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Daily Mail
10-05-2025
- Daily Mail
I swapped the Maldives for a popular Spanish resort best known for cheap beer - and got the same luxury for less
I have always been a Maldives loyalist. Thanks to its turquoise water, the overwater bungalows and white-sand bliss, the South Asian country really had my heart. But I'm now ready to hand in my Maldivian membership card, because I've discovered a sun-soaked slice of luxury heaven just a four-hour flight from the UK - in Spain. That means no jet lag, no long-haul faff, and the clincher? Flights are around £60 return. Tucked away in La Caleta, one of the most exclusive and unspoilt corners of Costa Adeje, the Royal Hideaway Corales Villas is the glittering, new crown jewel of Tenerife's five-star scene. Perched on a cliffside that overlooks the Atlantic Ocean and jaw-dropping views that change colour with the light, the resort offers a new way of holidaying where privacy is guaranteed and inclusive guest experiences are optional. Arriving bleary-eyed from Stansted after a four-and-a-half-hour flight, I was horizontal by the pool with a glass of Prosseco in hand before most people on my flight had reached baggage claim. So what makes this place so special? Let's start with the villas themselves. Designed by renowned architect, Leonardo Omar, they feature clean lines, glass balconies, natural stone and infinity pools that merge into the skyline. The interiors strike that perfect balance between luxe and laid-back – think warm wood, crisp white linens, and locally crafted touches like volcanic rock sculptures and artisan ceramics. Every detail has been thought through, from the Bluetooth speakers and pillow menus to the refillable luxury Guerlain toiletries (eco points for that). With 40 two-bedroom Deluxe Suites (complete with fully-equipped kitchen, lounge area and private swimming pool) and 21 two and three-bedroom villas (ditto but on a larger scale), Corales Villas has mastered the art of a self-contained sanctuary. Mine had two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a kitchenette, utility room (perfect for families), living room and the most glorious outdoor terrace complete with a private, heated infinity pool. I'm talking poolside coffee in your pyjamas, with the ocean glittering beyond, and moonlit dips after a lazy dinner of grilled octopus and local wine. It's impossibly romantic, but also ridiculously relaxing, even with kids in tow. With the option of cooking a family meal in-house, having an in-room chef (yes, really) or having a well-earned break at one of the two on-site restaurants, it's as independent as you want it to be. Speaking of food... oh my. Corales Villas is part of the award-winning Royal Hideaway Corales Resort, which means you get all the perks of a top-tier five-star hotel with the privacy of your own villa. That includes access to the resort's two in-house restaurants – Bonfire and Crater. Bonfire serves up a seasonal tasting menu that marries Canarian ingredients with bold Mediterranean flavours (don't miss the mushroom dry rice paella, it's delicious). Crater, meanwhile, is an open kitchen and a lava-inspired design that nods to Tenerife's volcanic roots and the culture of surrounding islands. Think bigeye tuna with pickled mojo marinade, black pork terrine and local wines by the glass. Both are effortlessly chic and just steps from your private retreat. If you're able to drag yourself away from your luxury abode, you can explore the charming coastal town of La Caleta just a ten-minute drive away, where the seafood is fresh and the locals bask on the rocks like lizards. For the more adventurous among us, hike the coastal path to Playa Diego Hernández, a secret cove beloved by locals, or join the cool crowd at Coqueluche Beach Bar for cocktails with live acoustic sets and a buzzy atmosphere. It's no surprise that the resort has been the talk of the travel scene since it opened and it won't be long before the A-listers gravitate towards its glossy veneer and discreet setting. But, despite the shiny surfaces, there's nothing pretentious about Corales Villas. Staff are genuinely warm (without the awkward hovering), and the vibe is more 'barefoot luxury' than blingy. You could swan around in heels and designer kaftans or pad barefoot from terrace to pool and never see another soul. By the end of the week, I'd stopped checking emails, forgotten what day it was, and actually considered extending my stay. The Maldives may have the Instagram factor, but Royal Hideaway Corales Villas has something better: effortless, low-key luxury, without the jet lag or the £12 airport smoothie. So if you're looking for a blow-the-budget break without the long-haul headache, book the flight to Tenerife, skip the overwater hut, and dive into the best-kept secret in European luxury travel. Maldives who?
