Relax, Review of the Hotel Spa Villalba in Vilaflor

We’ve written about the Hotel Spa Villalba in Vilaflor before, but last time it was as part of a prize in a travel competition and not in this format.

Overall
The Villalba is one of our favourite hotels on Tenerife. It simply ticks all the boxes we like in a hotel – from its location and family friendly vibe to its style and good looks. We walk through those front doors into its tasteful lodge-like foyer and immediately R-E-L-A-X.

Where is the Hotel Spa Villalba?
The Hotel Villalba sits high above the forest town of Vilaflor; one of the prettiest towns on Tenerife and part of one of the highest municipalities in Spain. It’s a location to have nature lovers sighing; pines surround the hotel, making the location dreamily romantic. As well as pine forest, there are views all the way to the coast, clouds permitting, where Montaña Roja acts as an unmistakeable landmark for getting your bearings. Being located beside a picturesque town with a few good restaurants is a bonus. The short walk into town is a steep one but as the hotel is a popular base for hikers and cyclists, it isn’t going to trouble most people’s thigh muscles.

What is the Hotel Spa Villalba Like?
From outside the Hotel Villalba has the appearance of an Alpine mountain lodge; it’s a look which fits the surrounding countryside perfectly. Inside, the lodge theme continues, albeit with a tad more panache than your average Alpine lodge. The foyer is a beautiful introduction to the hotel – high ceilings, huge stain glass windows, polished pine staircase and gallery, trickling fountain, quirky art work (the bird that figures on the hotel’s logos), and an unmissable ‘SPA’ sign.

It’s a family run hotel (Reverón) and feels like it; small enough to feel intimate and personal, big enough so that it’s not claustrophobic. The lounge area doubles as a bar – a cosy, comfortable one with armchairs and a roaring fire (in winter). There’s a TV lounge with cinema-sized flat screen TV and, a contrasting nod to a different era, a bridge room.

I particularly love the exterior patios sheltered by the pines. They are perfect for a pre-dinner dusky stroll, or to sit in the warm sunshine enjoying a good book with the air full of the heady scent of the forest.

Icing on the cake is the spa, free use, with its covered swimming pool extending into the forest. It’s a decent sized spa with saunas, jacuzzi, steam baths and plunge pools. After a long day’s hiking, some spa time is a much appreciated reward for tired limbs. There’s also a climbing wall and a gym but we didn’t try them out – not after walking all day.

What are the Bedrooms Like?
The bedrooms match the style of the rest of the hotel. They’re roomy and also in an Alpine style with lots of polished wood perked up by bright décor and some modernistic touches. The bathrooms are elegant; jaunty blue and Canary yellow colour schemes lend a slightly French air to them. Toiletries are provided and there’s a hairdryer.

They are extremely comfortable rooms to spend time in, with a lounge area if you wanted to watch TV (flat screen). Rooms have a big wooden balcony overlooking the forest on which to make good friends with a bottle of the wine from the hotel’s own vineyards.

Beds are huge, comfortable and with proper pillows; none of those limp, useless affairs you sometimes find in Spanish hotels.

There’s free WiFi but it really only works in communal areas.

How Good is the Food?
We’re fans of the food at the Villalba’s Vendimia restaurant which is also open to the public. The menu manages to successfully blend Spanish/Canarian influences with more international crowd-pleasers. So as well as the likes of rabbit and octopus you get salmon and pasta dishes. The food also manages to tread a line between showing a bit of flair in its presentation and maintaining a rustic earthiness – good honest fare with a touch of style. What I particularly like about it is the freshness of ingredients. Most vegetables and herbs come from their own gardens – it’s worth trying their vegetable tempura. Add to that a bottle of their own wine (pretty decent too) and you’ve got a real home grown affair. All in all it matches everything else about the Villalba – professional but with a family feel.

Breakfast is equally enjoyable – a small but diverse buffet with a range of cold meats and cheeses, pastries, bacon and egg, yoghurts, cereals, teas and coffee, jams and lovely fresh, warm breads. There’s an outside terrace but in February it was just too parky at that altitude to brave it.

What is the Best Thing About Hotel Spa Villalba?
I wouldn’t pick out anything specific about the Villalba – a combination of factors make it an incredibly appealing place to stay and one of those hotels that I feel totally relaxed in from the moment I walk through its doors. However, if you were to push me, enjoying the spa after a day in the forest is a delicious treat.

Who Would it Suit Best?
Although the obvious answer is nature lovers (hikers and cyclists) the Villalba is perfect for couples wanting a romantic getaway as well as anyone else who enjoys the idea of a tranquil and beautiful  base.

We love it, what more can I say?

Hotel Spa Villalba; Camino San Roque, Vilaflor; Tel (+34) 922 709 930

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+