Reviews of Bitacora Hotel, Playa De Las Americas, Tenerife

The Four Star Bitacora myths....

Overall Rating:

1/10

Board Basis:

Half Board

Date of Holiday:

Jun 2007

Tour Operator:

Thomas Cook

Submitted By:

Mr Dj Foster

Comments:

The Four Star Bitacora myths.



Hotel Bitacora stay 15.06.07- 29.06.07



I have just stayed at this allegedly four-star hotel for 14 very Butlins like days. In all honesty, if this is a four-star hotel I am deluded. However, I will comment in this review on all aspects of the hotel and let you make your own mind up, however I will add my comments at the end.



Reception:

Good start, very efficient reception services as you would expect because this hotel likes taking money off you. Efficient currency exchange but had large commission payment of 3 % even on Euro traveller’s cheques.



Reception staff are hopeless at this hotel if a problem arises, they refer you to the manager who only comes at a set time to deal with your problems. It really a guide to how good a hotel at how good they are at handling problems this hotel fails. Please see example below



• electric goes off and locks down the safe in your room you can’t get it open until either 11am or 6 pm, they are the only times this hotel will solve your problems.



I asked for the manger and when he arrived, he shouted at me and said, "It was not his job to open safes".



Rooms:

Basic circa 1980 design and furniture to match. Double bed is fake its two single mattresses pushed together, this produces a lovely ridge to damage your back on- classy four- star or what?



The room are not cleaned properly I had to pick up paper etc every day. I complained to the manager and he told me it was not possible.



It states in the important hotel information booklet that sheets will be change twice weekly or if they are soiled. I cut my foot and got some blood on the bed (sheets) and it took the house keeping staff 3 days to change the sheets-Dirty or what!



Nevertheless, saying this. The rooms are Large. 14 inch TV in place with TV, you cannot watch as the signal or braking up.



Bathroom:

Good- one area that was cleaned in the correct fashion. However, the shower is a joke it a cheap £1.50 pipe and head same as you would buy in Wilkinson’s. The water never gets hot unless you shower at none peak demand times like 3pm in the afternoon- I thought I was in a four- star hotel not some Greek pension.



Even if you left the towels on the floor they were not changed, just once a week new ones were put in, we had to use our own towels as the hotel’s towels were polluted with sunscreen, as you would expect.



Dining room and Food:

Not much criticism is here as the food was good and plenty of it. Only thing it was so bland. It was like eating in a school dining room where the head prefect told you where to sit and you got the one chance order to drinks, if you missed it you could never get the staff attention as they were or claimed to be so busy. I thought waiting staff were paid to wait and Serve you with drinks, correct me if I am wrong please.



Pool area and sun beds:

Pool area is fine and clean but space for sun beds is so limited. In addition, the demand for sun beds outstrips supply. I asked our rep about this and I got the reply that the hotel has 300 sun beds for 600 guests. That meant all the sun beds are gone by 7.45 in the morning, if you wish to get a quite spot (that's a joke) or near the pool you need to at the pool area by 7.00, some people sat there from 5.30 to secure their spot-sad or what!



Kids:

This hotel is for families do not believe what the holiday companies tell you. Even SAGA holiday books this as an over 55 only hotel. In the summer months it populated by feral kids who parents do not give a dam about what havoc they cause. Even down to knocking disabled holiday makers off their motorised wheelchairs, or taking delight in making everyone life a misery bar those who brought them into the world.



Bar and Entrainments:

Straight out of Phoenix nights- British working men’s club entertainments of the worst kind. Out of control kids running everywhere, as their parents get drunk on beer. So bad that at one point an act would not continue until the Kids were brought under control.



Kids stay up till 1am, as their parents get more progressively drunk. This bar is also full of cockroach’s, full king size big ones.



Avoid this bar at all costs.



Overall:

If you have children go to this hotel you will enjoy it, you can have a good holiday getting drunk, and letting your kids runs wild. You can sit there in the knowledge that you are upsetting all respectable hotel guest – but they do not suppose you are bothered because you just don’t care.



Anyone else do not go unless you like the thought of an holiday spoilt by someone else's kids.



