Review date: 13 January 2008 - A HotelStreet visitor from Northern Ireland wrote:-

Review title: "Optimist Apartments"
Travel date: December 2007
Optimist apartments are basic but great and central to everything. I had read the reviews before I left and was very dubious but how wrong were they. I stayed at the Optimist for two weeks from 28 December 2007 to 11 January 2008 and only saw one cockroach and it was on my patio.

The staff were all fantastic, especially with my three children and the security guard was always a gentleman. The maids came everyday.

The apartment was basic but clean but if you wanted absolute luxury, then you wouldn't go self catering would you?! We had a great time at the Optimist and would recommend it again.

Review date: 19 September 2007 - A HotelStreet visitor from Fort William, Scotland wrote:-

Review title: "Great Place, Sound Reps! "
Travel date: September 2007
Optimist is a great place. I was a bit apprehensive but great. No cockroaches, bedroom big and same as the other rooms. Nice balcony overlooking the pool.

Our room was cleaned every second day! Hardly any noise from the other people.

If on 'Escapades' would definitely go on the excursions. Foam party was magic, then the barbecue (didn't do that as went to 'Tramps' instead). The Saturday night and the pub crawl were great. On Monday had the cruise - only one complaint was only lager for the men.

Our reps were great - Brad, Neil, Rachel! Always looking out for everyone, making sure having a fun time, so friendly. One complaint about the 'Escapades' was that most guests didn't really talk to us, probably because we were Scottish!

Would go again on 'Escapades' and definitely stay at Optimist - missing it already! It's so near the shops and near 'Starcos', near 'Tramps' and all other places. Go to 'Tramps' and the wee cheesy music room - the DJ is so good but so's the other one!

Great holiday, already booking with them again.

Review date: 08 August 2007 - A HotelStreet visitor from Belfast wrote:-

Review title: "Optimist Was The Worst Ever"
Travel date: July 2007
For anyone who is considering a mad holiday, don't stay at the Optimist. The music has to be turned off by 10 o'clock, the pool closes at 8 o'clock and the security were always yapping. They walked round the pool every night and we watched them go in and check peoples' rooms.

'Escapades' club reps were really nice people. They were a good laugh and did a lot of fun stuff. If you're looking a good partying holiday, listen to me and go elsewhere.

Review date: 22 July 2007 - A HotelStreet visitor from Middlesbrough wrote:-

Review title: "Cheap And Cheerful"
Travel date: June 2007
Three girls looking for a good time went to Tenerife. We didn't know what to expect from our hotel but I was surprised. It was clean so don't be put off - the cleaners did come and there definitely were no cockroaches!

The pool, bar and reception area were great. We were there for two weeks and had a great time. Would stay in the Optimist again!

Review date: 26 June 2007 - A HotelStreet visitor from England wrote:-

Review title: "Would Not Stay here Again"
Travel date: June 2007
Stayed at the Optimist for one week and could not wait to get home. The hotel room was dirty around the bathroom area, the maids came in twice in the one week, they made the bedding but did not change it. There were cockroaches outside the apartments of a night on the walls. There was even one in my room, the guard came up and sprayed it, it stank, we asked to be moved and were told there were no free rooms. We ended up staying in a different apartment with friends for two nights.

The only good thing was that there was a reception man who was very helpful but that was the only good thing. If you're planning on staying here, I wouldn't and if already booked, change your accommodation.

Review date: 11 January 2008 - A HotelStreet visitor from Scotland wrote:-

Review title: "Optimist Apartments"
Travel date: May 2007
Optimist apartments are very basic, but very clean (you'll be fine if you like the colour green!) We had a great time, security guards are very strict. We went with 'Escapades' and had the best time ever with Brad, Neil and Emma! Only saw one cockroach in the room and left the lights on to scare them off!