The Independent
12-03-2025
- The Independent
Why the Canary Islands should be your next holiday destination in 2025
An archipelago of eight sun-drenched islands 100 miles off the north west shoulder of Africa make up the Canaries on the Atlantic Ocean. Chiefly celebrated for year-round vitamin D and playas that rival the Balearics, on these Spanish islands natural landscapes transcend even the bright lights of their coastal resorts. Each as dynamic as the next, the Canary Islands offer endless active pursuits, beaches to bathe and cultural adventures to cement their popular position as the place to get away for Brits. Whether tucking into elevated plates of tapas, hiking steep lava fields or doing some serious stargazing, the Canaries masterfully balance budget travel with Michelin-quality luxury for trips that are sure to surprise you. From holiday hotspot Lanzarote to under-the-radar La Gomera, here's where to find getaways on the Canary Islands, just a four-hour flight from the UK. Tenerife Tenerife is sandwiched between the Sahara and the Atlantic, with tropical forest trails in Parque Nacional Las Cañadas del Teide, journeys into the arteries of a dormant volcano, Mount Teide and Europe' s first Whale Heritage Site, home to 28 species of cetacean. All can be explored during four seasons of sun. Though well-catered for budget-friendly package holidays, the Canary island disputes its sour rep as a cheap spot primed for British pubs and associated tomfoolery with its leafy canopy and wild west coast – both relatively untouched by tourism. It's also the ideal spot to see the stars, with clear skies, clean air and high altitudes. Tenerife knows how to attract Brits, with golden sands imported from Western Sahara for sprawling beach fronts, and the popular Siam Park, which remains open throughout winter for sun-seekers visiting the largest of the Canaries. Royal Hideaway Corales Suites offers a home-from-home for holidaymakers in the fishing village of La Caleta. The resort has luxe suites on the beach, three heated saltwater pools and Michelin-starred restaurant El Rincón de Juan Carlos – all designed by local architect Leonardo Omar to mimic a sea cave. Gran Canaria Known as the 'miniature continent' for its contrast of volcanic calderas, urban beaches and imposing heights, Gran Canaria sits in the centre of the Canary Islands archipelago. Black and white southern sands dot Playa del Inglés, Puerto de Mogán and Puerto Rico, and the stylish Meloneras waterfront offers an oasis for holidaymakers shopping, eating and watching the sun go down. Active travellers can tackle the 75km Gran Canaria Camino path which stretches coast-to-coast from Maspalomas in the south to Santiago de los Caballeros in the north, crossing dunes and lush forest as they tread the diameter of this circular island. Enviable temperatures (average daily highs of 24C) and fresh banana snacks are sure to help with the journey. Where to stay Santa Catalina, a Royal Hideaway Hotel, is a hotel dating back to 1890, built in Santa Catalina's distinctive pink. It's just a short stroll from the old town, Vegueta, and the city's main beach. Neoclassical rooms feature wooden balconies, ambient lighting and comfortable beds for some R&R before tucking into an extravagant breakfast buffet. Lanzarote With clear, shallow waters, palm-lined promenades and rows of parasols, Lanzarote has smartened up its image from tacky tourist hotspot to luxury travel destination. Famed as the most popular Canary for holidaymakers, a new wave of chic boutiques, pristine beaches and well-equipped resorts awash with international restaurants now sit below the island's dramatic mountains. Visit Papagayo Beach on the island's southern tip for a tan top-up by emerald waters, or tour Timanfaya National Park's lunar landscapes for otherwordly views of the entire island. Playa Blanca, Puerto del Carmen and Costa Teguise are ideal for families visiting the usually rain-free isle, but hidden in rural whitewashed villages are the jewels in Lanzarote 's crown. Peppered with hamlets, country bodegas and the vineyard belt of La Geria, tourists are attracted to the lava field landscape, benign inland climate and sparkling coastline, whatever the season. H10 Rubicón Palace, in the heart of Playa Blanca, is a family-friendly resort with five different dining venues, spacious suites to sleep your whole clan and a village atmosphere. Sunsets, nightly shows, multi-sports courts and themed meals greet guests heading for this white sand stretch of Lanzarote. Fuerteventura Travellers flock to the coast of the Canary's oldest island, Fuerteventura, year-round for surfing and watersports. Here, miles of golden sand blessed with breaks and swells for riding the waves is coupled with a relaxed vibe to match the surf scene. On the southwest tip, Sotavento