I and my family spent the first week of January 2012 in Tenerife, Los Cristianos and an apartment in the hotel Cristian Sur. This was a package trip we bought from Solresor. At this time of the year, the ocean is not very warm so we spent most of our lazy time in the hotel garden by the pools. As always, only one of the pools was heated, but not very much. It was bearable and refreshing after a while in the sun. The weather was wonderful all week. Our apartment had two bedrooms, a sitting area with a sofa bed, a dining area and a fully equipped kitchen. Also two bathrooms with bath and shower and a great balcony with a few of the garden and pools. Lots of space for my family of 2 adults and three teenage kids. We had requested an apartment that did not face the street by the hotel and this request was honoured. The apartment was cleaned and towels and linnen changed five out of seven days. Quite sufficient. Also, the management was nice and polite, there was always at least one person in the reception from early morning till late at night. We communicated in English and they could help us out with the few questions we had. There were two small supermarkets and two small restaurants were you could get drinks and ligher meals. Nice staff everywhere. The location of the hotel suited us well. It was a 5 to 10 minute walk to the center of Los Cristianos or the nearest beach and those areas were a bit noisy till late at night. Better to stay at some distance and chose to go there when desired rather than to be exposed constantly. La Vista beach was a little bit further away, 10 to 15 minutes walk, but very nice. Also, if you rent a car when you visit Tenerife, it's easy and only a few minutes drive to get onto the highway that take you furhter west or north. We were all happy about our stay in Cristian Sur.

Our rented apartment was privarely owned at the front of the complex i.e overlooking the road not the pool. Heavy gates on the front door and patio door made it very secure. Unfortunately at this time of year, the patio failed to get the sun any time of day, so we did not spend much time out there. The complex has 4 pools and adequate sunbeds and sun terraces, although the pool was very cold. An onsite supermarket, bar/restaurant, money exchange ensured all one's needs were catered for. There are many bars close by, some with entertainment, but they do not intrude on one's comfort. The complex is very close to the bus station and a 15 minute walk from the heart of Los Cristianos and both beaches.

If you like to have all north European people and shops around, and enjoy the great Canary weather, then this is your place. Don't expect to sleep before midnight, unless you ask specifically for a quietly located apartment.

I have just returned from a week staying in these apartments. Not suitable if you have disabilities as there are so many steps not easy getting suitcases up all those stairs. Then to find my room had a spiral stair case which was very difficuilt to get a suitcase up and down. This was a private rent but although the kitchen was nice there was a very steep step to climb down to the sitting area. The views were stunning. But the steps were a disadvantage.