Bahia del Duque

We stayed at the Bahia Del Duque for 5 nights half board. Check in was easy and we were both offered a complimentary drink in the bar opposite reception which was a nice touch. There are also complimentary sweets you can help yourself to opposite the reception desk. We were then driven with our luggage in a golf buggy to our room, number 317. The room looked exactly like the pictures on the hotel website (a deluxe room). The let down however was the balcony. The hotel website mentions that the deluxe rooms will have either a balcony, terrace or french balcony. This room had what we would describe as a balcony that was fully enclosed by glass. We’re not sure which category this falls into. There were glass windows that could be opened however each open window still had a mesh covering across it. It felt like a hot and slightly smelly greenhouse. There were 2 wicker chairs on the balcony also. The balcony gave zero privacy as it directly overlooked the room next door however that room had a large terrace with sun loungers. The worst part of our balcony however was that there was a large crack in one of the windows. We don’t know how this could have been overlooked as it was very obvious. We rang reception and requested to be moved. We were told that there were no other rooms available in the hotel that night and we could only be moved the following day. We declined this and asked if there was anything else they could do. We were told we’d get a call back in 5 minutes. After 15 minutes and no call, we rang reception again. A different person put us on hold for several minutes. We got quite irritated by this so hung up and called reception again. Eventually we were offered a different room (418). We went to take a look at it, and this room was also a deluxe double but much nicer and with an open balcony with padded seats and a table which we decided to take. The rooms have lovely amenities and Molton Brown shampoo/conditioner/ body wash and body lotion which has the most beautiful scent. There is a box in the bathroom with really useful bits in it such as cotton buds, a sewing kit, comb etc and on arrival there is a little tin of chocolate covered banana chips for you to snack on. You’re also offered complimentary still water every day and there is a mini bar with a price list if you want extra drinks. The rooms also come with air conditioning and a ceiling fan. The air con was only ok - we’re not sure whether it would fair well enough in the hotter summer months. At nighttime there is a turn down service where they leave you padded slippers to wear in the room and a complimentary chocolate each night on your pillow. The TV has lots of channels including British ones such as BBC1 and 2, ITV and Channel 4. There are a number of pools to swim in with plenty of very comfortable sun loungers to use which have thick pads to lie on. We only swam in one of the saltwater pools during our stay (pool K as labelled on the hotel map). This pool is not heated however it wasn’t unpleasant to swim in. In the morning we were offered fruit kebabs to snack on. At lunchtime we ate a couple of times at Burger Bar Azul where the food was very good. During our stay we ate at the Gastro Lounge Las Villas, La Brasserie Terrace, Sua, La Trattoria and Alisios Market Food. All these restaurants were excellent apart from the Alisios Market Food. We ordered the creamy oat rice, yellow curry and mini vegetables which did not taste at all pleasant. We were also offered a small beetroot soup in a cup which did not taste great. From the looks of other diners this soup did not go down well generally. Highlights however was the La Brasserie Terrace where we shared a chateaubriand which was perfectly cooked and we had some truly delicious sangria, Sua where we enjoyed the grilled goats cheese salad and La Trattoria where the pizzas were delicious. We would advise you email in advance to reserve tables at any of the on site restaurants. Breakfast is served in the El Bernegal restaurant where is a huge variety of food and drink. The resort feels overwhelming large at first and we were given a map to help us to navigate our way. There are lots of sloping paths and steps however you do start to get your bearings quite quickly. You can also ask staff to arrange for a golf buggy to take you wherever you need to go within the resort which is a great service. At the bottom of the resort there is handy access to the public beach and there are supermarkets/shops within 5/10 minutes walking distance of the resort for buying snacks and drinks etc. Negatives - the first room we were given and the initial handling of our request to be moved plus our meal at Alisios Market Food. Positives - lots of complimentary touches such as water in the room, chocolates on the pillow, Molton Brown toiletries, the golf buggies, the pool areas, the super comfortable padded loungers and very friendly staff who are always incredibly polite and helpful. We don’t think we would return to this hotel because we don’t have plans to go back to Tenerife however it was nice enough for what we wanted - a smart hotel and winter sun.

