A few weeks before our multi-generation group (aged from five to sixties) holidayed at Casa Amore, the residents included a laughter (collective noun) of ladies of a certain age who celebrated from dawn to dusk. On the day we left, the incomers were a clubhouse of gentlemen golfers, who played and partied and made the very most of the winning food.
This a place where families and friends come to mark a special occasion or to enjoy a very special holiday – where guests, from babes in arms to infants and teenagers, couples to party people, are treated like royalty by a peerlessly passionate and professional team led by Paula and Rick Dawson. Of all the places in all the towns in all the world that I've stayed in (although I've yet to visit Casablanca) Rick and Paula run the best. (One hundred per cent five-star reviews on Trustpilot and the abundance of returning visitors reinforce the point.)
Our trip was made up of nine family members and three friends – a trio of whom had been before and sold the idea to the rest of us with their endlessly enthusiastic stories of Casa Amore Tenerife. We spent time together by the pool, relaxing over meal after memorable meal, on a wild night in the villa's private underground club complete with its wardrobe of fancy dress costumes, propping up the cocktail bar, and leisurely evenings around the fire pits looking out across the Atlantic, or watching TV with a cup of tea and a chocolate biscuit. Then, when we wanted to go our separate ways, we took off to a suntrap to read or listen to music, to the sauna, the Jacuzzi, the ice bath, the gym, the treatment room, or the games' cave with its arcade, PS5, Xbox and X Plus, pool table, table football, air hockey, table tennis and karaoke machine. The older teenagers were escorted to pool parties, the adventurers to paragliding and jet-skiing, the shoppers to one of the high-end malls, the six-year-old taken off for a bounce on the trampoline, or a game of football, or out of the sun for snacks and crafts, while the grow-ups snoozed.
Dining here is truly memorable: there are scrumptious breakfasts, lunches, sensational dinners, snacks throughout the day, and a kitchen filled with goodies should anyone have the midnight munchies. Our highlights included scallops and fillet steak on the first night after welcome drinks and canapés, a stupendous fish platter served on a seascape tablescape against the backdrop of the Atlantic Ocean, and for our last supper, a roast dinner and apple crumble, which we reluctantly but unanimously declared even better than homemade. The menus filled with the best and freshest ingredients, are created by Matthew Lawrence – a chef trained in Michelin-starred restaurants, and a Hazel Grove man no less. And as with everything else at Casa Amore, the choice is up to the guests, whether there's a fancy for gourmet or comfort, lobster or fish pie, pizza and popcorn on a movie night, a barbecue feast, a bacon sandwich or fruits and pastries for breakfast, or Caesar salad or chicken and chips for lunch. Every day, three times a day, the kitchen serves up the best, presented beautifully indoors or in the open air.
What did we pay for our stay? There were 12 of us this time, but the beautifully appointed private and secure villa sleeps 14 guests (plus up to three under-fives), in eight bedrooms including the two-bedroom family master suite.
Prices start at £25,900 for seven days for first-time guests. Repeat parties are offered preferential rates. Breaking that down and seeing the breadth of what is on offer makes it understandable that 95 per cent of guests rebook.
The cost includes
Full access to the villa and all amenities
Full board of breakfast, lunch and three-course à la carte dinner (menus and themed dinners are created in consultation with guests)
Unlimited San Miguel on draught
Unlimited premium soft drinks and snacks of choice (*alcohol for the cocktail bar can be pre-ordered and topped up should it run out)
Team of concierge staff
Excursion and event planning
Michelin-trained chef and sous chef
Private drivers and vehicles, with airport transport and fuel included
Laundry and cleaning
Optional upgrades
Evening entertainment, including some of the best acts on the island, from singers and bands to fire-breathers and magicians
Treatments in the massage and beauty room
Giant inflatable pool slides
My best bits
The superb food presented beautifully in gorgeous settings
The flexibility. For example: coffee by the pool for me at 6.30am, while everyone else slept in; breakfast served for the early risers, or mid-morning for those who wandered down later
The little things that mean a lot: Music of your choice inside and outside, comfortable beds, lovely toiletries, great showers, good hair dryers... all the touches that make a five-star holiday
The daily laundry service (how nice not to return home with a suitcase full of washing)
The cocktail-mixing skills – you choose the ingredients, the girl gang behind the bar put Tom Cruise to shame
Being looked after by a team at the top of their game, who love their jobs and who love to see happy guests
Having the place and space to come together as a group or individually (one of my best memories is the walk to the beach with a 15-year-old I rarely get to spend time with now he's growing up)
Will we be among those return visitors? If all goes well, 10 days in the summer of 2025 are ours (you have to grab a time slot when you can, it's so popular). Casa Amore is now my place of choice to holiday with a group of people I love and like. Luxury living, sunshine, great food, impeccable service, all the fun, and relaxation you want and need. What's not to amore?
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