But in any case this hotel is poor, so poor, it really need some good management to sort it, the Volcano across the run is so much better run.



Four-star this hotel is not it meets none of the basic criteria now, it shocking.

We went as a group of 5 18 year...

Overall Rating:

8/10

Board Basis:

Half Board

Date of Holiday:

Jun 2007

Tour Operator:

Thomas Cook

Submitted By:

Mrs H Sloan

Comments:

We went as a group of 5 18 year olds to stay at the Bitacora for a week. Can’t fault the hotel in the slightest, nice rooms, staff, food, and pool with good activities in the day.



Only drawback for us was that we seemed to be the only teenagers in the place. Was full of families and older couples and therefore the evening entertainment was also aimed at these groups of people.



Having said that however, it was still a fantastic holiday, it was located about 5 minute walk away from the nightclubs and bars so we can’t really complain!



Would really recommend this hotel for families and older people but not as much for younger people without their parents. But then we saw hoards of teenagers coming out the two star hotels like the optimist opposite, so you can’t have it all ways!



Very nice hotel, brilliant food and a really nice pool, not much more you can ask for really!



We were amused by the fact that people get up at Alf 7 to reserve the sunbeds every morning! But maybe we just weren’t used to this type of holiday!



Tenerife is a really enjoyable country and playa de las Americas is a top place for teenagers to stay!

Excellent hotel. Staff very...

Overall Rating:

9/10

Board Basis:

Half Board

Date of Holiday:

Jun 2007

Tour Operator:

Cosmos

Submitted By:

Ms P J Clover

Comments:

Excellent hotel. Staff very friendly and welcoming. Rooms and facilities of a very high standard, exceptionally clean. Location of hotel is superb.



Food was varied and of top quality. Not stayed here before but have at the sister hotel, Vulcano.



The Bitacora has much better evening entertainment and pool area. Worth upgrading to a pool view room as you get the safe, robes, and beach towels to use thrown in also, works out at about £10 a day extra for two of you. Well worth it just to watch the morning rush for sunbeds!



This was the only downside. There are actually plenty of sunbeds just not enough space to put them although the area is large. By day 4 however I myself morphed in to one of the obsessed and got up early to grab a sunbed! Just watch for those who put towels down and never appear until mid afternoon or not at all, very annoying.



Excellent hotel and staff all the same and would most certainly stay again.

Best holiday I've ever had!...

Overall Rating:

10/10

Board Basis:

Half Board

Date of Holiday:

Jun 2007

Tour Operator:

MyTravel

Submitted By:

Mrs J Graham

Comments:

Best holiday I've ever had! First time I've ever been abroad on holiday without suffering the effects of having eaten something dodgy! Food was fantastic.



Pool area cleaned every night. Rooms spacious and kept very clean. All staff couldn't have been friendlier or more helpful.



Entertainment staff are fantastic with children. Would not hesitate to recommend this hotel to anyone. Only slight hitch, cockroaches fairly regular sighting on site however this is more to do with the climate than the cleanliness of the hotel. A spray bought from the local supermarket all that was needed to keep them from approaching balcony/room.



Five minutes walk from promenade with plenty of supermarkets/bars etc. in local vicinity. All round great hotel.

A very well laid out hotel with...

Overall Rating:

9/10

Board Basis:

Half Board

Date of Holiday:

Oct 2005

Tour Operator:

First Choice

Submitted By:

Mr J Hoe

Comments:

A very well laid out hotel with excellent facilities. Excellent value for money.



We arrived in Mid October and were pleasantly surprised by the climate and the services on offer. This was our first visit to the Bitacora and it was recommended by friends (they also travelled with us at the time).



All staff were extremely polite and professional speaking excellent English, they would go out of their way to help - to this day we still receive an Xmas card from them.



The absolute best part of the Holiday was the food. Prepared to a very high standard with hygiene standards to match, we were delighted to be able to experience the dining buffet every day - never got tired of it and the choice was fantastic. Beverages were on offer I think from 6-7pm 'buy one get one free'! Also quite reasonable.



