Abama resort in Tenerife

Abama resort looks out to the Atlantic Ocean London - Arabstoday With its reputation as a mass tourist destination, Tenerife is not a place I had greatly wanted to visit. However, for a week’s holiday, the lure of sea and sun only four hours away (with no time difference) was too strong. Arriving in the evening, we drove to the Abama resort. Lying in a spot of heart-stopping beauty, it is a complete contrast to heavily built-up parts of the island. Perched on the cliff, with a private beach a long golf-buggy ride down the hill, it dominates the landscape with ten pools and several restaurants. Our family stayed in two adjoining one-bedroom villas, with a pool that most days we had to  ourselves. Swimming was important because of the breakfast buffet and its gargantuan choice. Included in the room price, it offered all manner of cheeses, salamis, fish, meat, potato cakes and puddings. And, of course, good old eggs, bacon and sausages. The resort was built by Don Jesus de Polanco, a Spanish tycoon who wanted to create a truly luxurious getaway. What is particularly noticeable is the excellence of the staff. They were efficient, helpful and so friendly. The Abama’s 400 acres include a spectacular golf course overlooking the Atlantic. It meant that my husband Dominic and our elder daughter Savannah had their first golf lesson. They returned full of praise for the course and its views. Like all villa residents, we had our own golf buggy. The signs that warn of approaching public roads are wildly inefficient: one afternoon we found ourselves on a motorway slip road. A cacophony of horns and manic gestures stopped us. Another time, we ended up on the golf course and were escorted to the club house – a wonderful spot for a sundowner. My highlight of the trip was taking a boat from the nearby village of San Juan to go whale-spotting. We saw several, close enough to listen to their extraordinary sounds as they surfaced and breathed. It was an unforgettable experience. That night, we ate a divine paella at the Marlin, a restaurant in San Juan by the harbour edge. Next evening we dined at the Abama’s M. B. restaurant, which has the only Michelin star in the Canaries. It was sensational. On our last day I visited the superb spa for a yoga class, after which I had a blissful massage outside under the trees. The day before, we had all been to the steam rooms, saunas, freezing plunge pools and Jacuzzis. Since our trip, I have met several people who visit the Abama regularly. I can quite understand why.