TO CATCH A THIEF! (Atalaya Court Apartments)

Member Name: janna

Product:	Atalaya Court Apartments
Date:	15/05/02 (1324 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: I got to write 3 opinions for dooyoo

Disadvantages: steps, burglaries, steep hillside

I have written this opinion to serve a warning to anyone who may be contemplating a stay at this Complex, it is burgled on a regular basis, but at least one thief did not get away, but more about that later….

In January of this year we booked an Airtours Sundeal two-week holiday to Tenerife flying from Norwich International Airport in April. I have already written an opinion on this Airport, so I will give “Bigger is not always Better” a plug here, if you don’t mind. This holiday was to be ‘Allocated on Arrival’ in Tenerife staying at a minimum 2 star hotel/apartment complex on a self-catering basis for a total cost of £221 each.

Four hours flying time later we landed in Tenerife in the hot, afternoon heat. White Mediterranean-style apartment complexes are jammed closely together stretching up the hillside close to the coast in the Torviscas area of Playa de las Americas.

My outstanding memory (apart from the burglaries) of the Atalaya Court Apartments in the Torviscas area of Playa de las Americas in Tenerife is steps, steps and even more STEPS!

On arrival at this Complex we were issued with a map for finding our apartment. After a considerable amount of walking and nine flights of steps later, dragging heavy suitcases (why did I pack so much?), we found our apartment.

Patio doors open into a lounge/kitchenette with the usual cooker, fridge and well equipped pots and pans etc. There was a comfortable settee, which could be used as an extra bed, armchair, table and four chairs – not modern but comfortable and clean. Despite there being only two of us, we had been allocated a 2-bedroomed apartment; the largest bedroom had an ensuite toilet and hand basin. There was sufficient wardrobe space, ample coat hangers and drawers; patio doors again opening onto the terrace. Bathroom consisted of a bath with overhead shower, toilet, bidet, washbasin and a very large mirror.

>There was no air-conditioning or fans and no windows. If you found it too hot to sleep at night, the only way to allow air into your apartment was to leave the patio doors in the bedroom open. Outside a large terraced area was furnished with a plastic circular table and four chairs – one of which my husband sat on and broke (glad it wasn’t me – I would never have heard the end of it!). There was also a drying frame for your hand washing.

Maids came into the apartment every day with the exception of weekends to clean and make beds; towels were changed fairly regularly.

Altogether the Apartment Complex was vast spreading across the hillside on about six or seven levels. Because of it’s layout, it would be impossible to install lifts. It would also be completely unsuitable for anyone with walking difficulties. Believe me, we were exhausted just getting out of the Complex.

To get to the beach/ or into town, you walk down a steep hill to a road bridge over the main TF1 motorway continuing down the hill to restaurants, shops and eventually the beach. Take my word for it, unless you are young and fit don’t try walking back up the hill, take a taxi instead – it will cost you 2 or 3 Euros.

Alternately you could take a courtesy bus to the beach. This leaves from the adjacent Neptuno Hotel and costs 30 cents each way. A timetable is available from Reception.

Cash/travellers cheques can be exchanged for Euros at the Reception Desk or when you go into town, but we found that we received the best rate of exchange at the Thomas Cook Bureau de Change at Norwich Airport prior to departure.

The apartment complex contains two swimming pools on different levels, one of which is a smaller ‘dip’ pool. The other is larger with a shallow end for children. Furnished with sun loungers this was a pleasant area – well, it would have been if it wasn’t for the loud music
emanating from the poolside snack bar. The ‘music’ consisted of what appeared to be a c.d. compilation of failed Spanish Eurovision Song Contest entries.

Almost daily by the pool we were treated to “I am your Sun and Skin Care Specialist”. I would have thought this to be an excellent idea, but they are only interested in flogging their own Aloe Vera products and some of the information they gave, encouraging holiday makers not to use the products they have brought with them, was incorrect.

