We arrived at the hotel at 2.30 pm after getting up at 2.00am so were understandably tired, especially the kids. Queued at check-in for 25 minutes only to be told that our room was not yet ready and to come back in half an hour.

Disappointing start but went and had a drink in the nice, spacious bar. Went back to reception and checked in, staff were very helpful and pleasant, our room was a 'superior' one on the 4th floor.

Very surprised at the size of the room as we had payed extra for the larger superior room. It was very small indeed for 2 adults a 13 yr old girl and a 9 yr old boy!

Consisting of 3 single beds and a single sofa bed.We had a view of the excellent,clean pools and the sea in the distance. The room was very clean and the maids cleaned it daily,there was also a small balcony.Fourth floor or above is the one to go for as he view is the best, lifts are a problem, there only being 3 and kids in the hotel keep ensuring that they stop on every floor. Yawn!!

However, staff are great, pools fantastic, food mostly very good(just a couple of let downs),and hotel is located not far from shops and beach.

Go out for entertainment though as the Bitacoras is not up to much. Also bar drinks are very pricey. All in all though its a very nice hotel and we would recommend it to anyone with a young family, although maybe the upgraded room was not worth the extra!

We have been here 7 times now. This year we felt that the standards were starting to slip. This may be because there were too many kids.(Even the staff commented on the amount).

The Bitacora is a well run hotel which provides a good standard of accomodation.The bedrooms are spacious enough, have a good sized bathroom and the balcony is a fair size too.

Cleanliness here is second to none. Everywhere you go there is someone cleaning and it always smelled fresh.

The lobby area is now looking tired.The furniture was replaced in approx 2000 and with it being wicker it was starting to look tatty in places.It dosen`t help though when there are ignorant kids who leave their chewing gum stuck to the seats.

The restaurant is very clean,offers an excellent variety of food(fillet steak,sirloin,chicken,roast beef,pork, a variety of veggy meals,salads ,chips potatoes you get the gist)!!all of which is plentiful.There is fresh fruit, ice-creams,cakes all on offer.

The bedrooms now look dated, they need brightening up .They are kept clean, towels changed daily and bed linen changed 2-3 times per week.Pool view rooms give you a veiw of the pool, the sea in the distant and if you are lucky with the weather(it can be very hazy) a view of la Gomera.Personally, we would not want a room over looking the front of the hotel because you will be woken by the coaches dropping/picking up.The rear isn`t too bad although it does look out onto a disused parrot park which is all over grown and needs demolishing.

The entertainment is not too good.There are many ``Nanna`s``dancing about to a man on his organ.The shows, apart from two magic shows ,are too painful to watch.I really can not believe that the hotel pays the entertainment acts.This has been the same since we`ve been going ,so we do our own thing at night.

The staff here are second to none.Always happy to help,will ring for taxis,tell you anything you need to know locally.

Usually we visit this hotel mid June for two weeks.We
would not ever consider going in August again.Having said that,we are not sure we would go again until some money has been spent on doing up the lobby furniture and bedrooms.Although the food deserves a 5 star, the rest of the hotel is falling to a 2-3 star.

Also ,BEWARE!! The opening doors to the steps that lead to the pool will actually close whilst you are standing in them. My 11 year old didn`t realise this (and neither did we) and the doors came shut very quickly and trapped her face/head. Result was an enourmous bump on her head and a grazed nose .She is lucky her teeth didn`t get knocked out.Reception staff witnessed this and were very helpful towards us. I wonder how many times this may have happend?
Believe me ,SAFETY in tenerife is not top of the pile. In britain they would not get away with it.


The hotel is well situated.Excellent location.

I have been for the first time and I thought that it was fantastic.

The staff are very friendly at the hotel who help as much as they can. The cleanliness is the best I have ever seen.

The food was good and they had a variety of choices including roasts and fish.

There is many sunbeds so there is no problem in finding one. You don't have to get up early to find a bed.

The location is superb. There are many bars, shops and restaurants near the hotel. It is also not far from the beach.

The entertainment although was pretty poor in my opinion. Although there were several sporting activities for all ages.