Good things; Facilities are excellent, beds comfortable, rooms spacious, and breakfast is great. Location is ideal. Staff very friendly. Architecture and setting is top class. Bad things: our room had clumps of someone else’s hair after cleaning on our first day, we informed reception who where horrified at the photos, sent someone to clean it and then the next day we had even more hair again!! It was on the towels etc. Disgusting, as it had to have been brought in from someone else’s room - indicating dirty cloths are dragged from room to room - wiping down the sink and depositing someone’s hair on top of the hand towel (photo attached). Another cleanliness issue was the beach beds are often damp and mouldy under the white cover. And the beach bathrooms were always in a state, not serviced often enough. Unacceptable in a 5 star. The walls are paper thin. The room next door has a crying baby all night and the hotel didn’t have a solution until the next day for us - we moved rooms and then we had same issue ; you can hear the guests either side of you using the bathroom, coughing, alarms etc. really loud. Very disturbing. In addition in this new room we could smell cigarette smoke coming through the vents in the bathroom which made the room stink, we discovered this was the room below smoking on the balcony with the doors open. We weren’t informed that you need a reservation for the hotel restaurants and there were two nights where not one of the several restaurants could accommodate 2 people for dinner - despite most tables being empty. It’s frustrating as we had to leave the hotel both nights. So if you go - book all your meals in advance. The hotel staff were kind when dealing with us but to be honest it’s just not acceptable to charge full price for a 5 star. They apologised but I still paid 450€ per night for a dirty & noisy followed by a noisy & smelly room? No money taken off the bill. A free pass to the sauna, and that was it. Because of the issues with the first several days we decided to extend our trip so we could enjoy it. We asked reception for a good rate given everything we had put up with and they returned with an even HIGHER rate for the room. The hotel will apologise, and look sympathetic if you have issues but when it comes to putting their money where their mouth is - they won’t. The hotel is one of the most expensive you can find in Tenerife, so to have issues like that and still be expected to pay full price is just crazy. We stayed 5 nights in the Bahia del Duque and then checked in to another 5* hotel across the road which is 160€ per night cheaper !! The other hotel (Vinci) is not in as perfect location as the Bahia del duque, but it is overall far superior in my opinion. Clean and quiet. Better in-room amenities, better layout. Bigger, more stylish rooms. And amazing sunset views.

Second visit to this hotel with a good friend for our annual "Escape from Grey London Hell" week to Tenerife. Our 10th year on the island, having stayed perviously at the Mencey (Santa Cruz many times) and Hacienda Conde in the North of the island. On arrival, my room had only a shower. My pal had a bath and shower. I need a bath as my lower back is wrecked after a flight. I rang reception and a rather indifferent lady said "not all rooms come with a bath" which is not a) what to say b) should occur in a 5* hotel. I asked to be put through to a manager and it was Jacob on duty. He met with me, sat down, and I explained my issue. He was delightful: understanding and professional. I was moved. Easy as that. It's a great hotel. Breakfast is excellent, and the terrace is a perfect way to start any day. Rooms are spacious, housekeeping is superb and I have few issues. My only daily problem was that drinks orders are never taken in the adults only section around the pool. This happened last year too. Now, we are not incapable of walking 50 yards into the restaurant to order a drink of course; but, its always super busy there and you feel out of place and uncomfortable (friendly as everyone is working there) in all the bustle of service. Please send someone once an hour to take some drinks orders - especially in that hear - in the adults area. Otherwise, another great stay. All restaurants on this visit were good (Sua, especially). The trattoria sat us with a load of families/ screaming kids right at the back of the restaurant on our first night. Meh, but OK. Then, they tried to seat us in the same dismal back area on our second visit, despite tables being available all over the restaurants terraces/balcony and tables near to them. I said we would not be happy sitting at the back again, for the same reasons as night 1, and the manager of the restaurant said they had just received a call and a cancellation and we could sit outside. Please! That was odd. Service staff were always friendly and the food good. Shout out to all the people working at the Wine Bar: fun, welcoming, knowledgeable and very good cocktails!

whilst the position of the hotel is really beautiful with views out to sea, many different outdoor swimming pools and plenty of poolside seating, it is far from being in its prime. It has an air of faded glory, needing an uplift. The bedroom we occupied was a garden room, but felt more dated than purely traditional. It was, however well equipped in terms of wardrobe space; a very comfortable king-sized bed with linen that was always clean. We had a lovely bathroom with separate cubicles for shower and toilet plus a double sink. There were plenty of fresh clean towels and good toiletries. We booked on a bed and breakfast basis and the breakfast was very good - plenty of choice and adequate seating. the staff here and everywhere in the hotel were very good. The reason for the average rating overall is because the hotel food was dreadful in all the restaurants except the Brasseries and the Ulla Loopa. Room service was efficient and served by very obliging staff. Despite sending dishes back when served because they were cold to tepid. When we ordered we always asked to be presented with a meal that was piping hot but this didn't happen - not once - and the actual dishes were tasteless often, I would guess that the chef was at best, inexperienced. Not once did we complain officially until the last day when after being extremely ill following the gala dinner for new year's eve. we explained our views, in the hope that the hotel can 'up its game' in this area. I doubt that we will return within the

We had a wonderful stay over Christmas, largely thanks to the incredible staff who truly delivered a 5 star experience. Everyone was warm, attentive, and genuinely welcoming, including the teams in all of the restaurants, where both the service and the food were consistently good. A special mention must go to Patrick in Casas Ducales and Luis at the Beach Club, both were outstanding and made our stay feel extra special. The only minor letdown was the pools, which were unfortunately far too cold to comfortably swim in. It would be great if at least one pool were heated to a more comfortable temperature. The rooms were clean and spacious but felt a little dated in places and could benefit from a refurb. Some of the plugs didn’t work, and a few modern updates would really help bring the rooms in line with the otherwise high standard of the hotel. Aside from that, the exceptional service and dining were real highlights and helped distinguish this hotel from many others.