Both pools were also very good and extremely clean, the kids loved the slide and the poolside bar/restaurant was just perfect for a lunchtime snack.



Entertainment, was also top class for kids and adults alike.



Room size was good and layout was fine, aircon worked a treat and mini bar was stocked daily. I will return to this hotel again (the friends we went with are going back again in 2 weeks time for their 5th visit!).



Overall it is a very short walk from the shops and placed in between Las Americas and Los Cristianos, makes it ideal.

My family and I go to this hotel...

Overall Rating:

10/10

Board Basis:

Half Board

Date of Holiday:

Apr 2007

Tour Operator:

Flyglobespan

Submitted By:

Miss C Smyth

Comments:

My family and I go to this hotel every year and have a fantastic holiday. The staff are all very friendly and helpful.



The food is fantastic and there is always something you can eat.



The rooms are always clean to a very high standard.



There is always good entertainment on at night; there are always plenty of things to do during the day so you can have an active or relaxing holiday.



I would give this hotel a 5* rating. Look forward to another year at the fantastic Bitacora.

We have now visited this hotel...

Overall Rating:

10/10

Board Basis:

Half Board

Date of Holiday:

Jun 2005

Tour Operator:

Airtours

Submitted By:

Mrs N Appleton

Comments:

We have now visited this hotel some 5 times and can very highly recommend it.



Being part of the Spring hotels groups it is one of many hotel in its range, but to be honest having visited a fair few of the sister hotels, I can confirm this is the best one.



The rooms are large and spacious with 2 twin beds or a double, a single chair bed with a pull out bed underneath. The bathroom is marbled and has a built in hairdryer, toilet, bath, shower and bidet.



The one thing that stands out about this hotel is the fact the staff are so friendly and helpful all of the staff from the cleaners to the waiter they all go out of their way to make you feel like nothing is too much.



The food oh my god! Completely spoilt is simply to die for with 2 themed evenings a week and champagne brought out in the morning or whenever there is a special occasion.



The kids clubs are fab with activities and presentations in the evening and a kids mini disco and movie night.



The pool area is very very clean with 2 large pools which are heated and a water slide my kids simply loved this hotel and we look forward to going back this July 2007



Top class hotel highly recommended.

Family had a great time at the...

Overall Rating:

9/10

Board Basis:

Half Board

Date of Holiday:

Feb 2007

Tour Operator:

Booked Independently

Submitted By:

Mr R Gilmore

Comments:

Family had a great time at the Bitacora. Staff were very friendly, food was excellent.



Hotel location is ideal, less than 5 mins to the shops & beach.



Rooms were kept nice and clean, towels changed when required, bathrobes and beach towels supplied in Superior rooms (pool view).



The only reason I would mark this hotel down, is maybe a wee bit of modernizing of the decor to the bedrooms is required. But this is being picky!!



Thoroughly recommend the Bitacora.

Best hotel I have ever been to....

Overall Rating:

10/10

Board Basis:

Half Board

Date of Holiday:

Jul 2006

Tour Operator:

MyTravel

Submitted By:

Mr J I Hall

Comments:

Best hotel I have ever been to. The hotel was clean, well situated and the staff were kind and friendly. Only a short walk not even five minutes from shops bars and restaurants.



Lovely pool area with plenty of sun beds had no problem getting a sun bed, although this was July.



Food was delicious every night good range of meats, salads, fruit and vegetables.



Would definitely recommend to anyone, booked up for this June and wouldn’t usually go back to the same place twice!

This was my first holiday away...

Overall Rating:

10/10

Board Basis:

Half Board

Date of Holiday:

Aug 2005

Tour Operator:

Airtours

Submitted By:

Miss J Huntington

Comments:

This was my first holiday away with my boyfriend. I would recommend this hotel to anyone, it was absolutely gorgeous.



The rooms were clean, big and had a lot of storage space for your clothes even though we didn’t have a pool view, we were at the front of the hotel it was still gorgeous because you could see the beach and all the pubs.



I loved going here and I'm sure I'll be going back very soon the hotel staff were brilliant and funny and also spoke English.



