TGC

I'm just back from a trip to Tenerife, 4 nights at the Sheraton, 5 at the Ritz (both stays on points), here are my quick thoughts:

Sheraton
Closer to the action if your looking for nightlife
Easy to walk out of hotel and find places to eat (rather than paying hotel prices)
Free breakfast for Titanium members

Ritz
Much better beach (although a long walk / complimentary bus)
Great for golf
Much higher standard resort overall
Have to drive if you want to eat out of the hotel, hotel restaurants are pricey (in Tenerife terms)
No free breakfast for Titanium members who are staying on points (we shared a single room service continental breakfast between us most days which worked fine for us, and had the plus of being on our private terrace rather than in an crowded buffet)

Unless your looking for proximity to nightlife I'd say the Ritz is well worth the extra $30 a night (its a significantly better resort)

appointedtraveler

During your time at the Ritz what are the mask requirements like? Do you have to wear one when on the lounge chair or in the pool? Are the rules strictly enforced?
Thanks!

GalaxyChris

was there in june, never wore mask outside, just inside the premise or shuttle, staff relaxed about mask

Adam1222

Fyi, at the Ritz now. We had booked a regular room, as a Plat, received an upgrade only to a Citadel ocean room. Check in was really ...... and after waiting 20 minutes (they made us wait in the car at the gate, and then in the lobby), the first words were a discounted offer to upgrade to the Villas. 100 Euro a night for a resort view and 150 Euro a night for an ocean view. Oddly, no regular villa rooms were showing as available for sale, only suites. We caved, and unfortunately then had to wait another 40 minutes to get the keys to the room, getting there just in time for 30 minutes or so of sun. It's one of the worse villas, but oh well . We will see if it's worth it. A happy hour from 5 to 6 was mentioned but unclear where/what that is.

Adam1222

Finishing our stay at the Ritz and very disappointed in the level of service. As a Platinum staying in a villa, I can't imagine what it is for others.
Check-in: Awful. When we pulled up to the gate, they said we had to wait because there was another guest at checkin. So we sat in the car at the gate for about five minutes. Then we were told to pull up to the main entrance, unloaded bags, and were told to go park and come back. I headed inside while my bf parked. I was told to sit in the lobby. Bf came in and still hadn't been helped by anyone. There was no one else being helped anywhere. Finally, an agent came over, and the first words out of his mouth was the great special offer to move to a villa for 100 EUR a night, or 150 EUR a night because I was a Platinum. (my bf apparently thought this was our second interaction because it was so abrupt.) We agreed. He disappeared for 10 minutes. He then said as a Platinum I had a choice of 3 of 4 options: 10% off f&b, laundry discount, spa discount, and 2 drinks. This would be the last (only) elite recognition of the trip. He then asked if we were members of Marriott Bonvoy, because we could earn points. I pointed to the entire interaction this far.
he then said we needed to make reservations for breakfast, so he would escort me to the dining reservations desk, where i waited, only for the agent yo tell me I should do it on the app. (Spoiler: no reservations are only needed, this was just a ploy to keep me busy.) First, I had to sign something that said UPSELL in huge black letters.
*25 minutes later* we were told our room was ready. A bellman (who was perfectly nice) drove us to the villa in the closest row to the main building. We had a view of neither a pool or anything really. We were left to our own devices to figure out any of the villa benefits.
It was nearly an hour since we arrived at the property, so we headed to the pool on our lane...and were told that the pool was closing in 15 minutes and got some cava.

Our upsell villa view.


Check-in was really the worst part, but the service continued to be super underwhelming for a Ritz. There was never a personalized welcome note or anything ever delivered to the room as a little welcome. We had a FHR booking and I realized the $125 credit was never mentioned at checkin. (None of the other benefits matter for a Platinum or at the hotel at all.) I tried to message through the app and was first told we had no such benefit, then that they had to contact dining reservations, then that we had a 85 EUR credit. It should come as no surprise that this was not taken off the bill at check out. Thankfully we had allowed extra time to check out anticipating problems.
My bf had also gone to the front desk on our first evening to ask for help mailing a package to another part of the island. When he went back in the am to check on it, they first insisted he must be confused because they don't accept packages for mailing. We then came back a few hours later and they said it hadn't been picked up and they didn't know why, so we took it back and drove to town to mail it from the post office.

I also asked in the app about how to actually redeem the free drinks. I never got an answer. My bf asked at the front desk and was told "just say they are the bonvoy drinks". The waiter had no idea what we were talking about. We gave up and just had them manually taken off at checkout.

Drinks at lobby bar


I'm glad we had the villa rooms because the entire main pool area was set up for a wedding a full day in advance, including half the chairs taken away (all the ones facing the ocean) and most of the walkways between the villas and the main hotel were blocked with wedding stuff.

Main pool aka wedding venue

By 9am the wedding group had some event going, complete with prayer on loudspeakers we could hear from our villa.

