El tope in English literally means the end or the limit. Unfortunately, Hotel El Tope in Puerto de la Cruz looks like it reached its limit sometime back in the late 70’s or maybe that’s the last time the thread bare green carpet was cleaned or they bought new furniture.
My girlfriend Mia and I chose it from a plethora of hotels in the city on the rugged north coast of the island won over by its ‘spa’ and its overall 8 out of 10 rating on booking.com. The spa turned out to be a mini-sauna and mini-Jacuzzi in the dimly lit basement of the hotel situated next to a modest gym and not the harmonious mind, body and soul experience one craves for when they submerge in a jacuzzi hoping to leave behind the worries of work, life and indeed the fact that their national football team is and always will be a disappointment. Lying in a jacuzzi with gym users moaning and groaning while they heave weights just a few feet away was not the kind of ‘spa’ I’d imagined and the experience was topped off by a quick sortie into the sauna where I was soon joined by a heavy lady who I suspected was of German descent by her accent who then dropped her towel to reveal the fact that she definitely wasn’t Brazilian but possibly from Bavaria given the forest that she was harbouring down south. I tried to stay for as long as possible and didn’t want to offend her by leaving straight away but it just kept looking at me and the forest seemed to be getting more gingery and orange every time my eyes dared look towards it. All this time my girlfriend Mia, was sat reading her book outside as she wasn’t tempted by the rather spartan spa on offer. I fancied having a go anyway remembering the old adage: a bit of dirt never hurt.
Back in the room with the springy beds, a TV older than the one from my Nan’s spare room and suspiciously moist, discoloured sheets that would have looked more at home in a third world hospital we enjoyed one of the big positives of the experience: the view from the terrace of the dancing brilliant blue ocean, the moody mist covered verdant mountainside and the rooftops of the city itself seemed to justify the choice and we both breathed in to savour the moment and absorb the purity of the air such places offer up. We’d made a deal to leave laptops, ipads, iphones at home and not let these opportunities to ‘smell the flowers’ come second place as they so often do in daily life.
There were many other positives too: the pool wasn’t overcrowded, noisy or full of kids as we thought it might be at the height of mid-summer and we enjoyed a few sun soaked hours there jumping in and out the pool with some good food and very friendly service from the bar. The bountiful breakfast the morning we left was another big plus and would’ve pleased all the guests with a variety of choices from full English to continental. Mia was won over when she discovered the decaf coffee sachets. Once again the service was friendly, helpful and never far away.
So the million dollar question… or rather the 88Euro question (one night in El Tope). Sadly we both said we wouldn’t return. Sure the staff were always professional, approachable and ready to help but with it being one of the more expensive choices amongst hundreds of hotels and proudly boasting its 4 stars we expected more for our money and something a little more modern and cleaner. As for the spa… you could make a better one at home with some bubble bath and a generous helping of brussel sprouts and beans beforehand.
“Always finish on a positive!”, my goalkeeping coach screamed at me when I was a kid: on our terrace at sunset where the tangerine sun melted into the sea, the tweeting swallows chased each other around the top of the bell tower of the church and Mia and I embraced in each other’s arms made it all worth it.
Отель очень интересно расположен, надо сказать. Всего в двух шагах от океана, и в то же время как будто в горах. Когда стоишь на балконе, такое ощущение, будто океан далеко, а как спускаешься вниз - вот он, с пляжем и всеми сопутствующими развлечениями, кафе и рыбными ресторанчиками.
Выше Брэд пишет что ему мало что в отеле понравилось вообще, но на мой взгляд все было вполне прилично: чистая комната и белье; дружелюбный стафф; ухоженная территория и чистый бассейн с лежаками, столиками, отличным сервисом и всем необходимым; вкусный, разнообразный завтрак с моим любимым и жизненно необходимым decaf'ом и - это действительно важно!! :) - бесплатная парковка прямо на территории отеля! Ну те, кто хоть раз бывали здесь, со мной согласятся. :)
Лично мое хорошее впечатление от поездки увеличилось от множества классных моментов, даже мгновений, о которых, как правило, помнишь больше чем о чем-то масштабном, - огни на главной площади, испанский парень, поющий и танцующий под бразильские ритмы; не совсем правильный с точки зрения диеты, но от того лишь более вкусный ужин в 10 вечера в итальянском ресторане, и т.д.
А ниже фотоотчет! Не из сауны, как вы понимаете. :)
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