By Charmaine Hibbert
   
The four-hour journey down from London to Tenerife was perfect, giving me time to catch up on some sleep. I have to wait for James to pick up his golf clubs and then we head through customs and meet our driver who informs us that the journey will take about an hour. As we head north along the coast road I find myself just glued to the window, it is a magnificent view and I am glad I took my rest on the plane.
The driver then tells us we are about to embark on the most scenic part of the journey and I am thinking this has got to be special and I am not wrong. As we ascend the roads leading through the mountains it's a spectacular journey, the highlight of it is the volcanic Mount Teide, which is the highest mountain in Spain.
The Level
As we descend down into the town of Buenavista there are more beautiful views of the sandy coastline and the glittering Atlantic Ocean. On my arrival I am lead to what is known as the Levels check in, customers who have booked a “Levels” stay not only have their own reception but access to snacks and drinks all day in a private section of the hotel, on top of that you will find gifts in your room each day and during my stay I was left a nice bottle of local red wine and a bottle of Cava to enjoy.
I am given my key but decline the escort to my room as I like to have a wander and find my own way. I am glad I didn’t take the lift and took the outside stairs down to the next level which has one of the two restaurants and one of the two pools, The lagoon pool which is on two levels and an indoor pool. The Lagoon pool on this level is an infinity pool and it looks amazing gazing out to the blue Atlantic Ocean, later on I find out it looks even better watching the sun go down over the edge of the pool.
On any trip I find the room is important and I always get a little nervous excitement when I put the key in the door. As I walk in the bathroom is on my left and is perfect with the shower and toilet each having its own glass door, there is a massive bath and an enormous mirror above the vanity.
The next door on my left leads to my own walk-in closet and the room itself is large with a bed I can sleep in at any angle, there is a section with a sofa, TV, mini bar and desk which leads on to my private balcony with stunning views out to the Ocean, I couldn’t be happier right now.
There are two restuarants at the Melia Hacenda, one is a buffet style and the Salazar is an Ŕ la carte restuarant. I am sitting here at breakfast and my eggs benedict has just been put in front of me while my bowl of delicious fresh fruits has just been taken away. The service and food are excellent in both restaurants.
YHI Spa
Now while James is off playing golf it’s time for me to work and I am off to the spa which is two levels down from my room. As I enter the spa there is a small gym just off the main entrance and taking a look it seems well equipped, later I am informed by James that it has everything you need from treadmills, X Trainer, bikes and free weights. There is also a fairly large indoor pool to relax round after your spa but with the weather being so nice I intend to park myself on a lounger next to that infinity pool just in ear shot of the bar!
I have booked the golfers massage – under strict instructions – and as I am lead by my masseuse Coré Hernandez along a corridor with its perfect ambient lighting into a room that is playing relaxing music. I know it may not take long before I am drifting back to sleep. After making sure I am comfortable Coré uses Pevonia recovery oil to start with but then it’s not long before I realise that I won’t be drifting off anywhere, no this petite lady with her beautiful hands was making every muscle in my legs, back and arms ache, but strangely enough in a way that once she had finished I felt alive and energised like I could swim 20 lengths of the pool.
James was so impressed with my account of Coré’s battering of my body that he went off and booked a treatment for himself and told me to tell every golfer who stays here needs to make sure they book an appointment straight after a game in his words “awesome” was used in several sentences.
It turns out that the Melia Hacienda has it all for golfers and non-golfers and is the ideal getaway for a long weekend or the perfect holiday destination.
Meliá Hacienda del Conde
Calle La Finca
s/n, 38480 Buenavista
Santa Cruz de Tenerife
Spain
T:: +34 912 76 47 47
W: melia.com/es/hoteles
  
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