"We stayed for three nights half board at the Hotel RIU Garoe with my partner and we honestly loved it.
The reception smells beautiful, the space is bright and elegant, and the staff are genuinely warm without being over the top.
The bar area looks grand but still cosy, with really comfortable chairs that make you want to sit and relax with a drink rather than rush off somewhere else.
The grounds are stunning. The roses are gorgeous, there is so much greenery, and everything is immaculately maintained. It feels peaceful and cared for. We found ourselves slowing down just walking through the gardens.
Our room was spotless and nicely furnished, very comfortable for the three nights. With a beautiful view of the mountain and the sea! A kettle and hair conditioner would have been useful additions, but that is a small point.
The food genuinely exceeded our expectations. We are quite picky eaters and still had plenty of choice every night. Everything is clearly labelled, which makes it easy to relax and choose your meal, and there were good vegetarian options too. We stayed half board and thought it was excellent value. Drink prices are displayed clearly at the restaurant entrance, which we appreciated. House wine was under 4 euros and I really enjoyed it, beer was 1.50 euro for a bottle which felt very reasonable.
Breakfast was one of our favourite parts of the day, excellent choice and it was delicious.
Fresh coffee is served, there are drinks machines if you prefer, and lots of tea choices. It felt generous and well organised.
The location is in a quiet area of Puerto de la Cruz, which makes it perfect for relaxing, but you are still fairly close to everything.. The Botanical Gardens are just 5 mins walk, and there is a mini market and several restaurants within easy walking distance. A bit further along the road there is a shopping centre with a surprisingly cheap supermarket. Two litres of water for 45 cents and fresh glass bottles of pineapple or orange juice for 50 cents. We could not believe the prices compared to home. It was so handy for picking up drinks and snacks.
We were not particularly interested in the evening entertainment, which seemed more suited to an older crowd, but that did not matter to us. We used the hotel as a base to explore and having free, plentiful parking made it incredibly easy. We visited San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Garachico and Icod de los Vinos, all beautiful and an easy drive away.
We also used the free shuttle bus into town one day, which was very convenient. It drops you near a shopping centre and from there it is a short walk to the promenade. It runs until around 6pm but taxis back are only about five euros, so it is simple either way.
The pool loungers deserve a special mention. They are fully padded and genuinely some of the most comfortable we have used. We did not use the spa but had a look and it appeared calm and lovely.
Overall, this hotel just does everything well. It is calm, elegant, welcoming and excellent value. We left feeling relaxed and would absolutely return for another break."
