Paradise Club with Club La Costa in Tenerife
A Resort in the Hills above Playa de las Americas
Sep 2, 2009
Clinging to the parched, jutting hillside overlooking Playa de las Americas, the Paradise Club apartments are in the perfect position to gain an overview of the town below. More alluring than the phosphorescent twinklings of Playa de las Americas is the view of the ocean and the often hazy vision of the Canarian island, La Gomera, directly ahead. No sunset is the same but every one is magnificent, and the Paradise Club is one of the best spots to watch sundown in the region.
Hilly Location Over Playa de las Americas
The staggering of the apartments according to the natural crevices of the hillside comes with its disadvantages. Guests staying on the tenth and highest floor have to take three elevators to get to their room. Not that any visitor would want to spoil the ruggedness of the hillside with a resort in the shape of a tower protruding rudely from its side, but it doesn't make for a very practical stay. The minute elevators themselves can't exactly be called practical either. Porters insist on squeezing their luggage-laden trollies plus families of anywhere up to six people in with them, so they don't lose their charges on the way to their rooms. Three lifts later and guests are anxious to get into their apartments and crank up the air conditioning.
Air Conditioning and Apartment Facilities in Paradise Club
Except that most of the apartments don't have air conditioning. Rumour has it that a handful of Paradise Club apartments come complete with air con, dishwashers and washing machines, but most guests are imperceptibly disgruntled to find that this is not the case for the majority. Apparently the island's pleasant breeze makes air conditioning rarely needed. Indeed, the breezes are a relief and the temperature does drop at night, but try telling guests that air con is a wimp's luxury during the summer months when temperatures can reach upwards of fifty Celsius. Doing the washing up is no fun in that heat either, not to mention trudging down to the communal laundry rooms. Whether these home comforts are necessities or not, for the price that most guests pay Club La Costa to stay at Paradise Club, it should be their choice whether they decide to make use of them or not. Not being given the option doesn't set the right tone for the supposed luxury of the holiday club.
Surrounding Area of Paradise Club, Costa Adeje
The other problem with the hillside location is, of course, leaving the resort. Or rather, coming back again. Pretty much the only way is down – ten minutes to the Gran Sur shopping centre with it's large and very reasonably priced supermarket, and thirty minutes to Playa de las Americas and all its many attractions, including some surprisingly well-priced, excellent quality restaurants. Going down is all very do-able, until climbing back up to the Paradise Club becomes a reality. One starts to wonder if the name 'Paradise' Club is simply a cruel play on words, a facetious reminder of the heavenwards direction one has to climb only to reach a hot, stuffy apartment, drenched in sweat. Don't even try it - spend five Euros on a taxi instead.
Paradise Club Facilities
Despite the lack of facilities in some areas and the problems associated with hill-climbing and suchlike, the Paradise Club resort does have more or less anything a guest needs. Many don't feel the desire to leave the resort at all. Sam's Pantry is the small but well-stocked, albeit overpriced, supermarket. Expect to pay an average of a third more than you would at the Gran Sur supermarket. But you pay for convenience. And for the favourite foodstuffs of the British – Heinz Baked Beans eat your heart out.
There's a large swimming pool and baby pool on the first floor, popular with children and overlooked by 'Zacary's' and 'Janice's' restaurants. There are sunbeds-a-plenty, but despite stern warnings not to, many people still wake up at the crack of dawn to mark their territory. The jacuzzi is in the same area but only fits four people and is constantly full.
On the fourth floor is a smaller pool, next to Murphy's Law bar. With only about twenty sunbeds surrounding it, this pool mostly, although not always, attracts those looking for a quieter stay. Murphy's itself is the location of most of the evening entertainment and guests are treated to two acts most nights. Cher, Buddy Holly, Meatloaf... Apparently there's something for everyone in the rancid smelling, overpriced bar.
Team Marina organises activities for the children (and sometimes the adults too) which tend to go down well and the games and mini-golf area is popular, although is a bit too exposed in the heat of the day.
Paradise is what you make it – taking certain paths might just lead to a state of supreme happiness.
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