"Jacaranda Hotel Costa Adeje, Tenerife
Review of our stay: 12–19 September 2026
Overall rating: disappointing and not up to 4-star standard
The Jacaranda Hotel has an excellent location and friendly, helpful staff, but the property itself feels dated, tired and badly in need of refurbishment. Although our rooms were clean, the overall standard was well below what we would expect from a 4-star hotel.
The main issues were the widespread smoking, the restrictive approach to drinking water for half-board guests, poor room maintenance, uncomfortable facilities and mediocre food.
Main concerns
Smoking throughout the resort
Smoking was our biggest complaint. Almost all outdoor areas appeared to be treated as smoking areas, with no clearly marked designated smoking zones positioned away from buildings and other guests.
People were smoking directly outside the main automatic entrance doors, meaning guests had to walk through cigarette smoke to enter the hotel. Smoking was also permitted on bedroom balconies, allowing smoke to drift towards neighbouring rooms and balconies.
We saw very little signage identifying smoking and non-smoking areas. When we asked reception staff where the non-smoking areas were, they were unable to point them out.
For a large family resort, this was extremely disappointing. A modern hotel should provide clearly designated smoking areas away from entrances, accommodation and busy communal spaces, rather than exposing non-smokers to second-hand smoke throughout the resort.
Drinking water for half-board guests
The hotel’s approach to drinking water was another major disappointment.
We were staying half board. Water was available at breakfast, but at other meals we were told that drinking water was included only for all-inclusive guests. If we wanted water, we had to pay for it. We were also told that we could not bring our own bottled water into the restaurant.
After raising the issue, I was eventually given a glass of tap water, but the situation was unnecessarily embarrassing. For the rest of the holiday, I discreetly brought my own water to meals.
Guests should not feel that they have to hide drinking water simply because they are staying on a half-board basis.
Rooms and maintenance
Misleading “pool view” rooms
Our initial rooms were described as having a “pool view”. Although they were close to the pool, dense trees completely blocked the view and much of the natural light, leaving the rooms very dark.
To the hotel’s credit, staff responded quickly and moved us to different rooms, which we appreciated.
Tired and poorly maintained interiors
The rooms were clean but scruffy and in need of updating. We noticed:
* Bathroom sealant that needed replacing
* Black mould beneath areas of existing sealant
* Black patches on the bathroom ceiling
* Numerous light switches, many of which appeared not to work
* An opaque bathroom door that allowed bright light into the bedroom at night
* No suitable nightlight or low-level lighting option
* Shower water that changed repeatedly from scalding hot to cold
* Cupboard doors without soft-close hinges, causing them to bang shut
The lighting arrangement was particularly inconvenient. Turning on the bathroom light at night illuminated the bedroom and hallway, which could easily wake other guests.
Hotel facilities
Uncomfortably hot bar
The bar was extremely hot. There appeared to be no effective air conditioning and no windows that could be opened, making it uncomfortable to spend time there.
Recycling bins without instructions
The hotel has recycling bins with three coloured sections, which is a positive idea. However, the bins we saw were not labelled to explain which type of waste belonged in each section.
Without clear instructions, guests are left guessing, which undermines the purpose of separating and recycling waste.
Food
There was plenty of food, and nobody was likely to go hungry, but the quality was mediocre.
Much of the food we tried was bland and disappointing. We also noticed a considerable amount of food being left uneaten and wasted. Some desserts were extremely brightly coloured and artificial-looking; excessive food colouring does not improve taste or quality.
Positive aspects
Despite the problems, there were some positives:
* Excellent location in Costa Adeje
* Friendly and helpful hotel staff
* Quick response when we requested a room change
* Clean rooms, despite their tired condition
Jet2 service
Our experience with Jet2 was excellent. Their staff kept us informed, provided clear guidance and were welcoming, efficient and friendly throughout. We could not fault their service.
Siam Park advice
Siam Park itself is excellent, but the queues were extremely long during our first two visits. We regularly waited between 40 minutes and an hour for individual rides, which made the experience disappointing.
We had seven-day tickets and visited three times. Eventually, we paid for the VIP upgrade, which made a significant difference. The shorter queues allowed us to enjoy multiple rides instead of spending most of the day waiting.
If you are considering the Fast Pass, check exactly what it includes, as it may allow only one go on each ride. In our experience, the VIP upgrade was much better value for the overall experience.
A practical tip is to wear covered water shoes rather than sliders or flip-flops. The paths and walkways become extremely hot, and secure water shoes are more comfortable and safer on the rides.
Final verdict
Costa Adeje is an excellent location, and the hotel staff were friendly and helpful. However, the Jacaranda Hotel itself was a disappointment.
The property requires substantial investment and refurbishment. The rooms and facilities are dated, maintenance needs attention, the bar is uncomfortably hot, the food is mediocre and the smoking arrangements are particularly poor.
The restrictive approach to drinking water for half-board guests was also unacceptable and unnecessarily inconvenient.
The hotel’s location and staff are definite positives, but they do not compensate for the wider shortcomings. Based on our stay, the Jacaranda did not feel like a 4-star hotel."
