Felicity Long
Europhiles know that there's more to the Continent than medieval castles and cobblestone streets. Unesco World Heritage Sites, gastronomy, wine and outdoor pursuits are among the other attractions that reliably draw international visitors.
One destination that offers all that, plus a dose of golf, sun and sand, is Tenerife in the Canary Islands.
For the record, while the islands are close to the coast of Africa, they are a province of Spain and therefore are part of the European Union.
Tenerife, the largest of the Canary Islands, is dominated by Mount Teide, billed as the third-largest volcano in the world and a Unesco World Heritage Site.
Beaches and little villages surround the volcano, the climate is temperate, and activities range from wine tasting and beach combing to whale-watching and cave explorations inside a network of lava tubes.
This year, the island is experiencing something of a hotel boom, with new properties and renovations already in full swing.
New and renovated properties
• The recently opened INNSiDE Tenerife Santa Cruz, for example, occupies a nine-story building that formerly hosted two department stores. The Melia property is located in one of the busiest areas of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, the capital city of the island, steps from the Plaza del Principe, the Municipal Museum of Fine Arts, the Parish of St. Francisco de Asis and the shopping area.
The hotel features 83 rooms, a gym, an infinity pool and three dining areas.
• Hotel Atlantic El Tope is a landmark property on a promontory in Puerto de la Cruz overlooking the ocean, the city and Mount Teide. The hotel, under the recent ownership of Macaronesian Hotels & Resorts, is set to undergo a comprehensive renovation and redesign that is slated to be completed by the summer and will target the family market.
• The Gran Hotel Taoro opened in 1890 and features Baroque-inspired architecture and ornate gardens.
Located in the Puerto de la Cruz area, the property has hosted European royals, writer Agatha Christie and other personalities.
The hotel closed in 1975, operated as a casino and is now being restored, with a grand reopening planned for December.
• On the southern part of the island, the Whala! brand will debut in Tenerife in April. The brand, which also has properties in Mallorca and the Dominican Republic, features intimate properties in seaside destinations. The Whala! Tenerife will be located in Arona, less than half a mile from Playa de las Americas.
• Meanwhile, the Royal Hideaway Corales Villas will be located along the Costa Adeje golf course.
The property, scheduled to open in the fall, will comprise 61 two- and three-bedroom villas, each featuring a private pool, and 78 junior suites. Dining options will include an all-day restaurant.
• AluaSoul Costa Adeje is one of two new Hyatt projects in Spain and will be part of the company's luxury Inclusive Collection.
The hotel will have 226 rooms, a pool and all-inclusive service and is expected to open in the final quarter of 2024.
• Mare Nostrum Resort, a complex on the Tenerife's south side, features three hotels and is undergoing a wide-ranging renovation.
• Last year, the Sir Anthony Hotel, part of the complex, reopened with fully renovated rooms -- some featuring private pools -- multiple culinary offerings and a commitment to sustainability. The family-friendly Mediterranean Palace is undergoing an extensive renovation and is projected to reopen by June, and refurbishments to the Cleopatra Palace will follow.