A Week In South Tenerife with Clickstay -

On October 13th myself and two fellow bloggers, Sian and Laura, jetted off to stay in a villa for a week in south Tenerife with Clickstay. I have visited Tenerife when I was a child, however I don’t remember much about it at all so really had no idea what to expect from the island. When I was given the chance to spend a week abroad without my family I jumped at the chance – not because I don’t want to spend time together, but I know how important time to yourself is. As a chronic fatigue sufferer, Autumn is a particularly difficult time of year so the chance to spend seven days in the sun and take time away from every day pressures was too good to pass up. Fortunately John was open to the idea and with the help of my mum we managed to sort out childcare so I could go.

Laura and I landed late on the Saturday and it was dark when we drove the fifteen minute journey to the El Barranco where our villa was situated, so it meant we didn’t see much that day. We did, however enjoy a bottle of prosecco with Sian sitting on our private patio taking in the fact that we had actually arrived and were about to enjoy a whole week to ourselves.

El Barranco is actually a twenty year old site, however has sat relatively untouched in that time due to the economic crash. Until now, that is, and the El Barranco family and are on a mission to completely renovate the site and get it ready for launch in 2019. The villa is set in a large, gated site, meaning complete security and peace of mind. As well as several other villas, there are apartments surrounding a huge pool area and looking out to sea, meaning you can sit on your patio and enjoy a sea view over breakfast.

The pool area is due to be completed soon and will feature six pools of different sizes and depths, not to mention a pool bar and other facilities. At the moment two of the pools are open – a medium size full depth one and a shallower paddling pool for the kids, or if you’re me just to lay alongside and casually dip your toes in as you read a book. It is such a peaceful setting, with a lot of effort having gone into maintaining the open pools and surrounding gardens, you could see once it is all complete what an asset this area will be to the complex.

The villa itself is set over one floor and features three double bedrooms which at the moment all have double beds, but these can be unzipped to make twin beds which is a valuable feature if you are visiting as a family. The bedrooms were all set out well, with plenty of storage, lighting and shutters which totally black out the room once they are down so fantastic if you need a nap during the day or are a light sleeper. The one problem we had was the air conditioning did not work the week we were there, and whilst we were provided with a fan it’s definitely something that needs addressing for future visitors.

From the bedrooms you will find a large, bright living space with modern kitchen fitted with plenty of storage, a large fridge, freezer, microwave and washing machine. There is a dining table big enough to fit six guests as well as a breakfast bar for more casual dining. Behind that is a comfortable living area with a sofa, two chairs and TV which has access to all the UK channels – perfect for when you need to get out of the heat and relax. There is also access to wifi, if that is something you look for, although personally I prefer to be off grid when I’m on holiday.

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Outside on the patio is a table and chairs and sunbed, giving you a chance to sit in your own space undisturbed whilst you enjoy a drink or just take in the view. We spent many a time just relaxing outside and making the most of the chance of some sun during what would normally be a colder time were we in the UK.

The complex of El Barranco has a bar and two restaurants on site, with more planned in the near future. I partook in a large gin in the bar on our first full night and enjoyed the welcoming, jovial atmosphere around us as locals and residents got together after a long week of work. We also had a sample of the menu, ordering cheesy chips after a particularly raucous night involving caramel vodka shots, and they were finished off within minutes they were so good! On our last night Laura and I had a meal at the Italian upstairs and whilst you may be deceived by the strange entrance and 90’s decor, don’t be put off as the food was fantastic and I would definitely recommend trying it out.

The resort is a five minute walk from the front, where you will find rocky volcanic bays and a pretty little marina. There is also a small parade of restaurants and shops a little further past the marina, which, whilst they don’t provide the finest of cuisine, offer enough for a lunch or just an ice cream should you need a break from the sun. On the marina you will find access to many activities such as a trip on a pirate boat or the submarine safari (more about that in another post) and there is even a cafe set in the lighthouse, which is a fantastic spot to enjoy the view whilst sipping on a cappuccino.

El Barranco is in the area of Amarilla, named for the Amarilla Golf Course. The golf course is a fifteen minute walk from the resort and you will find the actual course covers the whole area, from the mountains right up to the sea front. We were given a tour of the course and the views are outstanding from each tee, not to mention how well maintained the fairways and greens were considering the lack of rainfall in Tenerife. Having once hosted the PGA European Tour and designed by well-known golf course designer Donald Steele, it offers a world class experience set in a stunning location.

There is even more to do slightly further afield in the area but I will leave that for another post. Safe to say we had an absolutely fantastic week and Hollie and all the staff at El Barranco not only made us feel totally welcome but part of the family. I also have to say that the chance to take a break from normal life, especially at this time of year, was so valuable to me and I am hugely grateful for the opportunity and the company of Sian and Laura who certainly made the week so enjoyable.

I am really looking forward to watching the progress of this site as if I took away one thing it was how much time, effort and passion is going into the complex to make it the best it can possibly be and I’m confident that come the launch next November we will be able to witness just how hard they have all worked.

If you would like to visit El Barranco, Clickstay are offering a £50 to all readers using the code TenerifeTrio, which is valid on a minimum booking price of £500 or more. Come back soon for more about our trip and what the island of Tenerife has to offer.