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Forrest; Sep 2008 ...Second trip to Playa las Americas with my parents, stayed at the H10 Oasis Moreque - great value, bar next door with super music entertainment - parents elderly and everything they could want for. Flat, easy to walk super. Hotel staff friendly, clean and great value for money, going again next Feb. See all Playa de las Americas travel reviews | Write a review on Playa de las Americas

Playa de las Americas, Tenerife © canaryforum.com

Overview: Playa de las Americas is Tenerife's largest tourist playground, a purpose-built hedonistic haven for holidaymakers of all ages and stages who come here for fun in the sun from all over the world. The resort is situated in the south of the island near the Reina Sofia Airport. It has grown vastly during its 30 years of existence and now covers three different zones: the original Playa de las Americas, San Eugenio and Toviscas. There are three natural beaches in the resort area and three man-made ones, all covered with dark volcanic sand and extremely crowded during the summer season. The beaches are linked by a long promenade, which winds along the busy waterfront, backed by dozens of high-rise hotels and holiday apartment blocks. A mini train runs around the resort stopping at scheduled points every hour, and there are plenty of free buses to assist visitors in getting around, making the most of the entertainment venues, shops and sports facilities that abound. Don't expect to soak up any Canarian culture while holidaying at Playa de las Americas, but for those who enjoy the hullaballoo of a packaged, carefree summer vacation, the resort will exceed expectations.

Shopping: There is a vast array of shops in Playa de las Americas and visitors can indulge in duty-free delights in the numerous electrical stores and clothing shops. Shoppers should be aware that salesmen can be quite aggressive - bargain hard and remember that the shop next door probably sells the same stuff. The supermarkets offers most of the well-known brands, many imported to cater for the British tourists. Those in the mood for some haggling should go to the Torviscas Market (Thursday and Saturday from 10am); there are great bargains to be had and it's great for presents, but shoppers should get there early as it can get very crowded. A trip to Santa Cruz (one hour by bus) is worthwhile for those looking for designer clothes.

 

Restaurants: There are restaurants catering for every taste in Playa de las Americas - along the seafront are dozens of fast food stalls and restaurants advertising English breakfasts and Sky TV, but international dishes of all varieties are also offered including Indian, Chinese, some great pasta restaurants and, of course, excellent tapas and local Canary Islands cuisine. Many of the better restaurants are located in the Torviscas areas and in the neighbouring resort of Los Cristianos. There are also some nice restaurants overlooking the marina in Puerto Colon.

 

Nightlife: With more nightclubs than some British cities, Las Americas is a honey pot for those looking for more of a nocturnal holiday. The area known as The Patch is the best place to start the evening; there is a fine choice of nightspots and most have a happy hour or two. The most popular are Rags and Linekers - all dance bars which play a good mix of Pop, R&B, Dance and 80s party music. Many of the bars have good live music, often with impersonators. Later on the Veronicas complex and the Starco Commercial Centre are the places to head to, or avoid. The streets are packed with revellers until the early hours, particularly during the busy summer months. Bobby's and Busby's are good options for those into RnB and Garage, as is Tramps - the largest club on the island. There are also two casinos at the resort.

 

Activities: Las Americas has entertainment for all ages including tennis courts, amusement arcades, bowling, water parks and go-carting, and all sorts of watersports can be arranged from the beaches, from jet skiing and windsurfing to scuba diving and banana rides. Bungee jumping can be done at the Sky Park and visitors can swim with dolphins at the Aqua Park. There is an 18-hole golf course on the way to Los Cristianos and horse and camel riding can be arranged nearby. Boat trips leave regularly and bottlenose dolphins and whales are often seen. Other popular excursions include a trip to the capital, Santa Cruz, and to the Mount Teide National Park.

 

Negatives: The resort is built on the side of a hill and many apartments have a steep walk up from the beach. The accommodation near the centre can be very noisy until the early hours. There are hundreds of touts trying to sell you everything from trinkets to timeshare apartments - it's best to be firm but polite and avoid getting into a conversation with them. There are promotions staff outside the bars and restaurants who are quite insistent, but it can be worth chatting them up as they sometimes offer free drinks. Be aware of con artists; don't accept scratch cards or play cards with anyone on the beach. Although the authorities are clamping down on prostitution, drug dealing and yobbish behaviour, some visitors find the Veronicas complex intimidating at night. Those looking for a quieter evening should remain on the Torviscas side of the resort. The beaches are fairly small and get crowded, particularly during the busy summer season.

 

Attractions

Masca

For scenery a visit to the northwest tip of the island of Tenerife, around the picturesque village of Masca, is hard to beat. The village is set in the Teno Mountains, clinging to the slopes of a deep green ravine beside a narrow road... see full details


Pirámides de Güímar

On the east coast of Tenerife, south of Santa Cruz, stand six mysterious step pyramids of which archaeologists have yet to discern the origin. The pyramids were initially thought to be just remains of agricultural stone terraces, or random piles of stone cleared from... see full details


Teide National Park

The Parque Nacional de las Canadas del Teide was declared a protected area in 1954 and has become recognised as offering one of the most spectacular landscapes of the world, including an enormous volcanic crater with a circumference of 30 miles (48km), out... see full details



Activities

Boat Trips from Tenerife: There are a huge number of companies offering boat trips to tourists and these vary from a 'booze cruise' on a cruiser offering lunch, drinks and watersports to a trip around the island on a sailing boat or catamaran. One of the main attractions is the chance to see whales and dolphins in the wild. Visitors on most trips spot whales; dolphins are not so much of a certainty but are generally seen - often very close to the boat. Trips go from either Puerto Colon in Playa de las Americas, or from the port at Los Cristianos and most operators offer a free bus service from the larger hotels in the main resorts.

Big Game Fishing around Tenerife: The Canary Islands are one of the best spots in the world for big game fishing and there are a number of companies who offer fishing trips in Tenerife. While blue marlin are the most highly prized trophy fish there are plenty of other species including white marlin, wahoo, dorado, yellowfin tuna, and mako and hammerhead sharks. Regular catches of blue marlin range from 331 to 496 pounds (150 to 225kg).