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The Ritz-Carlton Tenerife, Abama or Gran Meliá Palacio de Isora?
The Ritz-Carlton Tenerife, Abama and Gran Meliá Palacio de Isora are both large five-star resorts on the west side of Tenerife, facing La Gomera. Both are in the Alcalá and Abama area, both have a kids' club, a full spa and a gym, and both include an adults-only area. The real difference is what each is built around. The Ritz-Carlton has 459 rooms, seven pools, ten restaurants and bars and its own beach club on Abama Beach below the resort. Palacio de Isora has 609 rooms and a 5,000 m² saltwater Infinity Pool.
The Ritz-Carlton suits couples, families and food lovers who want Michelin-starred dining and a beach on site. Palacio de Isora suits families and couples who put the pool first, with nine restaurants, a Spa by Clarins and the RedLevel hotel for guests aged 16 and over.
Abama, Alcalá and Abama · 5
The Ritz-Carlton Tenerife, Abama
Clifftop 5-star resort at Abama with Michelin-starred dining, seven pools, an adults-only Retreat and its own beach club below.
Choose it if you want Michelin-starred M.B, seven pools and a beach club on the sand of Abama Beach below the resort.
Alcalá, Alcalá and Abama · 5
Gran Meliá Palacio de Isora
Big clifftop resort at Alcalá with a 5,000 m² saltwater infinity pool, nine restaurants and a 16-plus RedLevel hotel inside.
Choose it if you want a 5,000 m² saltwater Infinity Pool, nine restaurants and a 16-plus RedLevel hotel with butler service inside the resort.
Side by side
| Fact | The Ritz-Carlton | Palacio de Isora |
|---|---|---|
| Where | Abama, Alcalá and Abama | Alcalá, Alcalá and Abama |
| Type | Hotel, 5 stars Grand Luxury | Hotel, 5 stars Luxury |
| Rooms | 459 | 609 |
| Guests | All ages | All ages |
| Meal plans | Not confirmed | Not confirmed |
| Beach | On Abama Beach | Not confirmed |
| Pools | 7 | Not confirmed |
| Spa | Spa | Spa |
| Kids’ club | Yes | Yes |
| To Tenerife South airport | About 32 min by car | About 31 min by car |
| Book through | Expedia or the hotel | Expedia or the hotel |
Drive times are routed without traffic or snow. Checked October 2026.
Where they differ
Beach and setting
The Ritz-Carlton sits high above Abama Beach, with The Beach Club on the sand and views to La Gomera. Palacio de Isora is a clifftop resort at Alcalá facing La Gomera, with Mount Teide behind, and the fishing village of Alcalá and its small beaches close by. For a beach below the resort, the Ritz-Carlton is the one.
Rooms and size
The Ritz-Carlton has 459 rooms, built around a main citadel building with rows of villas in the gardens, and some suites have private pools. Palacio de Isora has 609 rooms. Both offer a quieter corner: The Retreat at the Ritz-Carlton, and RedLevel at Palacio de Isora, a boutique hotel within the resort for guests aged 16 and over.
Food
The Ritz-Carlton has ten restaurants and bars, led by the Michelin-starred M.B, with Japanese at Akira Back, Basque cooking at Txoko, Italian at Verona and grilled fish at The Beach Club. Palacio de Isora has nine restaurants: the Pangea Food Market buffet plus eight à la carte options covering Italian, Asian, Japanese and Mediterranean cooking.
Pools and spa
The Ritz-Carlton has seven pools, including an adults-only infinity pool at The Retreat, and a 2,500 m² spa and fitness centre with an indoor pool. Palacio de Isora has about 7,500 m² of pools, led by the 5,000 m² Infinity Pool, and the Spa by Clarins with its thermal circuit, plus tennis and padel courts.
Questions
Is The Ritz-Carlton Abama or Gran Meliá Palacio de Isora better for families?
Both suit families. The Ritz-Carlton has the Ritz Kids club, a splash park and a beach club. Palacio de Isora has a Mini-Club with shows and live music, a Baby-Club and the huge Infinity Pool. Choose by beach or pool.
Which has the bigger pool, Ritz-Carlton Abama or Palacio de Isora?
Palacio de Isora, with a 5,000 m² saltwater Infinity Pool and about 7,500 m² of pools overall. The Ritz-Carlton has more separate pools, seven in all, including an adults-only infinity pool at The Retreat.
Do The Ritz-Carlton Abama and Palacio de Isora have adults-only areas?
Yes, both. The Ritz-Carlton has The Retreat, an adults-only area with its own infinity pool. Palacio de Isora has RedLevel, a boutique hotel within the resort for guests aged 16 and over, with a private pool and butler service.
Other comparisons
Sources: ritzcarlton.com, ritzcarlton.com, ritzcarlton.com, webtenerife.com, webtenerife.com.