Hotel El Patio

Hotel el Patio is great if you aren't into the resort-hotel type of deal, as it's nice and quiet and comfortable and has a friendly, home-like atmosphere. You won't find a mini bar or TV in your room, but there are very cheap drinks to be had in the nearby salons/lounges. A lot of folks have said you NEED a car if you're staying here and while it's definitely helpful, we didn't have one and we had a 6 month old baby. We used buses and taxis when possible, and it was very affordable if a little frustrating sometimes. The buses are not all that reliable, and Google Maps doesn't have great info on them, and you have to pay by cash. However you can get a taxi into Icod or Garachico for about €5-7 and from there catch a bus to just about anywhere, if you're prepared to sit on a bus for a while. Otherwise, the staff were incredibly friendly and helpful and would always stop what they were doing to help you plan your day out and things like that. We relied on them heavily to book us taxis and things because the taxi operators didn't always speak English. All in all a very positive experience. The only negative is the coffee served at breakfast ;) You guys seriously need to upgrade those bean-to-cup machines. The coffee tastes like it came out of a vending machine in a police station. Serve some regular filter coffee as well maybe. Don't ask it for a cappuccino - you'll end up with a weird chocolate drink.

Have just spent a blissful week here, completely immersed in the peaceful natural surroundings of the banana plantation. The family-owned and run hotel is in the charming old plantation house, surrounded by wonderful gardens full of fruit trees and flowers. The owners and staff are most charming and helpful, but keep very much in the background, so you feel more like a house guest than a tourist. Rooms are spotless and full of character, ours had lovely garden views. There is a small attractive pool with plenty of secluded sunny and shady sitting areas for peace and privacy, and a pleasant indoor lounge/bar area with lots of family and estate memorabilia and an honesty bar. Those looking for a spot of gentle exercise can choose from a variety of free activities including signposted walks around the plantation, tennis and croquet. The small dining room provides a buffet breakfast every day and dinner twice a week. We'd recommend Hotel El Patio especially to couples and older people seeking a quiet retreat in an utterly peaceful environment.