Review date: 07 May 2007 - A HotelStreet visitor from Nottingham wrote:-

Review title: "Good Stay - Will Be Coming Back Again"
Travel date: April 2007
Everyone is right in saying the Optimist hotel is basic. If you are looking for luxury, then do not come here. If you are looking for a bed to sleep in and somewhere to get ready and eat, then here is the place. The room isn't the main focus really, so I'll say all the good points: the pool was nice and big and it was sunny all day till about six or something. Plenty of sun loungers. There is a small supermarket called 'Caribe' about five minutes or less away, then the bigger supermarket called 'Netto' which is ten or less minutes away (Netto is cheaper).

The whole resort surrounding the Optimist is beautiful, especially as you get closer to the beach. There are a lot of shops, perfume shops and tons of restaurants and bars, and quite a few Chinese buffet places if you like Chinese. This is the second time staying at Optimist with my mum and my sister and we love it here. We are coming back again next year as we know we can afford this place as it is very cheap. It may not be spotless or anything but does that really matter when your out?

Review date: 11 September 2007 - A HotelStreet visitor from Dumfriesshire wrote:-

Review title: "Optimist Apartments"
Travel date: September 2006
Hi all. If you are looking for a good, outrageous holiday, don't stay at the Optimist because it is more for families. The security men were banging on folks doors for playing music and called the police. You weren't allowed in the pool after eight. Close by for the shops and bars though, which was a good thing.

Review date: 01 October 2006 - A HotelStreet visitor from Birmingham wrote:-

Review title: "Optimist - Great Place To Stay If On Group Holiday"
Travel date: September 2006
All in all, I would say these apartments are great if you want cheap accommodation to sleep in. It's basic, but value for money. Remember to have a little extra money with you as they take a deposit off you when you check in.

Cleaners attended every other day; however the bathroom used to get quite messy as water would tend to make its way to the floor! I didn't see any cockroaches in my apartment during the stay so I think they do a pretty good job. You have to pay for the use of a TV so I would recommend that you take a small hi-fi or something so that you can listen to music else it feels too quiet!

The poolside is great, plenty of room and lots of sun loungers to chill on. I also like the way the pool is surrounded by the building itself so you feel as though you have a very private place.

The staff speak little English and the night time security is pretty tight - they call the police at the smallest of things so try not to get onto the wrong side of them! The accommodation is surrounded by four star hotels which is a pain but I really enjoyed my stay and would recommend to all 18-30 year olds! The people were very friendly and it was nice to see familiar faces. The apartments are also very close to all the nightlife/food places! Ten minutes walking distance.

If in Tenerife on a budget - stay at Optimist! Its pretty good value for two star accommodation! I would go again!

Review date: 18 September 2006 - A HotelStreet visitor from Macclesfield wrote:-

Review title: "Good"
Travel date: September 2006
When we got to the hotel, the Spanish guy was a little slow sorting out our room. They take your passport off you for a day so they can register you on the island.

The rooms were very basic but suited us just fine, as all we did was sleep in there! Sometimes the cleaners wouldn't do our room because it was so messy which meant we had to do it, so sometimes the beds didn't get made or clean sheets.

The pool was great and could always get somewhere to sit. It wasn't overly big but was nice. The bar is OK. The food wasn't great but depends what you have.

At night there is always noise, i. e. people getting drunk, people talking and music. It is a very laid back hotel. We drank next to the pool at nights and the guards didn't mind. They only get stroppy when you are jumping in the pool after hours (I'm talking about 4.00 in the morning).

We got to talk to everyone at the Optimist and made some new mates, so that was good. Over all, this hotel is not for families. I'd say more of a lads'/girls' holiday.

I paid £210 for the flights and the hotel for a week so I didn't expect it to be anything good. This is only a two star hotel so keep that in mind. It is cheap and cheerful.

Review date: 06 March 2008 - A HotelStreet visitor from London wrote:-

Review title: "Never Stay At The Optimist"
Travel date: July 2006
Oh my goodness. I hated staying at the Optimist. Yeah, I didn't pay a lot of money for my holiday but does that mean I should get a massive cockroach in my room every night, rude service, no staff speaking English (in Tenerife?!) and have to pay for the TV with one English speaking channel.

The bathroom was gross, so old and the shower didn't' work properly. I asked at the bar if I could just have a small cup of ice and she refused. I didn't feel comfortable leaving my passport at the reception and the worst thing was the noise, mostly from people who don't know when to be quiet and go to bed. There was jungle music blaring out, but also that main road with all the taxis beeping at each other every second of the day.

