During a month-long visit to Europe, I decided to stop by the Canary Islands for some much needed R&R (rest and relaxation, not rock and roll — though the resort had plenty of both). It was there, situated on a volcanic Spanish island in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Africa, that I met the new Hard Rock Hotel Tenerife.

I touched down in Tenerife on a sunny October afternoon. It had been a long day of travel (actually, it had been a long month of travel) and I was desperately in need of a cocktail. Therefore, upon checking into the Hard Rock Hotel Tenerife, my first order of business was to make a B-line towards the hotel’s stunning rooftop lounge, “The 16th.” As I took in my island surroundings from the bird’s eye view of this panoramic rooftop, I couldn’t help but be reminded of my home in Hawaii. Watching the sun make its slow decent over the Atlantic Ocean, I realized that Hawaii would be watching it rise at that very moment. It was then I truly understood that I was literally a world away from home. Despite watching the sunset from the other end of the world, the signature Hard Rock style and surrounding island scenery had me feeling closer to home than I had felt in weeks.

I’m no stranger to Hard Rock Hotels (Me and the Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas have a long term relationship). Therefore, the classic Hard Rock design and elegance that I’ve come to know and love felt familiar and welcoming, and made a foreign country feel a little more like home.

From the moment I set foot on the property to the time I checked out, I enjoyed every minute of my stay and can honestly say the Hard Rock Hotel Tenerife is worth every single one of its five stars.

The Hotel:

Since it first opened in October 2016, Hard Rock Hotel Tenerife has been awarded several distinctions, recognizing it as the best hotel of the year in Tenerife and the best thematic hotel in Spain, and also ranking it among the best hotels in Europe. It has also been named among the “Best Hotels of 2018” (in the world). In it’s short life, HRH Tenerife has garnered a spectrum of accolades, and the reasons are evident from the moment you check in.

Staying true to Hard Rock Hotel form, the HRH Tenerife plays home to a number of epic pool parties and concerts throughout the summer months. Every Saturday from June to October, guests can enjoy music and drinks outdoors by the pool at the weekly Lagoon Party, or catch one of the many concerts at the nearby stage.

If you miss the concerts, you have the option to channel your inner rockstar by renting a complimentary fender guitar and amp to use during your stay. Or, if you’re not so musically inclined, you can take advantage of HRH Tenerife’s “Sound of Your Stay” playlist to enjoy a curated collection of tunes.

In my opinion, it’s these vast and varied amenities that set the Hard Rock Hotel Tenerife apart and makes each stay memorable.

One of my favorite things about the Hard Rock Hotel Tenerife was.. (wait for it).. The room key! At check in, guests are given a bracelet that doubles as their room key (and can also be scanned for payment on any items charged to the room). Having a room key bracelet got me super excited, as I’ve been known to lose room keys everywhere I go. I also enjoyed not having to lug my purse to the pool or bar, since I could use my bracelet to pay for drinks.

Upon using your cool bracelet / room key to enter the newly renovated rooms, the lights and TV turn on automatically while music suddenly begins blaring in a grand gesture of welcoming that never ceased to amaze me, even by day 3 (it really is the little things).

The Property

The sprawling property consists of two main towers (the Oasis Tower and the Nirvana Tower), three swimming pools, six restaurants and three additional bars. Not to mention the amazing Rock Spa, and impressive workout facility (rock gym) and a private beach. Basically it’s your quintessential “resort destination,” — with so many amenities and activities, there’s no need to leave the resort.

The Oasis Tower is located near the kid’s pool and is the family friendly accommodation, while the Nirvana Tower is home to the gorgeous rooftop sky lounge, “The 16th”, and is the adult tower. Therefore, not surprisingly, my room was in the Nirvana Tower.

When it comes to R&R, I had a hard time choosing between the adults-only pool next to the Nirvana Tower and the large lagoon pool with ocean views. Both pools have swim-up bars and ample lounging options. There’s also music playing through speakers or live DJs at each pool that further adds to the ambiance.

I was also surprised to find the pool equipped with underwater music (which was, admittedly, pretty cool).

Accommodations

Boasting 624 guest rooms, 259 suites, and four floors or Rock Royalty Suites (for anyone wanting to upgrade their stay), HRH Tenerife has no shortage of accommodation options.

The three types of deluxe suites (silver, gold or platinum) feature modern wooden tones augmented by high-shine black accents. Each room has a terrace with varying views of the ocean or resort, large flat screen TVs, a couch, a large comfortable bed, and bathrooms that boast a double sink and sensory system shower.

The studio suites are slightly larger and include a whirlpool bath and large terrace, complete with a round-bed from which guests can take in the stunning ocean views.

Then there are the rock suites. In addition to a large bedroom and bathroom, these suites include a living room and guest bathroom. Additional amenities in include a Nespresso machine and gaming console, as well as a small bar and stunning ocean view terrace.

Regardless of whichever accommodation you choose, I can promise you will never want to leave.

Dining

The HRH Tenerife makes up for what the surrounding area lacks in terms of dining options. Boasting six restaurants and three additional bars, there are plenty of dining and drink options to satisfy any appetite.

Out of all the dining options, Montauk was my favorite. This stunning steakhouse offers outdoor seating with beautiful sunset views and an impressive wine and food menu. The service was wonderful and they even let you choose your own steak knife (they bring five knife options to your table and let you choose which knife you’d prefer, which I thought was a cool touch).

I had an amazing stay at the Hard Rock Hotel Tenerife and cannot recommend this property highly enough. The customer service is exceptional and the property, pools and rooms are absolutely stunning. This new HRH addition definitely lives up to the Hard Rock Brand and will not disappoint.