The weather, as usual, here in the UK has taken a turn for the worse. There is no doubt in anyone's mind that winter is coming. As days grow shorter, the sky seems almost permanently grey making you wonder if you imagined that it ever was blue in the first place. It's wet. It's windy. It's just downright miserable.
My inbox exploded yet again, overflowing with emails, people awaiting my response. I never seem to complete my diligently devised daily to-do list. My calendar is jam-packed with commitments. My house needs a constant declutter and everywhere I look there's work to do.
As I'm sitting here, staring longingly at the photos, I wish I could be in Tenerife. I wish I could check into Hotel Botanico, which is situated in Puerto de la Cruz in the northern part of the island. I wish I could walk in its world renowned spa and don a fluffy white bathrobe with matching slippers. I remember being asked where I would like to have my Thai massage, in a darkened room or on the Thai pagoda. I opted for the former, prizing privacy and peace. It took me a while to fully relax but got there in the end as the masseuse manipulated my body as I've never experienced before. Staff are recruited from all over the world and only the cream of the crop is selected.
In fact, the masseuse had me so relaxed that by the time I had the following treatment of a full Ayurvedic body scrubbing, I was past the point of giving a toss that the therapist scrubbed my boobs until they were squeaky clean. Strangely, a range of emotions also leaked out of me in the process. Afterwards I felt refreshed and energised. The Oriental Spa & Garden remains on the forefront when it comes to the latest beauty treatments and advancements. It even offers weeklong Ayurvedic retreats, customised to your body type, whether it's pitta, kapha or vatha.
I wish I could have stayed at the spa the whole day. I wish I could just lounge next to the pool and catch some much needed vitamin D and afterwards plunge into the idyllic blue water close by. Perhaps I could veg out in the jacuzzi or visit the Japanese sauna. How foreign yet appealing it sounds to spend a day doing absolutely nothing.
When the sun starts to hide below the horizon I want to hop up the red spiral staircase and walk down the Thai and Spanish artwork dotted corridor to my Senator Suite. My spacious room was Thai themed, as is the whole hotel, and the bathroom luxurious. My daughter was quick to hug the plush elephant on the bed, wanting to take it home. With it came a printed message that Hotel Botanico is an environmental-friendly hotel and guests are nudged to be green as far as resources are concerned. A good lesson to the young.
If you've got the cash to splash, you can stay at the Michael Jackson Suite, which takes splendour to the next level. If that's not good enough, there's the Bill Clinton Suite, which is double to size of the former and includes a large terrace, three bedrooms, a whirlpool, and amazing views to boot.
Food-wise, you definitely won't go hungry. A full buffet breakfast is available every morning and during the day Palmera Real, the restaurant in the garden, serves lunch. We had a fabulous authentic Thai dinner at The Oriental Restaurant. In the evening there are two other restaurants to choose from. La Parilla, a Spanish restaurant, and Il Pappagallo, serving Italian and Mediterranean cuisine. Throughout the day Bar Hall serves refreshments and in the evenings live entertainment is provided and I enjoyed a jazz night while I was there.
Golf is available for those that way inclined. A simple walk in the hotel's expansive garden would also suffice. A summer children's programme is available if you're planning on truly taking time off and sending your kids on educational trips to Loro Parque.
I wish I could take my kids for a stroll in the garden, simply enjoying nature. I wish I had the time to teach them how to play pool and simply mess about. I wish I could take them both to Loro Parque and let them be in awe of Mother Nature. I wish I could take them to Siam Park for the sheer fun and exhilaration. I wish I could show them there's more to life than living in the UK. I wish I lived in a warm place like Tenerife where temperature are between 20-28°C throughout the year.
Well, that was a lot of wishing. Back to work, I guess.
If you are looking to relax there, there are a couple of massages you can experience. For instance, you should definitely try the body lymph drainage massage or the body seaweed wrap.
Hotel Botanico & The Oriental Spa Garden
Calle Richard J. Yeoward, 1
38400
Puerto de la Cruz
Santa Cruz de Tenerife
Spain
P.S. I was a guest of Hotel Botanico.
