards the above towns, some of which I cover in here but there are also much quieter villages where you can stay for some peace.
Hopefully, I can take some of the research time out of your trip to Tenerife as I’ve done this job a few times myself and with some comfort, I can say it does get easier each time.
These prices assume you’ll have at least 1 child in your room. See below my recommendations on the best family hotels in Tenerife.
The best family-friendly hotels in Tenerife
1. Playa Olid All inclusive – Costa Adeje (€)
Playa Olid All Inclusive – Prices from £100 per night
This all-inclusive hotel has it sorted so that you barely need to leave. The above price can get you all-inclusive so good value overall. For families it’s all-encompassing comfort with endless food, drink and activities for every family member and you have already paid for it before you arrive.
I enjoyed my time here and while we were out exploring every day visiting different parks and zoo’s there’s enough to keep you occupied if you need to relax at the hotel. 2 swimming pools, kids activity clubs and an evening entertainment club are a few of the inclusions. The rooms are decent without being luxurious.
The location is good in Costa Adeje which is on the west coast, it’s quite anglicised but not too heavily. You can still get the local delicacies and enjoy some Spanish surroundings.
Avenida Ernesto Sartí, 18,
38660
Costa Adeje
Spain
2. H10 Costa Adeje Palace – Costa Adeje (€€)
H10 Costa Adeje Palace – Prices from £120 per night
This hotel is ideally located in the heart of Costa Adeje and also offers a good variety of facilities for families. The hotel has several swimming pools, a kids’ club, a playground, and a mini-golf course, it has a more luxurious feel to it. It has some fantastic views and dining experiences too.
It’s possible to go just for bed and breakfast to reduce costs as it will become expensive with the ‘all inclusive’ option.
Playa La Enramada
38679 La Caleta
Santa Cruz de Tenerife
3. Urban Anaga Hotel – Santa Cruz de Tenerife (€)
Urban Anaga Hotel – Prices from £70 a night
Located up in Santa Cruz de Tenerife at the north of the island which is a great, less chaotic location. The hotel is great value at under the £100 mark for what feels like quite luxurious and very spacious rooms. It’s slightly less orientated towards giving kids everything they could want as it is a bit more primed for the adults. It still has everything you would need and is a nice alternative option with some nice quiet and secluded towns nearby.
Calle Imeldo Seris 19, esquina Cruz Verde
38003
Santa Cruz de Tenerife
4. Hotel Puerto Palace – Puerto de la Cruz (€)
Hotel Puerto Palace – Prices from £80 a night
This very much does feel like a palace in certain parts, especially the rooms if you get the best ones. It’s located in the very north of Tenerife near Loro Parque, a huge zoo.
The pool is huge and the views are excellent from high up. The main draws are big rooms, huge beds and balconies and nice gardens with pools and jacuzzis. There are some activities for the kids too so it’s a great option for the value.
Doctor Cobiella Zaera, s/n
38400
Puerto de la Cruz
5. Olé Tropical Tenerife – Playa de las Americas (€€)
Olé Tropical Tenerife – Prices from £115 a night
In the bustling Anglicised Playa de las Americas, some love it, some don’t. It depends on what you’re after but it is generally one of the busiest parts of the island, but that also means you get easier access to anything you need. Within this area the Olé Tropical Tenerife hotel has a great location near the beach and close to some major island attraction parks. Side note… I have to say you must visit Siam Park if you’re in Tenerife as a family it is probably the best water park day out I’ve been to.
Many people commented on the fantastic staff in this hotel and that they all felt very welcomed so the staff must be well-drilled. There is an element of luxury sprinkled across the hotel but it will cost you almost double to move up to the all-inclusive option meaning it’s quite far above a budget option.
Olivia s/n,
38632
Playa de las Americas
Tenerife family hotels summary
There is a good standard of hotels across Tenerife and many do cater for families, there are some that are for adults only if you need to consider another break alone. The above are some hidden gems and I’ve enjoyed some time across these myself but the reviews online will back that up.
You may have your own specific family needs and I put too much effort into looking for family entertainment that we didn’t often use but most hotels cover the necessaries and from experience you will likely be given some great weather and have a good time in Tenerife where comfort is key.
You can find most of the best hotel deals on Booking.com but I would also advise checking the package holiday prices too via the big companies such as Jet2 and Thomas Cook as that could save you the admin time on flights, hotels and transfers.