Alua Soul Orotava Valley

I've just returned from a 10-night stay at AluaSoul Orotava Valley with my friend. While it served its purpose as a break to unwind and recharge, the overall experience fell short of 4-star expectations for the price paid.

​The Good:

​Room & Cleanliness: We stayed on the 8th floor in a rooms with stunning sea views The rooms were spacious, well-maintained, and cleaned daily.

​Atmosphere: The hotel staff were polite and always greeted us with a friendly hello as we passed by.

​Areas for Improvement:

​Air Conditioning & Sleep Quality: Coming from a colder climate like Scotland, a cool room at night is essential. The air conditioning in the room is capped and cannot be set below 22.5°C. For us, this was far too warm and resulted in really poor sleep quality throughout the stay. Guest rooms should offer lower temperature options.

​Pool Maintenance: The main pool isn't cleaned on a daily basis. On the few occasions we went in, there were dead insects and flies floating in the water, which was off-putting.

​Check-Out & AI Policy: Although late check-out is widely advertised around the hotel, we were told it wasn't available. Be aware that as soon as you check out, your All-Inclusive benefits stop immediately, and you have to pay out of pocket for any further food or drinks until departure.

​Dining Options: All meals were served in the main buffet restaurant unless you book into the A La Carte restaurant where you have to pay. The quality was acceptable, but the overall selection was quite limited for a extended stay.

Overall Impression: The hotel did allow us to relax, but for the rate charged, we expected a higher standard across basic amenities and service. It lacks the attention to detail expected of a true 4-star property. I unfortunately wouldn't recommend it to friends or family, nor would I return.

We stayed at AluaSoul Orotava Valley for 10 nights. There were definitely some positives, particularly the staff, but unfortunately there were several aspects of the hotel that would prevent me from returning.

The positives: The staff throughout the hotel were courteous, friendly and helpful. The housekeeping staff did an excellent job of keeping our room clean and hygienic throughout our stay.

Our accommodation was also very spacious, with a separate living room area, which was a real bonus. Perhaps we were lucky, but we also had no difficulty getting sun loungers after breakfast each day.

Unfortunately, there were several negatives.

My biggest issue was the air conditioning. We were unable to override the temperature settings and my bedroom would not go below 24°C at night. Coming from a much colder climate (and being a woman at a certain stage of life!) ; this was simply far too warm for me to sleep comfortably. I slept poorly for the entire 10-night stay, which obviously had a significant impact on the holiday.

The pool cleanliness was also disappointing on several days. There were large numbers of small dead flies floating in the water, which made it quite unappealing.

The hotel is built into a hillside and the layout is very unusual, with facilities spread across different floors. Reception is on the 7th floor, the buffet restaurant on the 6th and the pool area on the 4th, at the end of a long corridor which frequently had a strong drain smell. I would particularly caution anyone with mobility difficulties to consider the layout carefully before booking.

The hotel is advertised as non-smoking apart from designated smoking areas, yet guests were openly smoking cigarettes and vaping around the pool. I feel there needs to be much clearer signage regarding the smoking policy and better monitoring by staff.

We also found the food on the all-inclusive package disappointing. I am by no means a fussy eater, but there were very few dishes that looked particularly appetising to me. Cooked breakfast items in particular were often on the cold side.

Finally, there is no small shop within the hotel to buy basic provisions such as drinks or snacks. There are shops and bars nearby, but they are down a very steep hill, which means carrying shopping back uphill in the heat.

Overall, I genuinely cannot fault the staff, who were consistently pleasant and hardworking. Unfortunately, many of our issues related to the structure, facilities and environment of the hotel rather than the people working there. For those reasons, despite the positives, I personally would not return.