Hotel XQ El Palacete

If you are looking for quality hotel accommodation in a prime beachside location, but wish to avoid the large, impersonal complexes that tend to dominate most beach resorts in the Canaries, look no further than the delightful Hotel El Palacete. The hotel stands right above the southern end of Jandia's long sandy beach, which you can reach directly from the hotel's grounds via a number of steps, crossing only the pedestrian seafront promenade, along which you can stroll to the heart of the fishing village of Morro Jable within minutes.

With only 54 guestrooms (including two suites), spread over two floors, the XQ El Palacete has a very personal and intimate feel to it, and the atmosphere is relaxed yet refined. The carpeted guestrooms are elegantly furnished and each has a sitting area with a sofa-bed. Standard facilities include air-conditioning (centrally controlled), ceiling fans, minibars, safety deposit boxes (local charge applies), plasma TVs (limited English language channels) and telephones. The en-suite bathrooms have both a bath and a shower, as well as a hairdryer. Crucially, each and every room faces the sea and offers magnificent ocean views from its furnished balcony.

The same lovely panorama can be enjoyed from the sun terrace that surrounds the hotel's swimming pool, which can be heated in winter. There are plenty of comfortable wicker sun-loungers and sun umbrellas arranged on the terrace for those who prefer to relax in the comfort of this privileged spot rather than taking the few steps down to the beach. A pool bar is on hand to serve light dishes for lunch and to keep you refreshed throughout the day.

In the hotel's restaurant, both breakfast and evening meals are served buffet-style. Breakfast is an extensive spread of various breads and pastries, muesli and cereals, cold meats and cheeses, fruit and the usual range of hot dishes. Dinner is served in two sittings and consists of a selection of hot and cold starters from the buffet, a choice of main courses, some cooked to order at the grill station, and a variety of cheeses along various sweet treat to round off your meal. After dinner, you can take a moonlit stroll along the promenade, or enjoy a nightcap in the hotel's bar. As the El Palacete aims for a peaceful ambience, the hotel does not organise an "entertainment programme", but on one or two evenings a week there is live music in the bar.

For a relaxing beach holiday in comfortable surroundings, the Hotel XQ El Palacete comes highly recommended.