We, too, had a week at El Tope (our third) 9-16 December. Booking via Thomson, avoiding their lowest price rooms - the 'dungeons' [see other reviews] and their highest priced double-balcony rooms [generally on a floor too low for good views], we'd contacted the hotel directly well in advance to ask for a higher floor and on the mountain-facing (and hence at this time of year sunny) side - and were allocated an excellent room on floor 4. We greatly enjoyed the breakfast and dinner buffet meals, especially the freshly grilled fish and roasts; and a Canarian-themed evening was excellent. We prefer meat-and-two veg. meals and were never disappointed. El Tope's rooms on floors 2-6 are large, fairly well sound proofed and comfortable. Staff were pleasant but had limited English - UK guests are a small minority. At this time of year there was no competition for sunbeds by the pool / on the sun-terrace, though the hotel was pretty full. There is a single Thomson rep. for the north of the island, who we've found helpful when we're taken the time to meet him; but of course he's not often actually at this hotel. We're fairly fit and can take the public steps (several flights) that are the direct way down to the centre of the town in our stride - probably not all would be able to. This was our third week here in 2010-11; we can see that its location and its quite traditional menus won't / don't suit everyone, but it suits us fine. It's not ornate or highly contemporary but traditional and conscientious.

Holiday 9th Dec to 16th Dec Booked in April as we had been to this hotel when it was a Thomson Gold requesting a high floor.
On arrival we were given a room in the dungeons when we asked for a higher floor we were told abruptly & without eye contact "You asked for a room with a balcony"!!!
As we were tired & don't like to argue we carried on lots of steps down to the room later we discovered another 2 flights of stairs which took us to the pool area.

The room looked onto to the gorge surrounding the back of the hotel & workmans huts
The room was spotless & balcony had astro turf flooring & fully enclosed with glass, we could open or close the windows & sit comfortably day or night with no one overlooking us & watch the birds & butterflies.

Besides the man at reception we met on arrival,all other staff were friendly & helpful especially the pool lifeguard who was very attentive to everyone re mattresses,parasols etc.
The grounds round the hotel was kept immaculate.

Food was the only let down,I realise the travel companies probably don't pay the hotel much & they are cooking for different nationalities but surely the chefs don't eat cold & tastless food at home.Where was the famous Albondigas Espanol (Spanish meatballs) I am sure they are not too expensive to make.(I didn't notice a microwave next to the carvery until the last day)

Puerto is more upmarket than the south of the island with German,Dutch & Belgium tourists being the majority.

If the I thought the food would be improved we would happily go back to this hotel

We have just returned from a week's holiday at this very comfortable hotel and look forward to returning. We had booked a superior room and it was large and everything 'worked'. This has not always been our experience in Spanish Hotels! Our room was on the first floor with a sea view and had a large balcony with sun loungers and a table and two chairs. A bottle of 'bubbly' was chilling in our room and there was also a bowl of fruit; a very nice welcome. We found the staff extremely friendly and obliging especially the people who cleaned our room in the mornings. We enjoy walking and it is a bit of a hike to the bus station, to get to the start of our walks, but this is a very small gripe. The weather was perfect for the whole week and we have returned home refreshed after our break. A week is not really long enough!

We arrived at Midnight, and were put in "The Dungeons" Room 021 (Rooms under the pool) We were happy with the room. Very clean and the balcony was spacious and we were very happy to find a tray of fruit, salad, cold meats and bread waiting for us after our days travelling. The air conditioning didn't really work. There were only 2 English channels on TV. (We weren't there to watch TV though.) No Wifi in rooms, only Pool Bar and Reception. Workmen had a tool hut under our balcony and were quite noisy at 7am, so keep balcony window and main window closed if they are still doing the road works when you go (I think they should finish soon).

Hotel guests were about 80% German. Probably most of Puerto de la Cruz was 80% German.

Pool was very quiet even though it was mid 20's most days.

Entertainment wasn't to bad. Seen worse.

Staff didn't speak a great deal of English, but we got by OK, and it gave me an opportunity to try a bit of Spanish.

My Girlfriend and I are in our 30's, and enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere the hotel had, and being waited on hand and foot.

We both enjoyed the food, and there where vast amounts to choose from buffet style for Breakfast and Dinner. Every Champagne at breakfast!!! Tea/Coffee/Juice/Champagne were all free in the morning, but drinks have to be paid for in the evening meals.

Didn't enjoy the steps much, but there is a free bus service into and back to town daily. Or taxi is about 3 Euro.

David the Thomson Rep was very helpful, and booked our excursions with no commission. He even gave us a refund for a trip we missed when we missed the bus.

All in all we really enjoyed our week at the El Tope, and would definitely stay again if we visited Puerto de la Cruz.