Aparthotel El Duque

With a wall along the property perimeter and stone lanes separating the coral and brick-red buildings, the 221-unit Aparthotel El Duque feels like a quaint gated community. The nine apartment buildings are built around hibiscus-filled garden grounds with two pools and stone pathways. A long, central fountain with a sculpture of a whale -- El Duque's logo -- stretches from nearly one end of the resort to the other, effectively slicing it into two distinct sections. The northern section features the large family-friendly pool and the one restaurant, while the southern side contains the lobby and a pool more oriented for idle relaxation. The small kitchens in the apartments and the optional all-inclusive plan (the hotel also offers half- and full-board) allows guests who want to stay put to do so, but those who want to head to the beach or the famous tourist strip will find both within easy walking distance. 

In summer, the hotel hosts mainly all-inclusive families (mostly from the U.K., Germany, Belgium, and Holland) for one to two weeks, while in winter, the guest base shifts to older Scandinavians on the half-board plan, many of whom stay for months. Note that El Duque's inland location means that the property is built on a slight hill, so El Duque may not be the best for travelers with mobility issues. There are also cobblestone streets separating the apartment buildings, not all buildings have elevators, and even first-floor apartments have a few stairs by their entryways.

Aparthotel El Duque has an excellent location, about 600 meters from the closest beach and main commercial strip. The front gate leads directly to a shopping center with a supermarket, sporting-goods store, pharmacy, laser park for kids, and a few casual restaurants. Playa del Duque -- Costa Adeje's top beach -- is a 12-minute walk away. Tenerife South Airport is a 16-minute drive away.

The hotel’s 221 rooms are housed in nine three-story buildings. There are several room subcategories, but all fall into either Standard and Superior Apartment buckets. The main difference is that Superior Apartments come with foyers, AC (Standard Apartments just have ceiling fans), and nicer interior and patio furniture. Both Standard and Superior Apartments feature tile floors; living areas with sectional or sleeper sofas; dining tables; and kitchenettes with mini-fridges, toasters, coffeemakers, microwaves, and juicers. There is a private terrace or balcony off of every room; Standard Apartments' outdoor spaces have white plastic furniture, while Superior Apartments have sunbeds with umbrellas and tables with cushioned wicker chairs. Some rooms have pool views, while others look over the stone streets of the hotel grounds. 

There are flat-screen TVs in most rooms, but one of the Standard rooms we toured had a tube TV. All bathrooms feature wide countertops, makeup mirrors, hairdryers, bidets, and shower/tub combos (wheelchair-friendly studios with walk-in showers are available by request only). Toiletries are not provided, and there is a fee for Wi-Fi access.

El Duque's large lagoon-shaped family pool serves as the heart of the hotel. It has a shallow section near the pool bar, and several loungers and palapa umbrellas. Near this pool's perimeter are the mini club (parents must supervise), two outdoor playgrounds, and a life-size chess set. In the summertime, there is entertainment here all day. A second, smaller pool is located by the lobby. In the summer, the scene around this half-moon-shaped pool is a 180 from the one at the main pool; it's much more tranquil, with grassy lawns, cushioned loungers, Balinese day beds, a ping-pong table, and a pool table, plus a second pool bar that opens only on demand. Lifeguards are stationed at both pools. Pool towels require a deposit, but guests can change them daily.

The one restaurant is located by the main pool. Its buffet bars feature coffee and juice machines and taps for soda, red wine, white wine, rose, and beer for all-inclusive guests. El Duque's manager describes the hotel as "all-inclusive light," as in there aren't all-day snacks here, the way there are at other all-inclusives, though the hotel does provide free bites for an hour every afternoon at the pool bar.

There is no hotel fitness center, but there is a third-party gym located near the front gate, which guests can access for a fee. Wi-Fi is free in the restaurant and lobby; in-room Wi-Fi can be accessed for a fee.