Tenerife Paradise Found: 2-Pax Romantic Retreat at Belvilla La VicarA!
Tenerife Paradise Found: Belvilla La VicarA! - A Messy, Honest Review for Lovers of Sun and Spontaneity (and Maybe a Bit of Chaos)
Okay, so, Tenerife Paradise Found: 2-Pax Romantic Retreat at Belvilla La VicarA! That’s the official title, right? Sounds… well, a bit too polished. Let’s ditch the marketing jargon and get REAL. My partner and I just got back from Belvilla La VicarA, and honey, it was an EXPERIENCE. Not always picture-perfect, but definitely one to write home about (which, technically, I’m doing now).
SEO & Metadata Snippet (Just in Case My Ramblings Reach the Right Search Engines):
- Keywords: Tenerife, Belvilla La VicarA, Romantic Getaway, Spa, Pool, Wheelchair Accessible, Family-Friendly, Canary Islands, Hotel Review, Holiday, Vacation, Accessibility, Wi-Fi, Spa, Dining, Cleanliness, Safety, Activities, Couples Retreat, Luxury, Best Hotels, Spain, Canary Islands Hotels, Romantic Hotels, Belvilla Reviews.
- Meta Description: Honest review of a romantic escape to Belvilla La VicarA in Tenerife. Explore accessibility, spa experiences, dining, cleanliness, and everything in between. Find out if it's a perfect escape or more of an adventure!
Alright, now that that's out of the way, let's dive in!
First Impressions (and a Slight Panic Attack):
Driving up to La VicarA… gorgeous. Seriously. That view! We're talkin' sweeping landscapes, volcanic rock formations, the whole shebang. The promise of a “romantic retreat” was palpable, particularly with the exterior looking pristine (and maybe a little too pristine – like, did anyone actually live here?).
The check-in process? Smoother than expected, particularly the "contactless" aspect. In fact, this hotel really embraced the whole COVID-19 thing. They take it seriously, which is a HUGE relief. We’re talking hand sanitizers everywhere, staff in masks, and regular sanitization of common areas. The Daily disinfection in common areas was actually reassuring. The Professional-grade sanitizing services helped me relax.
But then the Elevator… let’s just say it's a tight squeeze, especially with luggage. And, yes, it is wheelchair accessible. (Accessibility gets a big thumbs up!)
The Room: Our Little Love Nest (and a Few Minor Hiccups):
We booked a couple's room, and honestly, it was pretty sweet. Air conditioning? Check. Blackout curtains (essential for someone like me who loves a good sleep-in)? Check. The Air conditioning, and the Blackout curtains, combined made the room amazing. Additional toilet, Private bathroom, Shower, Separate shower/bathtub, Bathrobes, Slippers… Honestly, they'd thought of everything. Room decorations were thoughtful, creating a cozy, romantic vibe.
The Free Wi-Fi – glorious! I needed to keep up with my social media presence, right? And it worked well, with Wi-Fi in all rooms! Internet access – wireless, Internet access – LAN was a nice touch. The Refrigerator kept our wine chilled (a crucial amenity in my book). And the Coffee/tea maker meant instant coffee, no more begging on the phone anymore.
Now, about the tiny hiccups… one of the lights was a little wonky, constantly flickering. We mentioned it, and Daily housekeeping was quick to fix it. But the Soundproofing could have been better. We could occasionally hear our neighbors, particularly when one of them ahem had a room sanitization opt-out available for the morning.
Things to Do (or, How We Tried to Relax):
Okay, the Swimming pool [outdoor] deserves its own paragraph. The Pool with a view was phenomenal, overlooking the dramatic terrain. It's a Poolside bar where you can sit around and sip the day away and chat. And that’s not the only thing you can sit and sip away. Drinks were a bit pricey though. Poolside bar also has a nice selection.
The spa? Yes, please! I went full-on indulgence. The Body scrub, the Massage, the Sauna… it was blissful. My partner? Less enthusiastic, but even he admitted the Steamroom felt amazing. And then we enjoyed the Foot bath. My advice? Do it. Just… do it.
We planned to take advantage of the Gym/fitness center, but… let's just say our plans got derailed by the allure of cocktails and sunshine.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking (Because, Priorities):
The dining options at La VicarA are pretty solid. The Breakfast [buffet] was a highlight. They had everything: fresh fruit, pastries, eggs cooked a million ways, and the coffee was actually decent (Coffee/tea in restaurant). The Western breakfast made us very happy. I loved the fact that they had Buffet in restaurant setup.