I hated it. Didn't even think it was in a main location and don't get me started on the reps - so annoying. Played the same three songs at the pool every day and made you pay out for 'fun' trips with them every night. Warning - just don't stay at the Optimist.

Review date: 06 October 2006 - A HotelStreet visitor from England wrote:-

Review title: "Optimist Is Fantastic!"
Travel date: July 2006
I give this amazing holiday a whopping 10 out of 10! I loved every minute of my stay in Optimist and I will definitely be returning. The apartments are spotless, the pool area is fantastic and all the staff, bar tenders the lot, are extremely friendly in every way.

I definitely recommend these apartments to any party people. Clubs and the main strip – fabulous. Going to go back soon.

Review date: 18 May 2006 - A HotelStreet visitor from Belfast wrote:-

Review title: "Avoid These Apartments!"
Travel date: May 2006
We were quite disappointed with these apartments. I thought I was getting a good deal for what we paid, however as we went into our second week there we were beginning to get quite fed up with these apartments.

The kitchen was very basic, bedroom even worse, and the bathroom was just abysmal! The beds were absolutely pathetic - they are made up of a metal base with flexible wooden slats underneath which do not fit and fall out when you move at all in the bed. The first single bed I slept in, I fell into the middle of it as it had been slept in that much, however my partner kindly swapped beds. In fact we had to sleep at the opposite end of the bed so that we did not sink into them so much. We even considered sleeping on lilos on the living room floor as it seemed a much more comfortable substitute. However we were frightened we might be eaten alive by cockroaches! The maids did come in often enough, at least ten out of the 14 days, however I am almost sure that our bed was only changed the once. I think they kept making the bed with our old sheets! Absolutely disgusting.

There is currently work going on in the opposite complex which is right beside where our apartments were. The drilling started from 7.30 a.m to approximately 3 p.m Monday to Friday so there is no chance of a lie in unless you are absolutely drunk from the previous night. The is a snack bar, however it does not open until 11 a.m and closes again at 6 p.m so if you're looking for a drink outside these hours you have no choice but to go to the main resort nearby.

On our last day we were hoping to keep our room, along with another couple who we had met there. However when we first enquired about it, we were greeted by a nasty woman, who 'apparently' speaks English who told us to come back tomorrow. Later that night we enquired with one of the security guards who went on to tell us that it would cost us 50 euros just to keep one of the one bedroom apartments on for the day! An absolute rip off! Our rep had mentioned previously that it was only around 20 euros. The next day we did not bother going to reception as we thought we'd rather not pay the 50 euros, only to find another couple that live in the same town as me had only, in fact, paid 21 euros! As for the deposits, we had to pay 20 euros and hand in our passports, only to find we had to pay another 20 euros the next day. Apparently you have to pay 20 euros each, however there were other couples who only paid 20, or some who didn't even pay any. Take my advice and avoid these apartments at all costs!

Review date: 18 May 2006 - A HotelStreet visitor from Belfast wrote:-

Review title: "Basic But Could Do Better"
Travel date: May 2006
When we arrived at the Optimist apartments, I just took one look and said ‘that's it, I'm asking to be moved to another hotel tomorrow' but as I slept the night and got up in the morning, I kind of got used to it a bit. After all, it's not as if it's your permanent home and for a bargain, what else can you ask for. The room itself wasn't too bad. The kitchen was the only modern looking part. Nearly eveything is green. There is always hot running water and whatever you do don't rent the TV, - it's rubbish - its either all Spanish or German and if you're looking for the wire of the kettle, it's inside which we discovered on our last night.

If you like to get out and around the pool to sunbathe, I would advise you to get out early because there just aren't enough beds. We went out one day to find that there were no beds left at all. We had to sit on the steps in the baby pool waiting for a bed as the sun hadn't reached around to our balcony on time. The girl who was a lifeguard had to actually walk around and lift about 20 towels off beds that people thought were reserving for themselves to let the likes of myself lie down.

