Summer trip to Tenerife with kids and kosher food.

[rcarentals]

I booked the Bahia Del duque in Tenerife, without really knowing where Tenerife was, or really much about it at all.
It was $330 per night. and i had a number of amex fine hotels and resorts credits expiring Dec 31. So a week before they expired - i put in 10 1 night, FHR reservations, with refund available until i think 14 days before.
the plan, was 2 rooms, interconnecting - $200 off per room = $130 net. or $260 total per night, breakfast included, as well as upgrade and $100 credit.
I almost chose the ritz - but i found there is chabad - and the ritz is not walking distance.Additionally the ritz looked a bit sterile - and with a 2 and 3 yr old - i figured i'd feel more relaxed at the bahia.
Bahia del duque it was.
I flew to the UK for 5 days to visit the DW family - and then hopped on our flights (Chase Reserve flights on BA RT for around $350, with free hand luggage) to Tenerife.
On board the flight i was asked if i wanted a coffee - i said sure. they then charged me 3-4GBP for an instant coffee.. i was surprised since it was BA.. both at the charge and the instant aspect but wtvr - i was happy to have some hot caffeine.
Landing in tenerife, we were greeted by a staircase to the tarmac for a bus to the terminal.
The baggage came out somewhat quick - the stroller somewhat slow.
I was curious how the customs would be - since we were relying on bringing some things in.
Immigiration was quick and easy but for customs - there was literally no-one there. I'm told it can be hit or miss - but this was major miss.
We had stocked up on hot dogs and cheese/cream cheese/pitas and bread. While I'm sure the pitas would be fine - the cheese and meat would not have been. We walked right through.
NEXT: I had reserved with Avis. but en route to the shuttle to avis - i stopped at the other rental car companies. several said they have no cars - some said a 5 seater - they all said they rarely have 7 seaters available in the summer. An issue since i have 4 kids - and was planning to rent...
I figured I'll see if avis upgrades me.
We boarded the shuttle to avis - it goes every 20-30 minutes and is 5 minutes away. Large carpark - lots of cars.. they said the same thing - no 7 seaters and reservation only during the summer - no walk ins.
Luckily my car was a decent size volkswagon SUV. 5 seater.. but YOLO.
The hotel was only 15 min away - we headed over.
BUT - we made a quick stop to pick up dinner to go from the shliach.
We ordered the 1000gram schnitel and couscous as well as Israeli salad, hummus, a long life milk for the next days coffee/cereal, and 2 loaves of mezonos bread (in case we had issues at customs)
The kids enjoyed the fresh hot schnitzels en route to the hotel - they were great and plentiful.
check-in was great!
Bell boys dressed in Spanish outfits - ladies in corsets and puffy dresses - it felt a bit disneyesque - but they are wearing Spanish outfits - proud to be an authentic tenerife/spanish island resort.
Everyone had great english and the service was very polite. Valet was complimentary.
The rooms were beautiful. I had emailed asking for a upgraded view, and was told to try again a bit closer to the stay. The upgrade is typically only at check-in - but it's always worth asking for one in advance. I scheduled an automated email for 3 days before - and to my luck - they obliged.
The ocean view was gorgeous. the rooms were guaranteed to be interconnecting and indeed they were.
The elevator was gorgeous - part of an insane atrium lobby with 3 bars on 3 different floors.

[rcarentals]

The next day, we scoured the breakfast for kosher items - the fruit was all cut on a special fruit board/station. The vegetables the same.
The cereals mostly had hecsherim on them - and there was Alpro pareve kosher yoghurts which are great. Fruit/vanilla/chocolate.
There were also fresh orange juice squeezing machines which were cool and our kids loved fighting over who would bring my wife and i the freshly squeezed juice.
After a morning swim - where i met some fellow jews staying at the hotel - from both london and Paris we headed out for a hike.
It was already afternoon - so we arranged to pickup dinner somewhat early and had it right before the hike. Deliious varieties of salmon and various sides.
we went on a small hike - near the hotel - https://www.alltrails.com/en-gb/trail/spain/tenerife/la-caleta-costa-adeje
We didn't do the full thing - but this is a gorgeous trail - very unique with insane cliffs and beaches. Plenty of people cliff jumping or just enjoying the beautiful beach/rocks or sun.
We walked around 1.25 miles out and then back. We found kosher ices from a corner store - as well as some kosher chips. We also grabbed some sunscreen which was much cheaper of course then the hotel. (8-9euro vs 26 euro).
The streets are super cute - as are the stores. it's a very relaxing and peaceful vibe.