A small supermarket is contained in this complex. But you don’t want to do your shopping here – walk down the hill to the Supermercado in the Rio Centre where you will find prices are more competitively priced and then take a taxi (rank opposite) back to the Atalaya. Alternately use the Netto Supermarket, approximately a 5 minute walk away; a modern, new Supermarket, well lit and clean and with reasonable prices.

A Danish Bakery is situated just along the road from the Atalaya and next to the Regency Club. Buy your croissants and cakes here – they were truly wonderful and will melt in your mouth.

Although there were no organised daytime activities, evening entertainment was provided most evenings by way of two male singers (suitable as Flop Idol contestants!) in the bar area which is situated next to the restaurant.

We ate on two occasions in the Atalaya restaurant. We enjoyed our meals; they were nicely cooked, well presented and the restaurant staff are pleasant. Prices were reasonable although you will find cheaper restaurants (and a wider variety) when you go into town.

The Hotel Group who own the Atalaya Apartments also own the Laguna Park I and Laguna Park II Apartments. Situated closely together, it is possible to visit the Laguna Park II Apartments by taking a track down the hillside. These apartments had a large and impressive free-form outdoor swimming pool. Holidaym
akers from the Atalaya were making use of the facilities of the Laguna.

Before I finish you may be asking about the relevance of the title of this opinion. During the coach journey to the Atalaya we were warned of three pests: time-share touts, the looky looky men, and cockroaches. What everyone (Airtours and Hotel staff) failed to tell us is that burglary is commonplace at the Laguna Park II and Atalaya Apartments. (In fact, we found out later that the Laguna Park II has been featured on the television programme “Holidays from Hell” due to the numerous break-ins).

On the second night of our holiday a young couple with a small child found that their money had been stolen during the night as they slept. As I have previously mentioned there are no windows and to allow air into the stiflingly hot apartments, you obviously take a risk if you leave your bedroom patio doors open whilst you are sleeping.

A week later another couple returning to their locked apartment in the early hours of the morning found a thief inside. Despite the holiday maker giving chase, the thief escaped with a camera.

On another occasion, we awoke to hear someone outside trying to open our door with a key during the night. We had locked the door and left the key in it, so no one could gain entry. It was still a very frightening experience.

A few nights before we were due to depart; we were awakened by a commotion in the apartment immediately above ours. Three men on a short break from the UK occupied this apartment. The thief was caught red-handed and apprehended by one of the men whilst the others called hotel staff and the police. I would think that the thief, of Spanish nationality, got the shock of his life – two of these men were big, burly fellows or as my husband said “were built like concrete sh*thouses!” (pardon the expression – he can be soooo crude at times!).

And if there is anyone out t
here who is still contemplating visiting the Atalaya Court Apartments, I would recommend that you pay for a safety deposit box and put all of their valuables inside. When you go out in the evening leave lights/television on in your apartment. Keep your patio doors locked at night and leave your key inside in the lock, as it is quite obvious that some of these thieves had keys!

And don’t expect any sympathy from the Airtours Representatives at this Complex as they have adopted a “no care” attitude! They obviously know about the regular burglaries, why were we not warned in advance? Are they waiting until a burglar injures a tourist, because this could easily happen?

On the night before we were due to depart, a thief broke into an apartment occupied by a woman and her three children stealing £400, a video camera and taking a bag containing her son’s homework and course books.

Many problems of this nature would be overcome if the Atalaya installed bolts on the inside of all patio doors and employed night security staff – at least this would be a deterrent to the burglar.

Janna
14th May 2002


~* Factfile*~

Atalaya Court Apartments
Playa de las Americas
Official Rating: 3 key
Board Basis: Self-Catering
Brochure Price for same 2-week period: £419 per person
Telephone 00 34922 712750

Available from Airtours
www.airtours.co.uk


PS. Since writing this opinion I have contacted Going Places (who we booked the holiday through) and they agree with me that Airtours should not be sending holidaymakers to the Atalaya Court Apartments. A letter is on it’s way to Airtours. Depending on the outcome of this, I may write separately about this matter in the ‘Tour Operators’ category.

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