The people at reception aren't helpful at all. When I asked the day before we were leaving how much it was to keep our room on, I got a reply, really cheeky, saying ‘come back tomorrow'. Then we asked later on that night again and we were told it would be 50 euros and that was for a small room. We later then asked two girls that were going home on our flight and they paid to keep theirs on and they only paid 21 euros.

The rooms were cleaned nearly every day, but there could have been more glasses and cutlery, though there were only two of us but what happens if we want to get a takeaway and bring it to the apartment with our mates?

Around the pool area was clean and the pool was quite warm and it was cleaned very early most mornings. I must warn you that if you get put on the same side that we were on expect a lot of noise in the mornings around 7.30-8.00 a.m. from the hotel next door. They do insist on stacking the beds up at night just to unstack them early every morning (what's the point?) Why not just tidy them up like the Optimist do?

There are two pool tables which surprisingly both work and one big net for tennis and there is a pool bar which doesn't close before 7.00 p.m every night. There are not a lot of cats. We were there for two weeks and we saw two the whole time, and it was the same two. Nothing to be worried of, they are friendly but scared. As for cockroaches, we got one on our balcony the whole time.

Just one thing, depending on your age or the size or group you go in, you will have to pay a deposit of 20 euros each, but because it was me and my boyfriend we only had to pay 10 each. But not to worry, just keep your receipt and keep it in a safe place and if nothing is damaged or broken at the end of your holiday you do get it back.

Review date: 26 April 2006 - A HotelStreet visitor from Essex, Engalnd, UK wrote:-

Review title: "I Would definitely Come Again"
Travel date: April 2006
When we arrived, we did have to hand over our passports and pay a deposit but we got the passports back in 15 minutes and we understood having to pay a deposit seeing as most of our group were boys!

The rooms are good, better than we expected seeing as we paid so little. The beds are fine and however I wouldn't recommend six people in a four bedroom apartment as the extra beds are not as comfortable. We had everything we needed, more than enough plates, cups, cutlery etc. The cleaners came in almost everyday and always rung the bell three times before entering.

The pool area was good, not an amazing pool but it did the job. The sun shines all over the pool area so it doesn't really matter where you sit. There is always an English speaking receptionist on during the day and the guards at night are fine as long as you aren't loud and cause hassle.

I would recommend this hotel to young groups. as its close to clubs and restaurants and the bar does a great hangover breakfast!

Review date: 03 March 2006 - A HotelStreet visitor from Wigan, England wrote:-

Review title: "Optimist Or Pessimist"
Travel date: February 2006
Well, what can I say? If you just want somewhere basic to stay, this is the place. But don't go there if you want to have a good time (I am talking about the complex not Tenerife). When we arrived we walked in to a dull reception with a very unhappy looking person behind the counter. He took our passports from us and told us to collect them tomorrow. We went to our room to find single beds with one flat pillow each, bars at the windows and two built in wardrobes that were very rundown. The television has the buttons removed but if you take a universal remote you can get round this (saves renting one). In the kitchen we had one pan, two plates and that's it. The shower has enough water to give you one shower then you have to wait half an hour to have another one. The shower curtain was complete rubbish and the bar serves drinks at the same price you would buy lager in England.

And here's the best bit. If you have a room on the right hand side of the complex, you will not get any sun at all i.e. when you walk from the reception and enter the complex, the right hand does not get any sun. It is all on the left hand side. The picture shown on this site was taken from the dark side, which is always chilly and damp. Nice for the cockroaches.

All the staff would not smile and especially the night guard who I called Manuel as all I got of him was 'key?' He doesn't speak any English.

But if you are going anyway, take more pans, cutlery, soap and shampoo. The top stove is electric and you get only two rings. The cleaners come in at 12 every other day and knock but give you about 30 seconds to answer the door before coming in. Hope this has been of help.

Review date: 08 February 2006 - A HotelStreet visitor from Cumbria, England wrote:-

Review title: "Do Not Stay Here!"
Travel date: February 2006
As soon as we reached the apartment, we were looked at like criminals and were told to pay a deposit of 20 euros each (60 euros in total) towards the room. We then had to find our travellers cheques, exchange them and hand over the money.

