The Ritz-Carlton, Abama Hotel Review, Tenerife

Facilities are extensive. Though the par 72, 18-hole Championship golf course and academy, and seven-court flexi-pave tennis academy (both with stellar views down over the resort and out to sea, and both chargeable) aren't part of the hotel anymore, guests have easy access to them. Four golf and two tennis coaches can help improve your game. There are seven attractively landscaped pools; some surrounding loungers and umbrellas could do with updating, but the main pool has swish Bali beds (€50 [£43] per day per adult, including unlimited drinks, fruit and popcorn [for children], and butler service).

There’s plenty to enjoy at the spa - though access is charged at €25 (£21) unless you book a treatment. If like me though you find yourself stiff and achey from all the sporting activity, it’s much-needed relief - my deep tissue massage (€115 [£98]), and time in the sauna and varied hydrotherapy pool, was bliss. There’s also a herbal steam bath, Turkish hammam, cold plunge pool, cold cabin (like a walk-in freezer) and heated beds, plus a spacious relaxation lounge with balcony, serene spa garden with yoga pavilion and refurbed top-spec gym. The beach is set in a small rocky cove (covered with imported sand), with ladders to access two natural swimming pools.

There are around 800 members of staff here, including 40 just to tend the gardens - so this is a major operation. Everyone I encountered was very friendly and eager to please. Breakfast was generally a smooth operation, and service in the restaurants was good (the warm and experienced manager of the Beach Club restaurant runs a memorably tight ship), apart from one rather chaotic meal in El Mirador - bread never arrived, there was a wait to be shown to tables upon arrival, and a party seated next to me were brought the wrong food. Transfers around the resort are complimentary.