I would recommend this hotel to you and I will go back soon.

Booked this hotel after reading the reviews on here. What can we say absolutely fantastic holiday!!!! Food was excellent, the omelletes at breakfast were superb although you did have to queue a while as they were made to order. Cleanliness superb, childrens entertainment brilliant!!!

Do not think the upgrade to superior room was worth the money, as all you got was bathrobe and free safety deposit along with pool towels but the towels could be hired from reception for 1 euro per day. As the towels supplied free in your room were changed with the maid you could not use these on your sunbed until they had cleaned your room.

The only downside is the reserving of the sunbeds, which of course you have to join in with if you want a bed, 1st week they were unchained from 6.30 but thankfully this changed in 8.00am in the 2nd week.

Most of the guest were families returning year after year, as we porbably will do.

We went to this hotel in July 06. Hotel was very good, food good, staff very helpful in the hotel. The hotel has got 2 swimming pools which both pools are clean. One of the pools has got a slide on that was great fun.

We had a room with pool view this was very good looking out to the pool and the sea - room number 412.

We would come back to this hotel again.

The Bitacora was very professionally run and was exceptionally clean. During our stay, at least 70% of the guests were of Saga age. The food was repetetive and bland, although of a good quality.

Be prepared to reserve the sunbeds and line up for meals.

The rooms are very well proportioned and well furnished. The sat TV isn't very good so young families be prepared for aq dissapointment.

It is well situated, away from the club 18-30 rabble, which was nice.

Watch out for the touts, thesze people are ruining Tenerife by their constant pestering.

Just returned from two week stay first time at this hotel, we are very particular about quality but found the Bitacora an exceptional hotel for quality, cleanliness and attention to detail.

The rooms are large and exceptionally clean go for superior room overlooking the pool with free safe bath robes and free pool towels left in your room for next day we stayed in room 538 overlooking pool and sea and La Gomera any others you could be at rear overlooking disused abandoned restaurant and rear alleyway from shopping centre can be very noisy be warned.

Food excellent plenty of choice and fresh food cooked. Sun beds are an issue all taken by 9am typical. Pool large and warm, with separate children

The hotel reception was an excellent first impression, spotlessly clean and shiny. Hotel staff were very friendly and spoke good English and were very willing to help when they could.

The room was quite large with a good view even though it wasn

The standards in this hotel are fantastic. We have stayed half board in many other 4 star hotels around the world and this was certainly one of the best.

The food was excellent in variety and quality (be prepared to put on at least half a stone if you like cakes).

Staff spoke brilliant English and the bedrooms(although a little dated) were big and spotless. We had a superior room and I'm not sure it was worth the extra money as all you got was the safe included, free slippers and bathrobe to use, pool towels and a better view (although this was only overlooking the pool and other hotels)

If you are looking for a hotel with a bit of action...then this is not the place. The average age of the guests is about 65, many of whom have visited year on out for the past 10 years. The First Choice brochure suggests that this is a family hotel and there is good facilities for the children, but we went the week before half term and there were not too many kids...just old people. If your under 50, I really wouldn't suggest it unless you were going with another couple or group...during our time there we only met one other couple under 30 years old.

With all that said, the hotel did have exceptional standards and was in a nice location (the east side of the resort is much nicer than the middle part - around the Veronicas). If you are happy for there to be little atmosphere around the pool and venture out to the beach and resort for nightlife then this does serve as a good base.

p. s be prepared to get up at 7am to get a decent sunbed as you'll struggle after 8am. All the golden oldies are up and dressed putting their towels out at this time (although half of them don't get down to the pool until midday)...I went in my pyjamas and then back to bed for an hour or two and I don't think anyone noticed!!!!!

This is our second visit to this hotel and we will be returning again. We have been travelling to Tenerife two or three times a year for the past 11 years and this is undoubtedly the best hotel we have stayed in excellent staff.

Good food, beautiful surroundings and close to everything. Shops beach etc. We have recommended this hotel to our friends and they have returned with the same opinions as ourselves. Excellent