We stayed at Hotel Barcelo Santiago for 2 weeks in September 2016. We travelled with FirstChoice.

Rooms

Our room at Hotel Barcelo Santiago (456) had a very good size balcony with 2 chairs, 2 footstools/tables, dryer and an amazing view over Los Gigantes, Puerto de Santiago and promenade. Room was located on the side of the hotel and it didn’t get hot as other rooms located in the front of the hotel. It was quite dated, tired and a little bit dark, although clean. We didn’t like the idea of having 2 twin beds put together, we would prefer 1 double bed. In the room there was a small fridge, safe (extra cost) and TV with few English channels and very good WiFi signal. We didn’t use air con because we didn’t have to and because it looks like it was leaking. There was some kind of damp on the wall next to air con, this really spoiled the room for us. We didn’t report it but no one noticed it and no one fixed it for 2 weeks. Bathroom was clean and everything was working but again it was quite tired and dated.

Swimming pools

We tried 2 out of 3 swimming pools available at Hotel Barcelo Santiago and a Jacuzzi. My favourite was Infinity pool (the warmest one) with lovely views over ocean and Los Gigantes. Jacuzzi was out of action at least 3 times during our 2 weeks stay but it was cleaned and refilled with water till lunchtime. I also liked the pool next to the pool bar with shallow part and stones.There was a tiny pool for kids and 1 more pool for all activities like aqua aerobic, Zumba, pool bikes, water polo, etc. Although there are a lot of rooms in this hotel pools never got too crowded.

Sun loungers

We liked the relax part of Hotel Barcelo Santiago with the amazing views over Los Gigantes, just next to the restaurant. You had to reserve sun loungers quite early (8.30 the latest) if you wanted to be in the first row with the best view. We also booked a balinese bed (bed number 2) for our last day (15 euros per person). It was really big, cool and comfy, but it is was quite loud. It also got really hot after 4pm.

Bars and restaurants

We used main restaurant for breakfast lunch and dinner. We always ate at the back of the restaurant where the views are the best. Plenty of food choice and very nice extra touches like fresh orange juice, smoothies and even champagne for breakfast. Lunch and dinner food was very similar, again good variety but it got slightly boring after 2 weeks. There was a Spanish, Mexican and Chinese night and a chocolate fountain 🙂 I found the system with cards for drinks being given during lunch and dinner slightly odd, but I got used to it quite quickly. It was a nice touch that drinks have been served by a waiter and it didn’t took long. Can’t comment on food in pool bar because we never tried it. Ice cream and slushies in pool bar were good. Alcoholic and non alcoholic drinks in the pool bar and Teide theatre bar were also good.

Animation/daily activities

We didn’t take part in any daily activities because there were a lot of people taking part all the time. But there was plenty going on, from aqua gym, yoga, aqua zumba, pool bikes, sangria demonstration, paela demonstration/show, cocktail games, pilates, archery, rifle shooting, French boules, ping pong to shufle board and more. Evening entertainment at Hotel Barcelo Santiago was OK but as I am quite small it was sometimes hard to see everything happening in the stage. We’ve seen Spanish show, magic show and circus show (Amazing Mongolia).

Other hotel notes

Check-in at Hotel Barcelo Santiago was fast and we had been given instructions how to get to our room, but we still managed to get lost. Check-out was also fast and we left our luggage in secure room and enjoyed our last day in the hotel. Although there are 2 people at the reception it takes quite a long time to be served. We asked for a room upgrade on the second day and been told if there will be free rooms we will get a note, but we never did. Maybe there were no rooms or maybe we should have visited the reception every day. You can also book in advance one of the balinese beds in the reception. I recommend bed number 1, it has the best views.

Things worth seeing

Views from promenade. You can access the promenade from the 1st floor garden gate, you can also come back the same way by using your room card. There are cool rocks under the hotel that are easily accessible through stairs. There is also a small cave next to the hotel. Just follow the crowds and/or locals.
There are 3 beaches with black sand near the hotel (10 min and 30 min walk).
From the harbour you can go whale or dolphin watching. We recommend Ocean Explorer (only 11 people on board) and money back guarantee if no whales spotted.
From the travel office just in front of the reception (still part of the hotel) we booked a Teide tour with fast track cable car entry. Views from Teide are amazing but be prepared this is a full day not a half a day tour as advertised, so bring food/snacks.
10 min walk from the hotel there is a natural swimming pool with ocean water which we really enjoyed.
There is also a viewing point with lovely views over Puerto de Santiago.