Hotel Marquesa

Situated on Calle Quintana, the pedestrianised heart of Puerto's atmospheric Old Town, the Hotel Marquesa overlooks the picturesque church square and is just a stone's throw from the harbour and from the lively main square, Plaza del Charco. The Marquesa is one of Tenerife's oldest hotels, its original part dating back to 1712. Since then, it has been extended several times, resulting in a quirky variety of styles. An extensive programme of renovations in 2014/15 has given the public areas a facelift and resulted in many of the rooms being upgraded, but at its core the hotel still retains a great deal of traditional charm. Its most delightful feature is undoubtedly its classic Canarian courtyard, with its carved wooden balconies and glass roof, which serves as the main lobby.

From the central courtyard, corridors lead to the various wings that house the 144 guestrooms. Varying in size, layout, décor and outlook, the standard rooms are fairly simply furnished. All have en-suite bath or shower rooms, and are equipped with direct dial telephones, in addition to TVs and safety deposit boxes for which there is a small local charge. Some also have balconies, and some have views towards the square or the ocean. Superior rooms have been fully refurbished and tastefull decorated.

There are a number of communal roof terraces, with views across the rooftops of the town towards Mount Teide in one direction, and towards the harbour and the sea in the other. One of these terraces incorporates a small rooftop swimming pool, with sunloungers and umbrellas. For those who prefer sea swimming, the small volcanic beach Playa de San Telmo is just a five-minute stroll away, whilst the landscaped Playa Jardín is around 10-15 minutes walk away, as is the superbly designed municipal seawater swimming pool complex, Lido Martianez.

Our basic prices at the Marquesa are on a bed & breakfast basis, with an optional supplement for half board. Breakfast at the Marquesa is served buffet-style in the main restaurant, as is dinner for those choosing the half-board option. Those opting for the B&B arrangement can take their pick from a large selection of atmospheric local restaurants in the neighbouring streets. The Marquesa's own à la carte restaurant is also a popular venue for dinner, famed for the live music played most nights on its terrace overlooking the church square.

Being a proper town, Puerto de la Cruz has plenty of shops catering to both locals and holidaymakers, so it is enjoyable to just potter around, stopping now and again in one of the many cafés on one of the bustling squares or overlooking the seafront promenade. The Marquesa may not be Puerto's most luxurious hotel but is perfectly comfortable following its latest renovation, and those who value quirky charm and character over the bland functionality of international chain hotels should find it an appealing base from which to enjoy the attractions of Tenerife's oldest resort.