The food was to die for you could pick anything. You could have omelette which a chef would specially make for you with any filling your heart desired and they had 3 minute eggs and 6 minute eggs they had 4 different types of sausages.



When it came to tea there was big roasts of lamb, beef, pork and they also had salmon and cod which were freshly cooked. I was just so surprised by the service of this hotel, I just couldn’t give anything to make it better.



It was in the middle of all the pubs and entertainment and the bus stop to go to the aqua park was just across the road.



I was so glad I went here, I didn’t want to go home.

This is one of the best hotel I...

Overall Rating:

10/10

Board Basis:

Half Board

Date of Holiday:

Sep 2006

Tour Operator:

Airtours

Submitted By:

Mrs D McClarnan

Comments:

This is one of the best hotel I have ever stayed in. The food is incredibly varied, with for or five meat and fish dishes every night, every type of veg and salad possible, omelettes cooked to demand, etc.



The room we had was very spacious and well maintained. Cleanliness was second to none. The staff were delightful, entertainment pleasant and not over the top (No reps shows!)



I can recommend this hotel to anyone. Location is perfect, far enough from the discos and noise, near enough to walk to Los Cristianos along the sea front, which is just down the road.

Hotel Bitacora was a really nice...

Overall Rating:

9/10

Board Basis:

Half Board

Date of Holiday:

Jul 2006

Tour Operator:

Airtours

Submitted By:

Miss A Thomas

Comments:

Hotel Bitacora was a really nice hotel to stay in. The rooms were really clean and spacious. Towels and sheets cleaned as often as you needed. Air conditioning in all rooms. Hotel very helpful when requesting adjoining rooms.



The entertainment was ok. The food was lovely a large variety to choose from. Dress code required for evening meal- gents only (trousers below the knee).



It was well situated for the beach, shops and night life. If you want to stay in the hotel during the peak season, be prepared to fight for sun beds by the pool. The hotel does not have any policy regarding reserving and is just a free for all. Didn’t matter to us as we went to the brilliant Playa De La Vista beach. Overall an excellent stay at this hotel.

Hotel is excellent, definitely...

Overall Rating:

10/10

Board Basis:

Half Board

Date of Holiday:

Oct 2005

Tour Operator:

First Choice

Submitted By:

Mr Mctail

Comments:

Hotel is excellent, definitely rates a 4*+. Very welcoming reception, Paco, Julio, Lucy.... fast check-in and delivered to room.



Room very spacious with excellent pool-view. No problem with noise at all as all rooms are double/double glazed. Food all buffet style but superb with so much choice you just didn’t know where to start, Highly recommended 100%.

A pleasant hotel. All the staff...

Overall Rating:

8/10

Board Basis:

Half Board

Date of Holiday:

Oct 2004

Tour Operator:

First Choice

Submitted By:

Mrs B Kuo

Comments:

A pleasant hotel. All the staff are so friendly and welcoming. The room sizes are very generous but a little dated, but I must stress they are very clean. The whole of the hotel is clean and well maintained. An extremely spacious, welcoming and comfortable lounge/reception. Nice size swimming pool with plenty of sunbeds and umbrellas. Pool bar serving delicious food. The restaurant was clean and the food very tasty but limited in variety. Despite the lack of variety the vegetarian among you won’t be disappointed or left hungry...phew!!




The entertainment was fine and the organised activities were great fun. All in all an enjoyable holiday.




In summary the Bitacora is a really lovely and comfortable hotel in pleasant surroundings, with enough to do whether you want fun and games or to just lounge by the pool. The staff are so friendly and nothing is too much trouble. Enjoy your holiday!

A fantastic hotel, spacious room...

Overall Rating:

10/10

Board Basis:

Half Board

Date of Holiday:

Sep 2004

Tour Operator:

Airtours

Submitted By:

Mrs R Roberts

Comments:

A fantastic hotel, spacious room exceptionally clean. Lovely balcony and especially if you pay extra for a superior room. Hotel staff very friendly, lovely food plenty of choice, close to everything. You can make your holiday as lively or quiet as you want it to be area has plenty to occupy you. The only downside was coming home. Can’t wait to go again.