We hit up the A la carte in restaurant a few times. The International cuisine in restaurant had some interesting stuff! Salad in restaurant was good. The Vegetarian restaurant, was nice too. They have Asian cuisine in restaurant which was awesome. We’ll get back to that later. Desserts in restaurant were great.
There’s a Snack bar too, handy for a quick bite. The Poolside bar was perfect for sundowners and a Happy hour. Bottle of water was a welcome treat. And the Coffee shop sold a decent cup of coffee.
We also tried the Room service [24-hour] when we were feeling particularly lazy. Always a winner!
Accessibility and Safety (Because We Want to Be Responsible People):
- Accessibility? As mentioned, the elevator and ramps make it relatively easy to navigate for those with mobility issues.
- Safety? Top-notch. CCTV in common areas and CCTV outside property gave us a sense of security. The Front desk [24-hour], Security [24-hour], and Fire extinguisher made me feel safe. The Fire extinguisher was awesome. They had Smoke alarms too. And let's not forget the First aid kit and the Doctor/nurse on call. Nice to know they have a Fire extinguisher.
They had a Safe dining setup. Sanitized kitchen and tableware items helped me relax. Hand sanitizer everywhere. They had Hygiene certification, which was great.
The Quirks, the Chaotic Moments, and the Overall Verdict:
This wasn't a perfect, cookie-cutter romantic getaway. There were small annoyances, moments of mild confusion (trying to figure out how to work the television), and maybe a little bit of sibling rivalry for the Wi-Fi.
But you want real? This place gave us that, and the good outweighed the bad by a landslide. The staff was friendly and helpful. The views were breathtaking. The spa was amazing. And we actually connected with each other instead of being glued to our phones (mostly!).
The Final Verdict:
Would I recommend Belvilla La VicarA? Absolutely. It’s not just a hotel; it's an experience. A slightly messy, beautifully imperfect, utterly human experience. If you're looking for a place to reconnect, relax, and embrace the chaos of real life, then book it. And if you see me there next time, buy me a drink. I'll be the one sporting a slightly sunburnt nose and a huge smile.
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Stars (Minus half a star for the slightly wonky light and the occasional noisy neighbor).
Additional Notes and Ramblings:
- For the kids: While we didn't need it, the Kids facilities, and the Babysitting service look great.
- Getting Around: We used the Car park [free of charge], which was a bonus. They have Taxi service, and Airport transfer.
- Meeting/banquet facilities: Didn't use it, but the Meetings and Seminars looked well-equipped.
- Pets allowed unavailable: This is good to know, if you have allergies or any other related reasons.
- Essential condiments: Available to keep you going!
- Room sanitization opt-out available: Always a nice option.
- Additional amenities I forgot to mention: Luggage storage, Dry cleaning, Ironing service, Laundry service and a Gift/souvenir shop.
- Important point: Cashless payment service is great.
- Random thought: The Shrine was a nice touch. Always good to have a moment of quiet reflection.
- Another random thought: Who knew I’d become such a fan of Western breakfast?
Okay, I think I'm done. Time to go get another cup of coffee. Or maybe a cocktail. Either way, I'm still smiling about Tenerife. And that, my friends, is the real test of a good vacation.
Luxury Escape: Your Dream Apartment in Charming Heinrichskirchen Rotz, Germany
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because this isn't your grandma's tidy travel itinerary. This is… well, this is me, loose, caffeinated, and about to unleash a week in Tenerife with all its glorious messiness. La VicarA-a La Buhardilla, for a romantic getaway they said. Two of us. Hah. We'll see about that after seven days.
The Tenerife Tango: A Belvilla by OYO Debacle (or Maybe Just a Delight?)
Day 1: Arrival of the Clueless Tourist (and the Quest for Sangria)
- Morning (ish): Flight lands, I’m already sweating. Tenerife airport… a glorious cacophony of delayed luggage and aggressively tan families. Found the Belvilla (fingers crossed, I'm not entirely sure of the directions, even with the printout), La VicarA-a La Buhardilla. Ooh, "Buhardilla" sounds fancy. Praying it's not a cupboard.
- Afternoon: Found the place! And… actually, it's gorgeous. Rustic, charming, and the balcony definitely has potential for sunset cocktails. Unpack, collapse on the bed. Briefly consider the practicalities of life, then abandon them entirely. First priority: locate sangria.