Beach's 9km stretch is a hub of wind and kite surfing, while famous north shore breaks in chic Corralejo are hailed as Europe's answer to Hawaii for surfing. Beneath the volcanic mountains, the hills are scattered with traditional windmills, Aztec-inspired churches and ochre colonial mansions. Think kitesurfing, buggy driving and mountain hikes to volcanic wine cellars on a Fuerteventura holiday. Where to stay If stylish boutique hotels accented with white and blue, a sheltered beach and a classic Spanish restaurant are what you desire from a Fuerteventura holiday, then the Avanti Lifestyle Hotel should fit the bill. Originally opened in 1969, 14 terraced bedrooms are available for adults to kick back in Corralejo after days spent diving into watersports. La Palma The isle bonita – the 'pretty island' – of La Palma is a subtropical paradise marked by lava scars from its active Tajogaite volcano. Since its last eruption devastated Palermos in 2021, the ashy shore has found its place in the archipelago's tourism arena with seismic volcano-themed tours and cruises around its corrugated coast. The lushest of the Canaries, La Palma is considered one of the world's steepest islands. This naturally diverse destination is best appreciated on foot, with high-altitude hiking on La Palma's central peaks the activity du jour, rather than shoreside lounging or living it up in the nightclubs of Tenerife or Lanzarote. However, for a break from your step count, Los Cancajos, a small resort near the island's attractive capital Santa Cruz de La Palma, is dotted with black sand beaches, shallow bays and bistros serving papas bonitas (wrinkled potatoes with Canarian mojo verde sauce) for an authentic taste of this palatable island. Where to stay Hotel San Telmo in Santa Cruz de La Palma features charming 17th-century decor with 21st-century comforts and it's ideally situated for a countryside hike. Reading in the garden solarium and feasting on freshly prepared bread at breakfast are also on the itinerary for guests. La Gomera La Gomera, a peaceful land of walking and whistling, is the second smallest of the main isles, and a hiker's dream for a winter walking holiday. Only 15 miles wide, the 'little sister' to Tenerife (which is a 50-minute boat ride away) packs a punch with its breathtaking range of scenery. The gorges are so steep on the island that the El Silbo whistling language developed on La Gomera so farmers could communicate across its deep ravines. The island is studded with palms on its west coast, black sands at Valle Gran Rey, lush green valleys and fruit plantations in the north, and hiking trails through the misty Garajonay National Park. This Canary is also becoming something of a foodie hotspot. Imaginative culinary delights, from melon lobster to marmalade rabbit, put a twist on Spanish classics, with goat cheese and dried figs drizzled with palm honey and cazuela, a herb-heavy fish stew, also making the menu. Exceptional local fish offerings include sama, cherne and tuna, while terraced vineyards surrounding Vallehermoso and Hermigua are the perfect spot to wash down La Gomera delicacies with local grapes. Where to stay The four-star Hotel Jardín Tecina offers an outdoor pool, hot tub and terraced rooms laid out like a traditional Canarian village. It's just a short drive from world-class golf courses – and the tranquil flower gardens boast exceptional views of Mount Teide, all just steps from Santiago Beach. El Hierro The smallest and most remote Canary Island, El Hierro is a ferry or flight from Tenerife and was once viewed as the 'end of Earth'. Historically, it hasn't been a magnet for mass tourism, but this tiny island is scattered with dramatic volcanic deserts, ancient forests, lava fields, banana plantations and wind farms, aiding ambitions for self-sufficient energy. Now a protected Unesco biosphere reserve, El Hierro's unpolluted waters are a paradise for scuba divers, with the crystalline depths of Mar de Las Calmas attracting all manner of marine life. In the coastal villages of La Caleta and El Tamaduste, natural pools for swimming are backdropped by a rugged cliffside with holiday cottages nestled atop for panoramic views from the southernmost point of Spain. On land, activities include hiking, mountain biking and la lucha Canaria (Canarian wrestling), while the quadrennial festival Bajada de la Virgen de los Reyes – an 18-mile pilgrimage winding the tracks of Valverde since 1741 – sees the Virgin of Los Reyes (the island's patron saint) carried in a lively procession to the capital. Where to stay On the coast of El Golfo Bay, Balneario Pozo de la Salud oozes calm. At the laid-back accommodation, there's a spa that features clinical and aesthetic treatments, plus sprawling sea views of the Atlantic from modern suites and the on-site restaurant.
