If you have not visited the Spring Arona Gran Hotel for a long time, you are in for a few surprises. One of which is the permanent exhibition which has been situated in Sala Vilaflor, which was previously our reading room. This is an exhibition where we can go through the history of the Island of Tenerife, from prehistoric times up to the modern day.

You will be able to see how the forces of nature formed a landscape of earth, water, air and fire creating a unique history and culture on our planet.

More than 20 million years ago, volcanoes deep under the sea erupted and created these islands. What we see today are the results of the forces of nature, erosion and human activity .

As a result of these eruptions,  you will be able to see examples of several types of rocks of different materials.

The Guanches were the first human beings to populate Tenerife   They came from North Africa and developed their entire herdsman culture, adapting it to the new surroundings. The economy was based on cattle breeding of goats, sheep and black pigs. Agriculture was also important, especially the cultivation of barley and wheat, with which Gofio (typical dish from the Canary Islands) was made. You can see the objects of utility the Guanches made, such as ceramic beads, tools out of stone and bones, and jewellery out of clay, bones, horns burr, etc..

Until the beginning of the 20th century, the economy of the islands was based on cattle breeding and cultivation of corn.  Fishing was also very important and the contact to the sea was never lost.

Conservation of traditional work from the artful hand of our ancestors makes it possible for us to boast a large range of arts and crafts, even up to nowadays. The most important ones are pottery, embroidery, ship building, carpentry and basket weaving.

The rich biodiversity is an example of the acclimatization of animals to the new surroundings. Most of the flora, fauna and microbe species came from Macaronesia, Europe and Africa. They settled in the Canary Islands and thousands of them became endemic, meaning the ecological state of being unique to this particular geographical location.

In the 40’s of the 20th  century , the road of the South was built, connecting Santa Cruz with Los Cristianos, making possible to do the journey in just one hour. Also  in the middle of the 20th century  the South had only one Hotel  Pensión Reverón.

We hope you have enjoyed this short down memory lane with the exhibition, and we invite you to see it totally free during your next stay at the Spring Arona Gran Hotel, or in any of our other hotels.

Apart from the Canarian and Spanish themed dinners, that are held on alternative Thursdays at the restaurant of our Hotel Vulcano,  for a few months, we are now offering some new options. They are  the Barbaque and Sea Food themed dinners that are served on alternative Tuesdays .

In these themed dinners all the ingredients are specially selected and cooked to your taste.  There is a wide option of meat dishes you can choose from, such as shoulder of lamb, goulash , crispy chicken etc. The show cooking options will be:

A thick fillet steak grilled to your taste

Or maybe a tender sirloin steak

Grilled breast of turkey with pinneaple

Here you can see some of our show cooking staff preparing these delicious dishes, while you wait.

And if it is fish what you into, and are lucky enough to be spending your holiday here, you will enjoy our grilled king  prawns.

Or our steamed mussels with coriander sauce

 And what about a fish brochette?

Or the grilled Dover sole with streamed potatoes

Maybe some cod fritters Orly style with broccoli

 And if its salmon your favourite fish, I am sure that this oven baked whole salmon, will be your main choice.

So, whatever your choice of meat or fish is, you know you can enjoy it on alternative Tuesdays at the restaurant of Hotel Vulcano.

Also, you can enjoy your dinners on Tuesday, with live music from a harp player.

This is one of the many improvements that are on the way, and that we have prepared just for you.

Hope you like it!!!

If you have not been one of the lucky 2000 guests, that chose to spend New Year’s Eve in one of our hotels, we are going to show you a small selection of  photographs of our Buffet decorations,  hoping that you decide to spend next Year’s Eve with us!!!

The first two photographs belong to the Buffet at Hotel Bitacora, and are two beautiful ice sculptures in three colours. The ice swans were in the good company of huge carved pumpkin,  in the shape of a snake.

We could also find a wide variety of very special dishes made for this ocassion, such as this impressive tray of lobster!!.

Below, in the Buffet of Hotel Vulcano,  our chefs surprised us with a carved watermelon in the shape of a flower, surrounded by a bouquet of fresh flowers and other fruits.

