Gran Turquea Hotel

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Hi we decided to have a break early on in the year. We chose Puerto de la Cruz as it looked stunning with the rugged coastline and a back drop of the mountains.
We weren’t disappointed from the moment we took off at Birmingham we have enjoyed this holiday so much. We only had a week but we packed a lot in. it was festival week fantastic! I can recommend it to anyone, no yobs, not much drunkenness and what little we saw was good natured.
We had the funeral of the Sardine, they all dress in black following a large sardine on a float. The procession makes its way around the town ending at the pier where it is burnt and a large amount of fireworks are set off. The mourners both men and women dress in women’s clothes, X- dressing being the theme of the festivals bands in the square, race around the street again in x-dress, the main parade later on in the week great costumes with vivid colours stunning sights and a good laugh.
The resort itself is set at different level so prepare to do some climbing our hotel the Turquesa was on the outskirts but a pleasant walk into town either along the seafront or through the peaceful streets. There no garish disco just lovely little bars if any action it’s around the town square where the locals gather to pass the time of day. It's predominantly a Spanish town every body we met were very friendly and we got around with just, olla adios gracias great cos we don't know anything else!
The hotel is very impressive not so much from the outside but once inside the foyer the glass and marble give a very opulent and airy feel we were on the fifth floor which we ascended in a glass lift. Our room 618a had a decent size bathroom with Jacuzzi bath and shower toilet bidet basin and a nice touch robes for your use.
Plenty of storage a built in wardrobe with a safe two single beds pushed together; aircon and a fridge and a humongous balcony. The food was lovely we always found something we wanted and I’m quite fussy and free house wine with your meal.
The outside was on two levels swimming pool with bar and paddling pool and Jacuzzi on upper level. No cash payment all on your card. The guests were mainly Germans. Spanish and the Saga Mafia (about 40 oldies pleasant but a bit cliquish) gathered in the bar by the foyer, as we spent most of the time in the town we didn’t have time to get to know anyone.
The weather was wonderful sunny the whole time we were there but two old lady's (Saga Mafia) been there weeks said it was their best week as they had had mixed weather beforehand.
Its worth mentioning, just down the road is the parrot park and is well worth a visit as it more of a wild life park with Orcas dolphin’s seals etc; need to get there early as its a full day 29 euros each well spent, we also had a behind the scenes tour which was 18 euros which gave you background info and they organised you to get all the shows.
Also; its a trek but the orchid gardens and the botanical gardens are fantastic good photo opportunities spectacular plants and I’m not that keen a gardener but the orchid gardens are like going back in time when money was no object very peaceful and very British.
As you can tell if you've lasted this long we were very enthusiastic and will be back a soon as the pennies allow!!!