We headed back to the hotel - where - every night there is complimentary entertainment. whether it's musicians, acrobats, magicians or more - there's always something on at around 9/9:30pm.

The next day - similar breakfast, pool but we there in a beach trip - and went to the hotels very unique beach. The beach was beautiful - but the waves were quite rough. they throw rocks into the waves - so people try stay before the crash - ideally not after it - but they are also quite strong - and i did see some people getting thrown around by them.. and tumbling on the ground.
It's interesting that there are virtually no shells - but you can have white sand and then one beach over dark black sand, and then white again. it's a very unique beach/boardwalk/coast.
The chairs on the beach are rented by a private company - not the hotel. We didn't get one - we just hung out - and then went back - past the 24/7 security at the locked door beach entrance to the hotel.

[rcarentals]

Friday we went to Loro Parque. The Zoo.
When i spoke to the shliach he had told me they have an Orca Show there.
My kids are in love with whales at the moment. Obsessed really.He mentioned the maritime life at this zoo was insane
I knew my kids would be sold at "orca". So we went on Friday.
it's an hour from the Bahia - but it's a chill and gorgeous drive. I went for the outbound through the mountains.

Upon arrival parking was horrendous - but i found a spot 700 meters away on a hill before the zoo - like hundreds of others.
The first show we could catch was dolphins - we tried rushing to it - but at 10 min before they said it was full - so we explored around - and made plans to hit the orcas 30 min early per the suggestion of the dolphin show bouncer.
At 30 min before it was already quite full - but we got decent seats. we opted for the splash zone - eye level with the water.
the orcas are well trained and perform amazing tricks - including using their fins.. and of course powerful tales to DRENCH the splash zone crowds. oh ye - with salty water too.. my kids were in heaven - besides the 2yr old who was somewhat offended at being splashed. we hustled to try make the dolphin show this time - and made it. the dolphins were super cool jumping probably 8ft+ in the air.
the show was great.
there were 2 other shows - but being friday.. we couldn't see them all.
we saw a number of other cool animals - and aquariums which were literally epic - and headed back.
One english family i met at the hotel asked me what i was doing for kosher food. Our kids were playing together and they noticed our yarmulkas and told us they were jewish too - they told me their kids had been living on pasta and french fries - and were dying for some chicken. she mentioned her daughter said it's too hard to be jewish and she doesn't want to be jewish when she grows up.
I said i get from chabad. she replied she tried calling and got no answer. i told her to whatsapp, as he is very responsive by whatsapp - she did - and ordered a whole shabbos package. her oldest daughter said she was dying for some chicken.
I offered to deliver it to the hotel - since i had a car and was picking up my own - she was super happy and i delivered her food.
Both our kids loved the shabbos food which was plentiful, hot, fresh and delicious.

Friday night - we just gave our kids the takeout shabos food - and ate in our rooms.
Shabbos day - we went to chabad for lunch.
They were supposed to have a minyan, but i had a work emergency and didn't have time to memorise the directions.
Luckily i had scheduled a helper to come help bring the kids to the chabad and she knew the place as she regularly helps there for tourists - so we were able to get there for lunch. Due to security they do not yet publish their address anywhere - in any language. the front desk reception googled it - when i asked her if she knew directions and couldn't find it.

the meal was delightful with challah dips, schnitzel/kugel and cholent and a warm fun atmosphere.
we met one family on the boardwalk who picked us out by our yarmulkahs to tell us we'd see them there shabbos.
it was beautiful and a very warm shabbos atmosphere.

Sunday - it was breakfast and checkout.
Avis has a funny thing - where they say you need to give them a receipt that you filled up gas within 10km of avis TFS airport.
luckily there is one 30 seconds from the return - so i filled up and gave them the receipt.
the shuttle took a little while... BA was nice and checked a number of our hand luggage bags in free.
Then we had an awesome security experience. Tenerife has an amazing family security line - that feels super VIP.
It was awesome. chill and staffed with loads of friendly workers.
We bought some kosher chips for the flight, a few extra souvenirs with leftover euros and headed back to the UK.
Pics to come.

[rcarentals]

Apologies for spelling mistakes and not the greatest writeup. I wrote this from my phone - aiming to just get it up vs not. Hopefully it's helpful.

[lil knocker]

great trip report + great writing