At the entrance of the Buffet, we find a “cascade” of king prawns surrounded by trays of smoked salmon, lobster and other delicious sea foods.

And here is a smiling ”family photo” of the Restaurant and Kicthen teams of Hotel Vulcano, that were on duty on that night.

 This funny snail welcomed all our guests at the entrance of the Buffet of the Arona Gran Hotel.

This was the impressive salad Buffet that was prepared for this occasion.

A just a “small” representation of the Kitchen team at the Arona Gran Hotel, who is wishing you a Happy New Year!!! 

Please let us know if you ever spent Christmas or New Year with us. We’d love to hear from you!!!!

Last Wednesday, the Commercial Team of Spring Hoteles, had a “sweet duty” to endure. Our job consisted in delivering Roscones de Reyes, to some of our collaborating  Tour Operators here in the South. Roscones, like the one in the photo, which we hoped sweetened a little bit the day of our colleagues.

This Roscón de Reyes (Kings Cake), is made of a brioche like ,sweet dough, in a large ring shape, and is decorated with pieces of crystallized and candied fruits such as cherries, orange and lemon. The dough of this bun is flavored with Orange Blossom Water, which gives it such a special smell and taste. This typical Spanish cake, especially baked for Epiphany, is eaten on 5^th and 6^th January, the eve of Epiphany and Epiphany Day, when the Three Wise men visited Baby Jesus.

This typical cake, is also eaten in other Hispanic countries, such as Mexico and Argentina. A similar bun, known as “Bolo de Rei”, is eaten in Portugal, and although is also made for Epiphany the ingredients are not the same.  In France, a delicious almond paste cake,  is also made on this dates,  and is called “ Gallete des Rois”.

This Roscón de Reyes is usually served for breakfast or as an afternoon snack together with a thick & hot chocolate drink. The classic or original Roscón, like the one we delivered, is served plain, with no extra fillings. But in the last few years, there is a new trend to fill it with cream, chocolate or even crème patisserie. But we still prefer the classic one, as it reminds us of our childhood days.  Hidden inside the cake you can find a dried bean and a ceramic figurine.  The tradition states that the one that finds the dried bean, must pay the for the Roscón. And the one that finds the little figurine, will be crowned King with the dummy crown with is always included with the Roscón.

We hope you liked one of our most loved traditions!!!

Arona is not only home to the three Spring Hoteles in Tenerife, it’s also home to great food, drink and music traditions and they are not shy about sharing it with visitors. The local council makes a point of introducing Canarian wines, cheeses, and pastries to as many people as possible and following last winters sea front festival, the Canaries Folk Festival is back again for another run.

Every Thursday evening from now until 14 April 2011 the promenade at Los Cristianos old beach is the place to be. Starting at 8pm stalls along the front will be selling the best of local produce so you can get a taste of natures bounty. This will take place against the backdrop of live music and dance on the stage at the back of Plaza del Pescadora, named after the statue of the fisherwoman carrying the fish catch of the day in the basket on her head. The promenade is a popular place to walk in the evenings and just a short stroll along from Arona Gran Hotel, the  Hotel Bitacora and Hotel Vulcano are a little further the other side but they too are just a short walk away from the promenade at Las Vistas beach which leads through the small tunnel to the festival area.

A la carte Restaurant “La Palapa”

We would like to announce that we have opened the ‘a la carte’ Restaurant “La Palapa” in the Spring Arona Gran Hotel, which will open its doors every Tuesday and Thursday night. We will offer a special menu for our guests (additional supplement cost) so they can enjoy a pleasant dinner overlooking the sea.  We currently have an offer on our website where for a minimum stay of 5 nights we are giving away a romantic dinner and a €30 voucher for drinks (conditions here)

Our evening entertainment held in conjunction with a bingo raffle among the clients of a dinner for two people.

Gala Dinner “Black and White

Every Wednesday we offer a Gala Dinner “Black and White” where guests receive at the entrance a glass of champagne and the ladies a rose. Dinner will be entertained by a harpist who will perform at three different points over dinner. The staff will dress in black and white and invite customers to dress likewise.

There will be a special Buffet, offering lobster, Wellington steak, sliced ham and sausages, etc.