SAY ALOE TO LUXURY
Stunning five-star spa hotel in Costa Adeje, Tenerife, is the perfect place to relax, refresh and spoil yourself.. and you’ll love the food and cocktails too
IF YOU are looking for a holiday with relaxation at its heart, the Iberostar Sabila hotel by the shores of Tenerife’s Costa Adeje is the place.
It offers the perfect mix of stylish decor and exclusive, luxury leisure facilities to leave you feeling refreshed, pampered and renewed.
Relaunched in March following a 12-month, £35million refurbishment, Hotel Sabila is a five-star spa and 472-room hotel for adults only.
The hotel name is derived from the Arabic word Sabaira – a term for aloe, which nods to the fact that southern Tenerife is home to one of the largest aloe vera crops in Europe.
Renowned for its healing properties and multiple benefits for beauty and relaxation, the plant forms a r unning th em e throughout the resort.
Other odes to the unique character of the Canary Islands can be found throughout the hotel – with giant robin images decorating the walls of the rooms along with birds nest-inspired lamp shades.
Each room features a balcony and large, spacious en suite with separate toilet and a waterfall shower.
The rooms also feature an inbuilt Bluetooth speaker which plays your music everywhere.
Levels five and six offer a Star Prestige experience with an exclusive infinity pool and ocean-view rooftop decking area – a perfect spot for that perfect Instagram snap.
However, the main swimming area below is none too shabby either. Surrounded by beautiful gardens and fountains, the outdoor leisure area looks out over the sea and has access to the gluten-free Star Caffe and an a la carte snack bar. While the modern, aloe vera-themed decor feels fresh and minimal, the hotel has retained the authentic Spanish customs of the Canary Islands.
Nowhere is this more apparent than in the Gourmet Market.
Replicating the style of classic street-food venues, this area serves as the hotel’s staple restaurant, offering everything from meats and seafood to traditional Spanish tortilla and croquettes.
The smells and flavours transported me to the hustle and bustle of markets in the heart of large Spanish cities – this is not the usual hotel restaurant experience.
There’s also a fabulous Asian stall with professionally crafted sushi dishes and a mouth-watering dessert section with crepes made fresh and served with fruit, jam and chocolate. Guests can charge to their rooms for each dish or visitors can pay up front as they go.
The aloe vera theme runs through the drink menu as well, with flavoured gins and vodkas on offer
at the Gourmet Market Bar and upstairs Lobby Bbar.
I would also recommend the special aloe vera cocktail – serving a mix of rum, lemon and aloe vera liqueur frozen together in a refreshing frozen daiquiri-style.
Breakfast is served in the basement with a variety of options on offer.
From classic cooked components – there’s even an egg chef on hand – to fruits, pancakes, crepes, waffles, pastries, breads, cereals, yoghurts and more – my suggestion is to grab a few plates. Lunch is served within the same hall with a similar overwhelming variety on offer.
Italian chefs cook up stone-baked pizzas while sizzling hot paellas and small dish tapas are laid out.
I can safely say the food was one of the most memorable and delightful aspects of my stay.
The surrounding area of Costa Adeje is busy – with many familyorientated resorts nearby.
However, there are seaview restaurants aplenty and the quieter areas of the island are minutes away.
I would recommend getting out on the water if you can. The ocean offers sights of schools of dolphins, whales and, if you’re lucky, turtles.
There are also nearby diving spots with hundreds of fish to delight any keen snorkeler.
The beach is just a short walk from the hotel. Despite how they may appear at first, the black, volcanic sands distinctive to the Canaries are soft and pleasant to walk along – or perfect for a morning run.
The area also has a promenade which runs parallel with the water, paced with shops, restaurants and bars. This is not a party destination – however the sea view balconies of the Gourmet Market and Lobby Bar are a perfect place to watch the sun set across the waves with a cocktail in hand.
Entertainment is also regular in the evenings with live singers and bands – we were treated to a set of Spanish guitar and Flamenco dancing on our last night.
If you are looking for one night of partying, the famed night-life of Playa de las Americas is only a fiveminute taxi ride from the hotel.