Sol Puerto de la Cruz Tenerife

Location- quiet with few shops and lots of restaurants in the main square in town but absolutely not for children or younger adults. Hotel- v v basic rooms pool does NOT open until 11am and the bar service is slow. Food is very bland and basic so be prepared to eat out most nights if you want something nice to eat. Hotel area is extremely noisy first thing in a morning waking you up plus it’s opposite a big football pitch which seems to go on till going 10pm with lots of shouting and screaming. There is a beach in walking distance but it has nothing to do on it whatsoever and is not very inviting. If you are looking for a very basic chilled holiday then this is the place.

We had the pleasure of staying at this hotel recently, and I have to say, we were pleasantly surprised by our experience.

We originally booked this hotel without reading any of the reviews beforehand. Shortly after booking, we decided to have a look, and, to my surprise, a lot of the reviews were quite negative. There were several complaints about the food, lack of electrical sockets, the TVs, entertainment, and various other things. Naturally, this did make us a little nervous about what to expect when we arrived.

However, our experience was actually very different from many of the reviews we had read.

When we arrived, we were able to check in early, which was a great start to our stay. The gentleman who checked us in also kindly upgraded our room to a sea-view room, which was absolutely amazing and a lovely surprise. The room itself was clean, spacious, and more than enough for two people. We had plenty of space to store our belongings and move around comfortably. The room also had a modern flat-screen TV and, contrary to some of the reviews we had read, there were plenty of electrical sockets available, so we never had an issue charging our phones or other devices.

The housekeeping team also deserves a special mention. Our room was cleaned every single day without us having to ask, and it was always left tidy and fresh when we returned. We really appreciated the effort they put in throughout our stay.

The staff in general were very friendly and helpful. Whenever we needed recommendations for places to visit, restaurants, or things to do, they were more than happy to help and gave us some useful suggestions. Everyone we came across was welcoming, which definitely made our stay more enjoyable.

The pool area was another highlight. The pool was clean, there were plenty of sunbeds available, and we never struggled to find somewhere to relax. It was a nice place to spend time during the day, especially when we just wanted to take it easy.

We had both breakfast and dinner at the hotel during our stay. Breakfast was good, with enough choice to start the day, although dinner was a little more hit and miss. Some meals were enjoyable, while others weren’t quite to our taste. One thing worth noting is that drinks during dinner are not included, so you do have to pay separately for them.

We also had food by the pool during the day, and we were actually really impressed with it. The food was tasty, reasonably priced, and convenient for when we didn’t want to leave the pool area. The only disappointment for us was the cocktails. They weren’t the best, as it seemed like everything was simply thrown together and blended, so they lacked a little in quality and presentation.

As for the location, I would say it’s okay. It’s probably not the best location if you’re looking to be right in the middle of everything, but it’s certainly not bad. The harbour is within walking distance, and there are essential shops and other amenities nearby. It’s not a particularly long walk, although depending on where you’re heading, you may prefer to take a taxi or transport in the heat.

Overall, we genuinely had a great stay and were very happy with our experience. I’m glad we didn’t let the negative reviews put us off, as our experience was much more positive than we expected. Of course, everyone’s experience can be different, but based on our stay, we would definitely recommend this hotel.

For us, the friendly staff, clean and spacious room, daily housekeeping, lovely sea view, clean pool, and overall atmosphere made it a very enjoyable stay. We would happily return in the future.

A lovely stay with great food and helpful staff We really enjoyed our stay at this hotel. Although the restaurant only served breakfast and dinner, and you have to buy the drinks in the evening , the food was very good, with a great variety of options, especially at dinner. The location was excellent, just a 10–15 minute walk from the town centre, which made it very convenient for exploring. There was also a bike rental shop nearby, if you are into cycling. The rooms were fairly basic and a little dated, but they had almost everything we needed. The pillows were particularly comfortable, the air conditioning worked well, and the proper blackout blinds were a great addition, allowing us to sleep comfortably even during the day. A small fridge in the room would have been appreciated. One thing worth mentioning is that noise from neighbouring rooms can sometimes be an issue, as we experienced a few noisy neighbours during our stay, but that is not the hotel's fault. With some earplugs you should be fine.

Only one pool, that opens at 11, but we always found sunbeds and it was not crowded.

A special thank you goes to Javier at reception! On our last day, we missed our bus after being directed to the wrong bus stop. Javier went above and beyond to help us, arranging a taxi and doing everything he could to sort out the situation. His kindness and genuine willingness to help made a stressful situation much easier, and we really appreciated his efforts.

Overall, we had a lovely holiday. The hotel offers good food, a convenient location and everything you need for a comfortable stay, for the price there is nothing more you could ask for. We'd happily recommend it, especially to those who value practicality over luxury.