The gym was fine but crowded. (And very far from the villas)They say you need reservations, but, as with breakfast, no one checked.
Breakfast was the highlight at Mirador, with beautiful views of Gomera. Food was fine, and service ranged from good to surly. We had trouble getting second coffees two of our three mornings. Unfortunately, the wedding ruined our view in the last day



We had been told we had private villa ambassador service but never figured that out. We were told of a happy hour from five to six, but also couldn't figure that out. We asked about it and were told it's at the pool but everything is gone shortly after 5.

We never made it down to the beach. We ate at Txoco which was good, but nothing amazing. We had better meals for much less money and with far better service at Casa Gusto 5 minute drive away, and at Sucas 15 minutes away.

We had a nice time, but I think we would have had a better time if they called this a Westin and charged the same prices, if that makes sense. I've certainly stayed at Marriotts and Sheratons that were as luxurious and had better service and elite recognition. ​​​​​​

As for masks, whatever the rule may be, guests pretty much did whatever they wanted.

Check out ended up being a mess as well. We proactively went early on our last day to review the bill (finding the mistakes noted above), ask for late checkout, and provide Marriott gift cards to use. They said they'd process the gift cards in 20 minutes and to come back. 3 hours later, they had not, so our departure was delayed and they couldn't figure it out. And wanted to charge a credit card the whole amount and refund us when/if they did.

ajamieson

Wow, sorry that was a disappointing stay.

If it makes you feel better, the elite non-recogition and general disinterest is even worse at the Sheraton La Caleta.

red star

Thanks for the heads-up. I will stay at the RC Villas next week. Hopefully my experience than won‘t match yours. So far, the pre-arrival service is already way ahead of what happened to you.

MrSnoot78

How was your stay?

As a Titanium we booked a Villa Room with ocean view next week. How is Elite Recognition at the moment? Are they offering complimentary softdrinks or something else? Thank you!

Adam1222

all Villa guests get complimentary soft drinks at the villa area pools. The most useful elite recognition is the 10% off f&b. We had trouble redeeming the welcome drinks at the lobby bar and ended up having them taken off the bill at checkout.

red star

Villa room ocean view is basically a room on the first floor of the Villas. I‘ve got a nice one (204), they seem to be different at least regarding the terraces. Hotel was fully booked so no reason for complaint about a missing upgrade. As a LT Plat. i‘ve got the choice of 3 out of 4 benefits as described earlier in this thread with 10% of F&B as the most useful benefit. Apart from that and the Thank you language at check in no Elite recognition.
Tea, coffee, softdrinks, beer, wine, juice and more have been available for free throughout the day 10 to 6 or so at all Villa pools. In addition some little snacks served at times. Some more action during the day is supposed to happen at the club lounge (tapas around noon..) but I haven‘t been there. Cocktail hour at all pools is from 5-6pm.
One word about the service. While the Villa ambassador team is really nice and caring and such, double and triple-check every arrangement. Late check out? Sure. But the hotel did not know about it. Airport transfer? Not on file. Luggage transfer in hotel? Nobody is coming. List goes on.
Take care well in advance with reservations if you plan to dine at the hotel restaurants.
And finally: check your points. I‘m missing 90% for unknown reason.
Enjoy your stay. The Villa environment is relaxed, the pool well heated (but not too much) and the view is great.

santydrak

Next time don’t miss the tapas at the lounge next to the sea. Really good food included included in the adult villas, really worth it

Adam1222

We asked several times when and where those were available and received conflicting answers, and were eventually told "they go quickly".

santydrak

Ooh well. For next time… Just go there (it’s in el mirador restaurant) at the time indicated in your letter with the adult villa benefits (about 12:30 -13:00 if I recall correctly).
they will give you a menu and you can choose one cold tapa and one hot tapa. They prepare them for you. Enough food to skip lunch (light lunch) and good quality.
Later (I think it was like 17:00) you can come back for the sweet dessert, that one you cannot choose. Each day is different
beverage is also included in all cases

MrSnoot78

Thanks to all. I'll write a little report when I am there.

Bravada04

Thinking about doing something different.....we usually head to Asia etc., but am thinking about this area in February. I understand the weather is not "hot" but is it nice enough to enjoy?
Pretty much clueless in regards to this area so I have a few questions, I am hoping others can answer:
- I am Plat and thinking about the Sheraton for maybe 5 nights or so - It looks like we receive breakfast and a possible upgrade which is fine by me.
- I am having a tough time figuring out the location and what is around it. I am not looking at renting a car so am hoping their are options of restaurants within walking distance and./or what is transportation like here. Very easy to grab a cab and what are costs like? I believe they do not have Uber.
- During this trip thinking about visiting Lisbon & Madrid for a few days each on both ends. Just not sure what is easier to hit first - Lisbon > Tenerife > Madrid or vice versa with Tenerife still in the middle? Thinking of visiting the cities.culture and then relaxing in the middle?
- Curious as to the average costs of alcohol / dinners outside of the resort?
- Any other information that I should be aware of would be appreciated.
- I have looked closely and just wondering if there are any other areas in this region that might be better etc.? I have looked at the Algarves also but it sounds like the weather might be slightly better in this area.