Adults Only Hotels are in the Trend. Here, you can only, who is at least 16 or 18 years old. But how is a vacation in such a Hotel? DW-reporter Christina Deicke checked in on Gran Canaria.
This eerie silence: The Pool ripples, palm leaves rustling – that’s all. “Here it is always so quiet. I like that”, says the receptionist-Trainee Yolanda, as you take me to my room. Yolanda is suffering examined: she was a flight attendant. “The children ran around in the narrow passages and were loud. This has me stressed out.” Now the 25-Year-old in the Adults Only Hotel “Atlantic View has hired” on Gran Canaria. No longer children. This applies in the next few days for me, a mother of two on vacation in the adults-only hotel.
Such Hotels are becoming increasingly popular. Guests must be at least 16, in most houses you will find 18 years old. Of 182 Hotels in the tourism group Thomas Cook 41 are, in the meantime, just for adult. The European market leader TUI has 400 Adults Only Hotels in the program, in 2014, there were still 65 – most in long-haul destinations such as the Caribbean. But even in Europe there are now any quantity and it will always be more.
No towel war adult
My Apartment has a sun terrace, at the horizon of the Atlantic ocean, lit up. House Slippers, towel and Bathrobe. Total relaxation can begin. On the table fruit, wine and a card: Please, no sun loungers to reserve! The “special feel-good atmosphere” of the adult Hotels from Thomas Cook, so should not be disturbed by troublemakers, the place in front of the dew and the day of your towels.
“The target group of guests is between 35 and 55 years. Interests: rest, recreation, beach, Spa, sports and food,” says Thomas Cook-Manager Sascha Büsseler. Most of the Adults Only Hotels are upscale, Four-star houses.
Silence at the Pool: there’s no child in sight
Pool without Ass bomb Alarm
I grab the fluffy towel. The Pool of Newspapers are checked read, Sudokus solved, Smartphones. Rarely someone gets into the Pool and swims a lap. The longer the sun burns down, the regloser the guests will be: at noon, all hanging limp in a deck chair and doze off.
I remember how my 9-Year-old in the last holiday at the Pool turned up: First, he ran wild around the pool, then he made a noise at the end of the ass-bomb, and finally began to sing. Yes, I think that is funny – if one is not responsible. I exhort, but had to, to discuss, to forbid. Children and relaxation do not go together, unfortunately, often. This holiday is supposed to be relaxation – for parents.
Now I write calmly a postcard home. Then I start a book. After ten minutes I break myself during the read – out of habit. Actually, now someone would ask if I can twist the Rubik’s cube. For me, it is Relaxing here Hardcore.
Slippers and palm trees – a holiday can be so beautiful
Needs to be: on vacation with Girlfriends
In the summer, a debate broke out in Germany. A Restaurant on the holiday island of Rügen, operated from 17 clock no more children. Others followed, and the indignation was great: “children of the enemy” was.
What is at Restaurants rather new, there are at Hotels in a long time. Already around the turn of the Millennium, Thomas Cook opened the first adult hotel – on the family island of Majorca.
Also like to have the one or other guest in the “Atlantic View” nothing to do with children on a hat – the majority of your own: “We have booked a adults Hotel”, says Westfalen Sabine from North Rhine-Westphalia.
She is with three Friends here, all around 50, all of them have children. Also, she finds it “extremely quiet” in the Hotel. “But a few days, you can endure the good. The madness, you’re off early enough.” Cheerful you enough for the Girlfriends freshly-filled Sangria Cup in the Pool.
The Gran Canaria beach of Maspalomas
Cheers and the hustle and bustle of the family beach
After a day in the adult-Hotel I am exaggerating about the kids in the Bus to the beach: How do you stretch out your little Finger in the direction of the sea, and ask: “How far?” In the hustle and bustle of the beach of Maspalomas you spluttering through the water, digging holes: a pure joy of life! A Couple has four children – all boys, all with the same bathing suit – cute!
I walk six kilometers to the Promenade in the tourist resort of Playa del Ingles: shops, Restaurants, hustle and bustle. By a concrete desert, I suggest me back towards the Hotel. The South of Gran Canaria is drawn from the mass tourism. A Hotel joins to the other. Glad I can immerse myself again in the silence of the “Atlantic View”.
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Ten reasons why Gran CanariaThroughout the year the beach season
White, yellow, or black: The Sands of Gran Canaria’s beaches are lit up in different colors. One of the most beautiful beaches of Playa de Amadores. It is located in the wind protected South, as well as most of the beach resorts. In the 1960s, began in Gran Canaria, the building boom and mass tourism. However, with a view of the sea and the feet in the warm Sand, you forget the eyesores quickly.
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Ten reasons why Gran CanariaThe dunes, a small desert by the sea
Six kilometres of fine sandy beach along the southern-most tip of the island. Behind it is a spectacular dune landscape, which is also referred to as a “Mini-Sahara”. The dunes are made up of the finest particles of crushed shells and corals. Tourists walk here in the evening and enjoy the sunset from a sand hill.
