Whilst I was down south, I thought I’d take a look at the newer, upmarket side of Costa Adeje, where the last few years has seen the arrival of a new batch of stylish five star hotels which are more imaginative architecturally than their neighbours at the other end of Playa Fañabe. One, the Gran Hotel Bahia Del Duque, even has a small shopping centre, built in the style of a typical Canarian village complete with mock church tower, attached. It’s all very nice, but I’m uncomfortable with the idea that visitors might feel that they’ve seen an authentic slice of Tenerife without leaving their hotel. Theme parks are okay, but you can’t beat the real thing.
I tried to have a look inside the hotel, but found it impossible as, so the doorman informed me, the only people allowed into the hotel itself were those staying there, or people with a prior appointment; even these had to sign in.
The Bahia Del Duque is obviously suffering from an identity crisis at the moment and believes that it’s the Pentagon and not a hotel in a tourist resort.
I’ve visited many hotels around the world and can’t remember any of them not welcoming ‘non-resident guests’ to their bars or restaurants. Maybe there was another reason-famous guest, low season and short staffed. Who knows?
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