Seafront Location and Good Food, Review of Hotel Iberostar Anthelia in Costa Adeje

Overall
The Anthelia is a classically tasteful, luxury hotel which prides itself on its food. Deservedly so we feel.

Where is the Iberostar Anthelia?
The Iberostar Anthelia is in a beaut of a position if you’re looking for quality accommodation in the main southern resorts area of Tenerife. It overlooks the beach at the Del Duque end of Playa Fañabe which gives guests the option of the more upmarket restaurants behind Playa del Duque or the more wallet friendly ones in Fañabe.

Hotel Iberostar Anthelia Montage 1, Costa Adeje, Tenerife

What is the Iberostar Anthelia like?
The exterior of the Anthelia is a series of connected, relatively low-rise, quasi-colonial buildings in fresh, attractive pastel colours. It’s a good looking hotel whose foyer gives a nod in the direction of luxury hotels of the past with a piano lounge that has an art deco feel thanks in part to a curved bar beneath a clam shell. Styles change as you wander around the hotel, another lounge has a faux marquis ceiling whilst the spa/zen areas are a mix of the Far East and contemporary rustic chic. As they’re all in different zones, none of these clash with each other and in fact offer a pleasing contrast.

The grounds are airy and immaculate with nice little touches like a herb garden and an iron gazebo which offers a shady spot to sit with a book. Stand out is the huge main pool which feels as though it extends beyond the coastline. It isn’t heated, which makes a more hidden away smaller pool which is heated more popular. There are three pools in all.

Hotel Iberostar Anthelia Montage 2, Costa Adeje, Tenerife

There are plenty of activities to keep guests occupied whatever their age, with both a children’s mini club for toddlers and a maxi-club for older children. For sporty people there’s a good gym as well as tennis and padel courts. Whilst the wellness centre and Thai Zen Space is ideal for guest who think holidays are more about being pampered.

Evening entertainment is slightly different from many other hotels as the Anthelia has its own theatre. There was a magic show when we were there which was like a throwback to variety shows on telly when I was young, but the mainly Spanish guests lapped it up. There was also a singer performing in one of the lounges, so a couple of options.

Hotel Iberostar Anthelia Montage 3, Costa Adeje, Tenerife

What are the Bedrooms Like?
The room we had was large with white and pale gold décor and furnishings, more tasteful than packing any wow factor. Flat screen TV, free WiFi, bath robes, hair-dryer and minibar come as standard. A couple of chairs and a table provided a place to sit inside when the temperature cooled down on a balcony which had views along the Costa Adeje coast and of the sea. It was a comfortable room to spend time in.

How Good is the Food?
This is where the Anthelia excelled for me. We were there to check the all inclusive option, yet it didn’t feel like what many people might consider AI at all. Lunch in the poolside Portofino restaurant was like lunch in any restaurant. We could have eaten a full meal from the menu but instead had a snack of a pretty decent burger and some tasty churros de pescado. Good intentions were ruined by a couple of cheeky cakes to round it off.

Hotel Iberostar Anthelia Montage 4, Costa Adeje, Tenerife
Similarly dinner in the main Zeus restaurant was of a far higher standard than plenty of places where we’ve stayed half board. I’d go as far as saying it was a rather exciting selection for a buffet. They even had a sushi chef, so it was freshly made sushi to start followed by a freshly made pasta dish, created to order by another chef. Overall an excellent selection.
The hotel also has a rather swish gourmet restaurant, the Poseidon, as well as a BBQ restaurant and pool snack bar.

What is the Best Thing About the Iberostar Anthelia?
For me it has to be the food. There was an excellent choice and I don’t think I’ve seen so many chefs creating such a diversity of freshly cooked food to order in a hotel buffet before. It was a buffet ‘plus’ that would confound many people who think of all AI as being low quality.

Who Would it Suit Best?
Although its got plenty of activities for children, it has an adult sophisticated feel that would definitely suit couples (of varying ages). Facility wise it’s a good all rounder.

Iberostar Anthelia; Londres, 15; Costa Adeje; Tel (+34) 922 713 335; rooms are from €200 a night (breakfast not included).

 

Jack is co-editor, writer and photographer for BuzzTrips and the Real Tenerife series of travel websites as well as a contributor to online travel sites and travel magazines. Follow Jack on Google+

About Jack 434 Articles
Jack is co-editor, writer and photographer for BuzzTrips and the Real Tenerife series of travel websites as well as a contributor to online travel sites and travel magazines. Follow Jack on Facebook

2 Comments

  1. Dear Jack, loved the informed journalism style that oozes from your words…am hoping you might give me some advice.
    I am 67 , found Feb and March in UK this 2018 grinding! So , have decided to get some winter sun.
    Never been to Canaries and have chosen Tenerife. I don’t have masses of money …in fact have decided not to go to salon to have hair coloured anymore to help pay for this trip
    i HAVE TICKETS 15 fEB/1mARCH -only hotel – I am travelling alone, would like half board, and to be near a beach , on the flat as I was in car accident which damaged a knee and hurt lower lumbar region ..no steep hills , I want a pool so I can sunbathe and that is not too noisy or a massive family hotel with activities all day to late!! I need free wifi as I am doing some writing and need to internet .
    If you could suggest a few places. I am thinking near Costa Adeje/Playa Fanabe etc . If this is too much to ask , just let me know.
    Thank you very much

    • Hi Gini, thanks for your kind comments. What makes giving suggestions a bit of a minefield is not knowing what people’s holiday preferences are – types of food and restaurants they like; whether they prefer authentic locations or places with resort amenities… and so on. The places we’ve stayed at in that area are either at the upper end of the hotel market, like the one in this review which, apart from cost, would tick your boxes, or are slightly inland and therefore up steepish hills. The place slopes as soon as you walk in from the coast (most of Tenerife is like that). Los Cristianos might suit better as the resort initially developed partly as a result of some Scandinavian visitors with mobility problems staying there. Ever since then the authorities have taken into account the needs of people with limited mobility. But again be wary of hotels not close to the coast.

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