A clean, neat hotel with great service, decent breakfast selections and good wifi in the lobby (albeit none in the rooms). No mini bars or other perks that four or five star hotels would have, but for a three star hotel, this was outstanding in quality, cleanliness, service and value for money,

This hotel is very close to the bus station, so it is really easy to get there from either airport - both have direct buses. And the bus service in Tenerife is as reliable as ever. The staff were welcoming everytime I approached reception, no matter how many questions I had. They encouraged me to speak in my basic Spanish even though their English was excellent. The roof sun deck was good. The gym small but reasonable with a couple of balance boards that were fun and surprisingly hard to master. Food was reliable - a good basic. Rooms were clean, with baths - great.

Stayed here with 4 friends and my husband over christmas. We were offered three rooms before we got a room with a balcony as requested. The room we ended up with was small but comfortable, but the other rooms we'd been offered were really pokey and had no view, so if you book this hotel make sure you request a balcony room. The fridge didnt work, some of the lights didnt work, sometimes the lift worked sometimes not,...it really was a bit like Fawlty towers, but without the horrible owner.

We never found the swimming pool, we looked on the roof but the only place it may have been was roped off!

The staff could only speak a few words of english, but with a spattering of a few spanish words we got by easily enough. In general the staff were very helpful.

We ate twice at the hotel, one time the food was okay, the other time it was inedible so I wouldn't recommend eating here. There are plenty of restaurants nearby though.

The location is good, just a couple of minutes walk to the centre of town. We only hired a car for the day and couldn't park it nearby, but the bus station is directly across the street so we could have used this if needed.

Puerto was a wonderful place to spend christmas. The weather was fantastic and the atmosphere of the place was laid back. On christmas eve all the restaurants charge double price, but I understand this is is usual for Tenerife.

Finally a recommendation for El Mar for the transfer from the airport. I booked this through tenerifesunshine and couldnt fault them.

I wouldnt stay in this hotel again, there are far nice hotels on the seafront, but I will definately return to Puerto again.

My stay as a single traveller was in April 2007.

Hotel Marte's location is excellent - situated sensibly in the old town part of Puerto de la Cruz. The Hotel is 1minute walk from the towns beautiful Bus station (see photo). Regular buses run around the island (2.45hrs) for a full circuit. The airport is (35mins) away and buses frequently run to and from the North Tenerife Airport - 1.5Euro. Taxi 50Euro.

The Hotel has view of the ocean from the roof terraces. The roof terraces have nude bathing areas and the smallest pool ever - two people really would be a crowd in this pool (bathtub). The hotel is overlooked by other hotels and apartments up the hill.

The hotel is a box which is well maintained in a utilitarian sense and is dated, yet well preserved. Bit of a modernist relic - the architectural influence is Ronchamp Chapel, France by Le Corbusier 1955. (See photo)

The room as a single traveller I had was spartan yet clean with a good modern bathroom and soft towels. The television had a few channels in Spanish and German. Most guests were German and over 50+.... They charged me 8Euros? for the room safe and more if I wanted the key to the room fridge - sounds like Ry*nair to me - greedy. The rooms are noisy and have dated entry systems with old fashioned keys whick once you've opened the door you have to blindly put the key in the wall lock to start the electricity - very old fashioned. The reception staff are friendly and very welcoming.

The breakfast was plain/basic and you had a variation on eggs each morning - tip - bring your own tea bags. Take a few bananas with you for the day. Tip - bring a bottle opener/corkscrew as Spanish wines, especially Rioja is so very inexpensive - minus our nasty UK taxes and duty. No one uses the hotel bar.

Puerto de la Cruz is in the north of the Island, and the prettiest of the island towns/cities. Nearby Santa Cruz is very business orientated with the main industrial port and not really touristy - good for shops on a wet day. Do not venture south to Playa las Americas or Los Christianos unless you like Burberry and chavs being sick in the street at 10am, as well as the tribalist provincial politics of the UK & Ireland displayed in the form of territorial pubs. Very nasty - just don't do it!

If I was to visit Puerto de la Cruz again I would stay at the Hotel Magec two streets up - nicer interior and pool area.

Places to visit in Puerto de la Cruz:

Ebano Cafe - calle la Hoya - great for people watching.

El Mana - calle mequinez - modern food.

Restaurante Camaron Lindo - calle Iriarte, corner.

Color Cafe/music cocktail bar - strong French influence 10pm +
1st floor Plaza Del Charco.

Tasca El Abuelo/Cocina - Avda. Generalismo 25. Spectacular meats and wines ***** best food on the island ***** Great discovery.

Enjoy the sea wall for a stroll after breakfast - don't bring the kids as there are no safety rails!

Be aware - avoid the Shogun (Puerto Colon) boat tours unless you know you have sea legs - I watched 40% of the people being violently ill (into little blue bags) within the 1st two hours of the five hour sea journey and once on board you can not get off this boat. The hosts were insulting to those being sick and the weather was reasonably calm and the food basic.

If your young and like clubbing - most clubs are around Avda. Generalismo and open just after midnight.

Enjoy!