- Evening: Restaurant search. GPS is basically gaslighting me. Eventually, stumble into a place called "El Sol." The sangria is… potent. Maybe too potent. Witness a family attempting to order paella with increasingly exasperated hand gestures. I secretly admire their dedication. Decide their struggles are a sign of good things to come, the paella is delicious.
- Night: Stagger back to La Buhardilla. Stare at the stars. Vow to not mess this up.
Day 2: Volcanoes and the Curse of the Sunscreen (and the Great Banana Heist)
- Morning: Wake up with a mild headache. Definitely blame the sangria. Today: Mount Teide! The volcano! Pack sunscreen. Forget sunscreen.
- Afternoon: Teide. Wow. Majestic, imposing, terrifying. The cable car is a terrifying but thrilling ride. The air is thin, the views are insane. Realization: I'm incredibly out of shape. Gasp for air, take photos, feel like a conqueror.
- Late Afternoon: Sunburn. Everywhere. The curse of the forgotten sunscreen is upon me. Seek aloe vera. Vow to never forget sunscreen again (spoiler alert: I do).
- Evening: Find a local market. Eye up the bananas. I've always wanted to be a banana pirate. Regret on not purchasing a single banana because the vendor looked at me suspicously, feeling like a failure. Go to bed.
Day 3: Beach Bum Bliss (and the Seagull Invasion)
- Morning: Beach Day! Choose a "quiet cove." Turns out, "quiet" is relative when you're sharing it with a million screaming seagulls.
- Afternoon: Sunbathe (with sunscreen this time, success!), swim, attempt to read a book but get distracted by every single thing. seagulls attack.
- Evening: Seafood dinner by the sea. The freshness of the fish cures the day. Stare out at the ocean, feeling incredibly small and utterly content. Discover the art of people-watching.
Day 4: Lost in the Labyrinth (and the Pursuit of Churros)
- Morning: Stroll through a town in search of a specific cafe. The map, apparently, is a suggestion, not a rule. Get gloriously lost. Discover hidden alleyways, meet a local who gives me some local gossip, feel like a true explorer.
- Afternoon: Cafe. Finally! Churros with chocolate. Worth the navigational nightmare. Seriously, chocolate dreams are MADE of this.
- Evening: Visit a nearby museum. Learn something. Feel a fleeting sense of intellectual superiority. Quickly squashed by the fact I can't remember what I learned.
Day 5: Whale Watching (and the Sea Sickness Saga)
- Morning: Whale watching tour! So excited! The ocean looks beautiful and the hope of sighting is a high.
- Afternoon: Seasickness. Ocean is rocking, and so is my stomach. (It gets better.) See whales! Magnificent creatures! Forget seasickness for a moment. The views are breathtaking.
- Evening: Back on land. Have a restorative meal. The memory is worth it, the experience is now an unforgettable memory.
Day 6: The Wine Route (and the Argument over Tapas)
- Morning: The Wine Route! A guided tour to sample local wines. Find a favorite wine.
- Afternoon: Tapas time! Get into a heated (but friendly) debate over which tapas place is better. Eat everything.
- Evening: The best night. Feel the sun. See the stars.
Day 7: Farewell, Tenerife (and the Deep-Seated Fear of Leaving)
- Morning: Last sunrise from the balcony. This place has stolen my heart, even with all its chaos. Pack. Look fondly at the mess left behind.
- Afternoon: Final meal. Savor the flavors. Say goodbye to the view.
- Evening: Flight. Reflect. Already dreaming of the next adventure, wherever, whenever.
Post-Trip Ramblings:
- Tenerife: utterly chaotic, gloriously beautiful.
- La Buhardilla: Perfect imperfection. Cozy, authentic, and a haven from the world.
- The Sangria: A force of nature (and a cause of many, many laughs).
- Sunscreen: Still a necessary evil.
- Next time: Book more bananas. Learn more Spanish. Embrace the chaos. And definitely, definitely, bring twice the sunscreen.
Tenerife Paradise Found: Belvilla La VicarA - FAQ (Because Let's Be Honest, You Have Questions!)
Okay, Spill the Tea: Is La VicarA ACTUALLY Romantic? Like, REALLY Romantic?
Alright, let's cut the fluff. "Romantic" is a loaded word, right? Depends on your definition! For *us* (me, and my long-suffering partner, bless his heart), it was... mostly romantic. Listen, the views? Stunning. Seriously, the pictures don't do them justice. Waking up and seeing Mount Teide just... there? Magical. We actually spent the first morning just staring, completely speechless. Okay, maybe *I* was speechless. He grumbled something about needing coffee.