When we arrived at our hotel room it was basic but we never really minded as long as everything worked in a good working order. We noticed that the television had the buttons taken out, so my friend went to the reception to be greeted by the next grumpy Spanish person working there who pointed to the window that showed a list of how much it cost to hire the television. My friend then noticed that the person working behind the reception was watching porn; it was visible for anyone to see if they approached the reception. This showed how unprofessional and disrespectful these people were.
The television cost three euros a night but you could only pay for three nights minimum, my friend agreed to pay only then to be charged an extra ten euros for a deposit! When we eventually got the television to work after receiving a remote, after three days of 'technical faults' we could only receive two English channels that were Euro Sport and
BBC World.

The shower in the hotel was totally unsatisfactory. It wouldn't stay in the same position when placed on the wall and the amount of water that was sprayed was so little we had to spend twice as long just to get a decent wash. The beds in the hotel were terrible with pillows that were that flat so there was no point in having them and the covers were so thin that we had to go to bed in our clothes at night because we were so cold. The cooking facilities in the kitchen were poor, especially if we wanted to boil eggs as it was taking around 20 minutes for the water to boil.

I hope my review has helped for anyone planning to stay in this place.

Review date: 03 April 2006 - A HotelStreet visitor from London wrote:-

Review title: "Very, Very Poor. Do Not Stay Here"
Travel date: September 2005
As soon as we turned up at the apartment, the person behind the desk looked really strange and wanted our passports and we had to collect them the following day. Our room was very basic and not very clean. We had two single beds that were very uncomfortable. Our bed sheets got changed once out of the seven days we were there.

The bar is very poor. They don't sell nice food and it's very small and it was hardly ever open. Tenerife is nice, just not this apartment. We had building work going on every morning about 8 a.m. The pool area was very shaded and didn't ever see the sun. Because of this we never spent time around the apartments. I would not recommend this apartment to anyone. It was horrible and dirty.

Review date: 03 March 2006 - A HotelStreet visitor from Whitby, North Yorkshire wrote:-

Review title: "Optimist Apartments, Great Location"
Travel date: August 2005
You will love it here, so near to every thing. It's the best location I have stayed in. I go to Tenerife twice a year and booked here for three weeks this time and will book again for next year.

Review date: 26 September 2005 - A HotelStreet visitor from Ireland wrote:-

Review title: "Good Laugh - Very Funny People!!"
Travel date: August 2005
It was a nice stay. Met lots of friendly people. The head man at reception was a nice man and of course Ivan was lovely, very friendly. The security men are very scary and serious. Please be wary of the cleaners as we had a bit of a bad experience with them!!! But apart from that, we had a brilliant two weeks!!!!

Review date: 31 January 2006 - A HotelStreet visitor from Berkshire wrote:-

Review title: "Pukka Holiday"
Travel date: June 2005
We stayed here for a week and had the best time ever. Ok, it was not the best apartment but we had a bed and a fridge for the beers. The atmosphere of the place was great. Everyone gathered in each others apartments and had a few drinks in the evening.

The pool was great, always warm and the little cafe was great for breakfast after a night out. During the day was pretty quiet: a few families were there but everyone got on. So close to Veronicas was fantastic. Like it so much have booked to stay here again this year.

Review date: 10 February 2005 - A HotelStreet visitor from Lincolnshire, UK wrote:-

Review title: "Optimist Apartments Is The Worst Place We Have Stayed!!"
Travel date: May 2003
We stayed in the Optimist in 2003. This was our first time abroad. We walked into the complex and went ?wow'! We got into our apartment and cried! We changed rooms the next day. The wardrobe door fell off, the room was heaving with cockroaches. We only had hot running water. We had two plates, both with cracks, no tin opener, two forks and one knife. When it came to dessert, we had one bowl. This apartment was booked for four people to stay.

We will never go back to any part of Tenerife again. The apartment ruined our stay there. The staff were very unhelpful and we were compensated with a free excursion for the day! This was the worst holiday we have been to. This is one place I would not even recommend you go and see for yourself!