Hotel Review: Bahia Del Duque, Tenerife
Set on the Costa Adeje, the lively and scenic southern coast of Tenerife, Bahia Del Duque is a sprawling five-star hotel with five swimming pools, ten restaurants, an impressive state-of-the-art spa and direct access to a white sandy beach.
Rooms and facilities
At over 100,000m², this is a large resort and it feels like a mini village with its turreted buildings, lush gardens, courtyards, restaurants and pools.
There are 346 rooms and 40 more private villas, many with a sea view. As such, there's a wide offering of accommodation, with the most expensive option being Las Villas, which deliver more privacy and more modern luxurious design. Our room was in the main hotel and was comfortable, clean and well appointed with TV, minibar, balcony and a generous bathroom. The terracotta floor nodded to Spanish style and the bathroom goodies were Molton Brown.
There is a lot on offer here. Think tennis, paddle and squash courts, Pitch and Putt and nightly entertainment in the main square.
Spa facilities
Here is a real surprise: this traditional resort houses an incredibly impressive cutting-edge spa. Designed by industry legend Susan Harmsworth, it has an outdoor thalassotherapy pool surrounded by sun loungers — a calm oasis offering a serene alternative to the hotel's pools.
Treatment rooms are luxurious and spacious, and the standard of therapists is very high. It also houses a fitness centre, reformer Pilates studio, a beauty salon for hair services and mani/pedis.
Food and drink
With thirteen bars and lounges and ten restaurants (Nub is Michelin-starred), there's a lot of choice. Choosing the half-board option is a great money-saver, but does limit you to certain restaurants, and it's worth knowing that some dishes on the menu carry a surcharge. We ate at The Brasserie Terrace and had a great Chateaubriand (which had a surcharge of around 9 euros a head). Another night we ate good Italian-style food at La Trattoria. The Alisios Market Food was our least favourite option.
Breakfast is a real triumph. Providing hundreds of guests with good service is no mean feat, but friendly, helpful staff make it a pleasurable experience. They are constantly replenishing, tidying and serving, which means you aren't waiting too long. And there really are options to suit everyone — from healthy to indulgent.
There's also a children's club and a teen area.
Highlights
The hotel is right on the seafront and you can walk for miles in either direction, with plenty of bars and cafés to refresh in. It's also only twenty minutes from the airport.
What to do nearby
Apart from the buzzy beach, there is the Plaza Del Duque shopping centre which has a host of designer labels. Or book a whale- or dolphin-spotting boat trip. We also went to Zambra Sky Bar at the nearby GF Victoria Hotel, where the panoramic views make it a great spot for sundowners.
Best for?
Families, those wanting an easy 'fly and flop' break with guaranteed sunshine, couples wanting a romantic break.
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