FERGUS Puerto de la Cruz

Well, I honestly don’t know what to say after reading some of the recent reviews, other than we must have stayed at a completely different Fergus! 😂 Either that, or some people went looking for things to moan about and weren’t disappointed!

Let’s start with check-in. Straightforward, no drama, no three-hour interrogation. The reception team were friendly and informative, and all the other staff, from the dining room and bar to the cleaners, were equally friendly and helpful. In fact, we struggled to find anyone who deserved a good moan!

The daytime entertainment staff were good fun, never pushy, and always up for a laugh if you joined in. We tended to head out in the evenings, so I can’t comment on the night-time shows. For all I know, they could have been putting on a West End production or a school disco!

Our room was spacious enough, with a good view and a decent-sized balcony. Yes, there were a few scuffs here and there, but nothing that ruined our holiday. Unless you’re planning to conduct a white-glove inspection of the skirting boards, it really wasn’t an issue. You get the usual extras to pay for, such as the safe and kettle, but the fridge with complimentary water and the air conditioning were free.

We upgraded to the top floor for the last few days, and that was well worth it. A slightly nicer room and bathroom, a fridge stocked with soft drinks and a few beers, a bottle of champagne waiting for us, sea views, plus access to the jacuzzi and roof terrace with daybeds. Perfect if you fancy a bit of peace and quiet away from the main pool. Although, if you’re anything like us, the idea of a quiet day can quickly turn into an afternoon with a beer in hand!

The main pool area does get a little busy, and yes, you’ll find the odd towel reserving a sunbed while its owner is apparently off climbing Mount Teide. But it was no worse than anywhere else we’ve stayed, and some staff did remove towels that had been abandoned for ages. If you don’t want to be practically sharing a sunbed with your neighbour, just move yours! It’s not rocket science, and nobody has to spend the day staring into a stranger’s armpit.

Food? Definitely not bland or repetitive, despite what some reviews would have you believe. There was a themed night every evening and plenty of choice to suit different tastes. We ate far too much every night, which is usually a pretty good sign that the food isn’t terrible! We certainly didn’t come home complaining that we’d lost weight. The dining staff were friendly and attentive, clearing plates quickly and keeping everything running smoothly.

You can take drinks out of the dining area, including coffee, but they need to be in paper cups, which the hotel provides. Hardly a major hardship unless you’ve got a personal attachment to your favourite mug!

There was a complaint in another review about the lack of halal food options. Surely, if you have specific dietary requirements, that’s something worth checking before booking rather than arriving, spending your holiday there and then complaining about it afterwards? A little research can save a lot of disappointment.

Our room was cleaned daily, and fresh bedding or towels were available simply by asking the cleaners. No complaints there either.

Yes, the hotel is on a steep hill. Welcome to Tenerife! Plenty of hotels are built on hills, and a quick look at the location before booking would tell you that. The hotel offers a shuttle service, but we usually walked down into town and grabbed a taxi back for around €4.50. For that price, we were happy to let someone else deal with the hill on the way home!

This was my wife’s second visit and my first, and we both had a great time. Comfortable rooms, friendly staff, plenty of food, a decent pool and some lovely extras when we upgraded. What more do you want? A personal butler to fan you with a palm leaf while feeding you grapes?

All in all, we had a thoroughly enjoyable stay and certainly won’t hesitate to return.

So, to anyone reading the negative reviews, I’d say take them with a pinch of salt. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, of course, but based on our experience, Fergus did exactly what we wanted it to do: give us a great holiday.

We’ll definitely be back. Same hotel, same hill, probably the same extra pounds gained at the buffet! 😂

Stayed at this hotel for a week the location down to the main area was about a 15 minute stroll, however, it is not recommended for people with walking difficulties due to very steep hill & steps. The hotel was very clean & staff very friendly & helpful. Pool area gets very busy with sunbeds very close together. The downside of our holiday was the food, it was never hot just luke warm and having to pay extra for drinks whilst all inclusive around one of the pools was totally unacceptable. Also we were in the Magnus adults only area and had to pay 15euros for the use of the safe.