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A special thanks to canarias.com for assisting with car hire that helped me to reach all my destinations in Tenerife.
Melissa Lee
The garden just looks so beautiful. I'd love to take a walk around there in the sun.
michelle
It really way beautiful 🙂 Thanks Melissa!
Eve H Ogden
Love the gardens
michelle
me too <3
Emma chapman
The garden looks so peaceful it's hard find tranquillity these days
michelle
Very true 🙂
Stephanie Keill
The absolutely beautiful garden! How wonderful it would be to sit their and read.
michelle
Thanks Stephanie 🙂
Alica
I would love to see those stunning gardens in person! So beautiful!
michelle
Thanks Alica! 🙂
Rose
I thought the photos of the staircase were amazing
michelle
Thanks very much Rose 🙂
Lyndsey cooksey
How relaxing! It seems so quite. I'd love to go somewhere like that x
michelle
Thanks Lyndsey. It's so nice to find a tranquil space like that:)
Natalie Crossan
The garden, it looks so peaceful <3 xxx
michelle
Thanks Natalie 🙂 It really was
Hayley Payne
It would be a Thai massage in a darkened Room followed by a swim in one of the gorgeous pools. ?
michelle
hehe 🙂 😉
Frances Sunshine Hopkins
The garden looks amazing!
michelle
🙂 it was :))))
Solange
The garden looks so beautiful.
michelle
thanks Solange 🙂
Lorraine Stone
Love it all, but particularly the gardens
michelle
Thanks Lorraine 🙂
misty
i love the look of that magnificent spiral staircase
michelle
beautiful isn't it? 🙂
Janet Birkin
The gardens
michelle
Thanks Janet!
Carole Nott
the pool and garden area look amazing, as does the beautiful interior
michelle
Agreed 🙂 Thanks Carole
Jayne Kelsall
The gardens look amazing ! .x
michelle
🙂 Yep, miss them already 🙂
Jason Tolliss
The gardens look absolutely beautiful
michelle
I know, I'd love to go back now! 🙂
tina Glover
The whole complex looks amazing but i particularly like the look of the hot tub in the spa...it almost looks like its in a corner cave from your photo... I can see from the photo's why you loved this place x
michelle
Oh yea 🙂 and I miss it so much :)))
Samantha Milner
Ahh those pools ❤️
michelle
Yep 🙂
kayleigh Robinson
I love the decor of the whole place, it’s so grand! I think I would be partial to a thai massage too! It would certainly make me forget about work. What a beautiful place x
michelle
:)) Yep, I miss that place 🙂
Alison
The pool and the gardens look wonderful.
michelle
Thanks Alison 🙂
Dale Dow
I must admit, the gardens are simply stunning x
michelle
Thanks Dale 🙂
Deborah Clarke
The gardens . I love time spent alone among nature . Looks simply stunning.
michelle
Same! 🙂 Thanks Deborah
Stephanie Whitehurst
The gardens look beautiful
michelle
agreed 🙂
Kay Broomfield
The spa with Japanese sauna sounds wonderful!
michelle
doesn't it? 🙂
Tracey Anderson
The gardens are simply stunning they look so peaceful and tranquil
michelle
Oh they were. I wish I could go back 🙂
Tammy Neal
The gardens they look beautiful xx
michelle
🙂
Katrina Adams
The whole place just looks so beautiful, luxurious and tranquil. You could really unwind there and forget the rest of the world.
michelle
true 🙂
caroline tokes
The gardens look beautiful
michelle
agreed
linda curtis
beautiful garden
i love my garden
michelle
haha nice!
Lia Burns
What a beautiful place! I love the look of the spa the most, that’s right up my street! I’d love one of those Thai massages
michelle
hehehe 🙂 I'd love to have one right now too!
Rebecca Morton
The Staircases Look Incredible
michelle
agreed 🙂
Dean T
Love to chill in the gardens
michelle
me too!
Simone Griffin
THe pool looks amazing
michelle
thanks
Craig AUstin
The spa and pool is where you'll find me
michelle
and me 🙂
Kim Neville
Looks amazing. I would be lounging by the pool
michelle
haha same 🙂