Hotel Botanico & The Oriental Spa Garden

We???ve just returned from a fabulous week at the Botanico and to be honest I don???t think we???ve ever had such a fantastic holiday. When we arrived at the hotel the staff were so lovely and welcoming, check in was swift and within no time at all we were heading to our room. The fruit juice while checking in is such a nice touch after a long flight. The rooms are immaculately clean, it???s very classically decorated and I love the style of the hotel - it feels like you???re staying in an art gallery! The breakfast is just fantastic. Literally everything you could think of, fresh omelettes, crepes, cereals, smoked salmon... and because it???s buffet style it means you???re bound to find something. I loved sampling the fresh breads and Canarian Pastries each day. Everything here was just out of this world. The spa, the grounds, the quality of the food and drinks. We couldn???t have asked for a better holiday. We genuinely loved our time here but we did have a few small niggles. None of these things would make us lower our score though, as we still had the most amazing time. The first thing is the smoking. I understand it???s not illegal to smoke outside in Spain. But when you???re having breakfast and the non-smoking tables are right beside the smoking ones it isn???t pleasant. It???s the same by the pool, unfortunately. The second thing is the Spa. Our daughter is 12 which meant she couldn???t use any of the spa facilities. On a family holiday it???s not ideal having to leave your only child in order to use them. I can understand the tranquility aspect not being respected by younger children but at her age she appreciates quiet relaxation and escape from screaming children as much as someone older. I do think 16 is a bit of an extreme age limit and it should be lowered. Lastly, and it???s more of a suggestion than a criticism. Our family is vegetarian/pescatarian and we struggled with food in the evenings within the hotel. There are some options but they are limited, especially when your daughter is super fussy! Having only a couple of dishes per restaurant meant that we ended up out most nights. It would be amazing to see vegetarian menus added to each restaurant. Especially when there???s such a good selection at breakfast! I want to finish by saying thank you to the staff. We???ve never been anywhere that had such wonderful, attentive and friendly staff. They speak so many languages and genuinely seem to take great pride in their work. We especially loved all of the bar staff who looked after us every night. Their cocktails were just delicious and we always felt nothing was too much trouble. We can???t thank you all enough and wish we???d had the chance to say gracias in person to each of you before we left. We will definitely be back!

From the moment we arrived at Hotel Bot??nico, it was clear that this was going to be no ordinary holiday. We were greeted with a nice cold glass of fruit juice on arrival - much needed after the journey! The check in process was quick and easy, and we were shown to our rooms by the porter. The rooms themselves are classic in design and could probably do with modernising in terms of aesthetics, however I must stress that this did not detract one iota from the experience as despite this, they were spacious and very well appointed. One thing that was obvious throughout our stay was that the housekeeping take immense pride in their work and the rooms were always immaculate. There is a nightly turndown service, and upon returning to the hotel in the evening, items of clothing were always neatly folded, or hung up etc. Small details matter. The breakfast is excellent, with so many choices that I can???t envisage anyone not being able to find something they like. There are hot choices, bacon, eggs, sausage etc etc; or you can request an omelette or scrambled eggs and this will be cooked for you immediately by the breakfast chef. Also, there is a wide selection of cold dishes - meats, fish, cheeses, as well as various breads and pastries. The juice selection is great, with freshly squeezed orange and fruit smoothies available. Where this hotel really rises above the rest is in the professionalism of its staff. Never in my life have I experienced a level of service such as that which my family and I received at Hotel Botanico. Nothing at all was too much trouble, and they were genuinely friendly. I???m not talking about the sometimes forced smiles and mundane chit chat that you occasionally get at some other 5 star hotels. We were made welcome and felt part of the family. Any queries or questions were answered promptly and professionally, and the reception staff really are at the top of their game. Additionally, the restaurant staff deserve to be recognised for their excellent manner when dealing with guests - they have the perfect combination of being superbly efficient without being obsequious or intrusive in any way. I must also mention the grounds of the hotel. There are beautiful gardens at the rear of the hotel and they are immaculate. Upon discovering these gardens, my mum went for a walk round and was approached by a female gardener who presented her with a flower, which was a wonderful gesture. My mum was delighted. The pool area is spotless and once again, the pool attendant Bryan was friendly and helpful, not only with the pool/towels/sun beds but also giving advice on things to do locally. One of the highlights of the hotel is its spa which, I have to say, is the best I have ever used. Again, it is totally spotless and an oasis of calm. The Japanese sauna was a particular favourite. Access is free for all guests for the duration of their stay, and I highly recommend making use of it. There???s also a well equipped gym for those who want to keep fit on holiday. We stayed for 10 days initially and then decided to extend our stay by another week as we were having such a fantastic time. I have never felt so at home somewhere that I have decided to extend by a further week. Overall, this is possibly the best hotel I have ever stayed in. I highly recommend it and will definitely be returning. After the experience we had this year, I simply wouldn???t even consider staying anywhere else in Tenerife.