But here's the truth bomb: the romance doesn't just *happen*. We had to work at it. We accidentally burnt the paella (more on that later), almost got locked out on the balcony (again, later), and bickered about who was hogging the sun lounger. Pure paradise? Nah. Paradise *with* a hefty side of reality. But the moments of pure, unadulterated beauty? Absolutely.
The Pool! Tell Me About the Bloody Pool! (Important Question!)
The pool... okay, the pool. The pictures *lied* a little. It's lovely, don’t get me wrong. Sparkling clean, inviting, all that jazz. But... it's slightly smaller in real life than the photos suggest. And you know what? Who cares! It was *private*! (mostly, more later). We actually had the pool almost entirely to ourselves. Imagine, floating in that glorious blue water, gazing at the scenery... until the wind whipped up and I almost lost my bikini top. (A minor detail, but a detail nonetheless).
And the best part? That feeling of pure, unadulterated ease. Sunbathing. Reading. Sipping something fruity. You know, the good life. We also discovered a particularly nasty species of ant that *loved* my sun cream. So, be warned. Bring bug spray. Lots of it.
Okay, Let’s Talk Practicalities: What's the Kitchen Like? Did You Actually *Cook*?
The kitchen! Okay, this is where things get interesting. It's well-equipped, don't get me wrong. Everything you *need* is there. But... and there's always a but, isn't there? Our attempt at cooking paella almost ended in a kitchen fire. Seriously. We’re talking smoke alarms, flapping towels, and me yelling at my husband to "do something!" He, of course, just stood there, staring at the pan like a deer in headlights.
We salvaged it, eventually. The result? Edible. Just… edible. Learn from our mistakes! If you're not a culinary genius, stick to simpler dishes. And seriously, pay attention to the rice! Otherwise, the kitchen is fine. Clean, modern. Just... maybe avoid paella. Seriously, it was a disaster.
Location, Location, Location! Is it Actually Remote/Peaceful?
Remote? Yes. Peaceful? Mostly, yes. It's up in the hills, which is what you want. No blaring traffic, no noisy neighbors (except, perhaps, the occasional goat, bleating its head off, which, honestly, was quite charming, until 3 AM) It's all about the views. We spent hours just staring out the window. Complete and utter bliss.
You need a car, obviously. Which is useful. I say "obviously" until I almost drove us off the side of a mountain. (Another story for another time). But the isolation is a HUGE plus. Complete privacy, perfect for… well, you know. Relaxing, lounging, being utterly, unapologetically yourselves, in a place of utter beauty.
Any Major Annoyances? Any Dealbreakers?
Dealbreakers? No. Annoyances? Yes. Briefly. The internet was a bit patchy at times. Which, in the grand scheme of things, is a tiny price to pay for paradise. The air conditioning was a little... temperamental on one day, and we woke up utterly boiling.
But honestly? The positives far outweighed the negatives. (The negatives are: ants, temperamental A/C, and my questionable cooking skills. The positives: The views, the pool, the privacy, and the sheer feeling of escape!). Ultimately? Tiny little things that were easily forgiven, because hey – this is supposed to be a relaxed holiday.
Deep Dive: The Balcony Drama!! (You Mentioned It!)
Oh, the balcony. This is a good one. The balcony is *gorgeous*. Seriously, the perfect spot for a glass of wine at sunset (which, by the way, is utterly breathtaking). We went onto the balcony, doors closed behind us, and leaned over the edge. Breathtaking views. I went to go back in, the door wouldn't open. We were locked out!
It was a ridiculous situation, looking back. We were stuck, looking out, starting at each other with an expression that went from "Oh, this is a laugh" to "Oh crap". It's testament to my husband's resourcefulness (and mild terror) that we managed not to be stranded. We were rescued in the end by the property manager. It wasn't *ideal*. But the view? Still worth it. Absolutely. Moral of the story: Double-check the doors before you lock yourselves out!
Would You Go Back? (The Ultimate Question!)
Absolutely, yes. Absolutely, without question. Despite the ants, the paella, and the balcony drama, we had an absolutely amazing time. It’s not a perfect place (nothing is, right?) it's a place where you can escape, unplug, and reconnect. We needed that. We *really* needed that. And we found it. La VicarA isn't just a vacation rental, it’s a memory-maker. So, yes. Book it. Just… maybe pack some extra bug spray. And double-check those doors.