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Ten reasons why Gran CanariaA popular travel destination for Gays
On a beach-section of Maspalomas, the rainbow flag is: Gran Canaria is also Gay, a hip travel destination. To it have set many Gay Only Hotels. The meeting point of the Yumbo Center, in the tourist resort of Playa del Inglés. In this shopping center there are gay bars, transvestite Shows and Darkrooms as well as the annual Gay Festival, Parade and Parties.
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Ten reasons why Gran CanariaPort flair: Puerto de Mogan
Several places on the coast have small ports where yachts and boats anchor. Very pretty Puerto de Mogan. On the Promenade, it is good to stroll, boats for tours around the island or swimming in Charter. At one of the jetties fishing place, where you can have a look at sorting their Catch.
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Ten reasons why Gran CanariaEat fish
Catch fresh fish to eat because it is also the best in coastal locations. He is in various variants of sardines cooked on Avocado with olive oil. Also hake, sea bream and tuna are often on the menu. Papas Arrugadas – wrinkled potatoes, which are eaten with a bowl to fit. Spicy Mojo sauce in red or green is part of a typical Canarian dish.
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Ten reasons why Gran CanariaHigh mountains, deep gorges
Who leaves the coast inland, a few kilometers away, in a fascinating mountain world. Winding roads lead up in many Places so narrow that the car breaks out the drivers of the welding. The highest mountain is the Pico de las Nieves with 1949 meters. The massif Central in the middle of the island intercepts the sharp winds from the North-East and in the South for friendly temperatures.
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Ten reasons why Gran CanariaPretty Mountain Villages
The adventurous journey is worth it, besides the spectacular views, there is here above the picturesque villages of Tejeda, is regarded as one of the most beautiful in the whole of Spain. The white houses are surrounded by fruit and almond trees, four of the museums can be visited in the place to be. Who needs a break, here you can find several restaurants with a panoramic terrace.
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Ten reasons why Gran CanariaCave houses: native American culture
Artenara is the highest village of Gran Canaria. Many of the residents still live in cave dwellings that were carved into the volcanic rock. The original inhabitants lived before the island in the 15th century. Century was conquered by the Spaniards. One of the oldest living caves species of macaws is now a Museum. Fully furnished, it shows the everyday life at that time.
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Ten reasons why Gran CanariaHiking in the clouds
Most of the tourists travel to Gran Canaria to relax on the beach or by the Pool. But more and more also for Hiking. 300 kilometres of Hiking trails lead over the island. A Must is the five-kilometre-long Tour around the clouds, the rock, the Roque Nublo. He was once a cult site of the natives.
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Ten reasons why Gran CanariaCapital, culture and the beach
The Cathedral of Santa Ana is the heart of the old town of Las Palmas. With its colonial-style homes of Gran Canaria, the capital of South America has Flair. Art, museums, theatre and concerts provide a rich cultural life. Two weeks out of the year carnival is celebrated with sumptuous costumes and lots of Parties. Absolute Plus of the capital: the three-Kilometer-long sandy beach!
“Staycation” – a new word for “Nothing”
At Breakfast a young Couple sees in each other’s arms, as the coffee flows into the cups. The two seem to be enjoying your holiday the second. I’m the only Single guy surrounded by couples, most around the mid-50. However, even some twenty-somethings and senior citizens are here, as well as families with adult children, many from Scandinavia.
The 28-year-old Johanna Heikkila, slim, blond, in sports clothes. The Swede makes out with her parents for a week holiday in the hotel. They are regulars, come here every year and find the children free concept. “I love kids, but on vacation I prefer in any case Hotels without,” says Johanna. The lawyer works in Stockholm in a financial company: “This is stressful enough. In the holidays I like my peace and quiet.” You and your parents have to leave the Hotel.
“The Hotel itself is always important, almost more important than the place I travel,” stressed Manager Sascha Büsseler. They fit in well to a Trend that’s called a Staycation. This is actually a vacation that you spend at home and nothing makes. But: “at home, you can the household a not relax. You can be better in an Adults Only Hotel. Since it has no children his peace and have nothing to worry about.”
Lobby of the “Atlantic View“ with Scandinavian-inspired decor
To finally do sports
Time for an hour of Easy Yoga with a Hotel trainer, Lotta. The gym is full, 15 sports enthusiasts follow focused with the instructions of the Swede. Here, in the Hotel there are a range of free offers: Yoga, water aerobics, circuit and Core Training, to room and tennis court. A Wellness area is also part of the Hotel.
We meditate, stretch, tense. An hour of sports – undisturbed! At home it is just a ten-minute Fitness App, where is my Exercises extensively, the sons have to be commented on.
Discreet romance and Drinks included
The Buffet at dinner is decorated in a varied and pretty. I eat prawns, green asparagus with ham, grilled filet of beef, seafood, Papaya. Candles burn on the tables, subtle lighting and included in the price, drinks non-stop, the couples are to bring in the mood.
In the hotel shop, prominently placed: liquor instead of chocolate
Long I do not so much rest had calls – for reading, Writing, going out with friends. However, it’s rare that anyone is laughing, loud, cocky and wild, as only children can be. This screams and no one argues. To this strange state I had to get used to as a family man myself, but I think that: a vacation without kids can be very relaxing.
Note: The contribution was created in the context of an individual press trip, with the support of Thomas Cook.