Iberostar Selection Anthelia

Iberostar Selection Anthelia Review 2026 — The Best Family All-Inclusive in Tenerife

If you are looking for the best all-inclusive resort in Tenerife for families, the conversation starts and essentially ends with Iberostar Selection Anthelia. Sitting directly on Fanabe Beach in Costa Adeje — south Tenerife’s premium resort strip — this 367-room, 5-star flagship has been named the best all-inclusive in Spain for multiple consecutive years. It is the property that Iberostar puts its name behind when it wants to prove it can compete at the top end of European all-inclusive travel.

And for families, it genuinely delivers. You get a beachfront position between two of the Canary Islands’ best beaches, a kids club that actually keeps children entertained, an adults-only pool where parents can decompress, and five restaurants anchored by a legitimate gourmet dining program. The catch — and there is always a catch — is that the all-inclusive package is tighter than what you would get at a comparable Mexican or Caribbean resort. The best restaurants cost extra, the drinks are house brands only, and nobody brings cocktails to your sunbed.

Here is the full picture.

Quick Verdict

Who it is for: Families with children of any age who want a premium beachfront all-inclusive in a year-round warm destination. Multi-generational groups who need a kids club and an adults-only pool under the same roof. IHG loyalists who want to earn points on a European all-inclusive. Who should skip it: Adults-only couples (go to Iberostar Sabila next door). Travelers who expect Caribbean-style top-shelf drinks and unlimited specialty dining in the all-inclusive rate. Anyone on a tight budget — this is not a cheap resort. Bottom line: The best family all-inclusive in the Canary Islands, held back slightly by a restrictive all-inclusive package that charges extra for its best restaurants and premium drinks. Score: 8.5/10.

Pros and Cons

Pros	Cons
Direct beachfront between Fanabe Beach and Playa del Duque	A la carte restaurants cost extra — only one free visit per 7+ night stay
Best all-inclusive in Spain for multiple consecutive years	House-brand spirits only — premium brands at extra cost
5 restaurants including Poseidon gourmet and Sea Soul seafood	No poolside waiter service — walk to the bar yourself
Star Camp kids club for ages 4-17	Buffet breakfast gets chaotic at peak times
Adults-only pool for parents seeking quiet	Some rooms feel dated with old furniture and aging TVs
Indoor heated pool — rare in Tenerife	Sea view rooms only deliver from upper floors
EarthCheck certified, 100% renewable electricity	Safe deposit box costs extra
IHG One Rewards point earning	Not adults-only — couples wanting silence should look elsewhere

The Resort at a Glance

Detail	Info
Location	Avenida de Adeje 300, Costa Adeje, Tenerife
Rooms	367
Restaurants	5 (Zeus buffet, Poseidon gourmet, Sea Soul seafood, Portofino Italian, Barbacoa poolside)
Bars	3 (pool bars, lobby bar)
Pools	3-6 (main pool, adults-only pool, kids pool with pirate ship, indoor heated pool, plus smaller feature pools)
Beach	Direct access to Fanabe Beach (Blue Flag), Playa del Duque 5 min walk
Airport	30 minutes from Tenerife South (TFS)
Chain	Iberostar Selection (flagship 5-star tier)
Opened	1999, last renovated 2008

Rooms and Suites

Anthelia offers 367 rooms across several categories, ranging from standard garden-view doubles to Star Prestige suites with exclusive lounge access. The building dates to 1999 with a significant renovation in 2008, and while the property is well-maintained, some reviewers have noted that certain room blocks feel their age — expect functional European comfort rather than cutting-edge design.

Standard Rooms

The entry-level Double Room Garden View gives you a balcony or terrace overlooking the resort’s subtropical gardens, air conditioning, satellite TV, minibar, safe, and a chromatherapy shower that is a nice touch at this price point. Move up to the Double Room Lateral Sea View for side ocean views, or the Double Room Sea View for frontal Atlantic panoramas from higher floors. One important note: “sea view” at Anthelia means upper floors. If you book a sea view room and get assigned to a lower floor, you may be looking at palm trees instead of the Atlantic. Push for a high-floor assignment at check-in.

The Priority Location Sea View rooms occupy the best positions in the building with large terraces and guaranteed upper-floor ocean views. If the view matters to you, this is the category worth paying for — the standard sea view designation is too vague to rely on.

Prices start from around $220 per night for a garden view in low season, climbing to $290+ for frontal sea views and $320+ for priority location rooms.

Family Rooms

This is where Anthelia earns its family credentials. The Double Garden View Interconnecting rooms connect two standard rooms to sleep up to six guests, starting from approximately $350 per night. For families who want ocean views with that configuration, the Double Side Sea View Interconnecting rooms start around $380. These interconnecting setups give parents and children their own space and separate bathrooms — a genuine upgrade over cramming everyone into a single room with a pullout sofa.

Suites and Star Prestige

The Suite Side Sea View Duplex is the most spacious standard room option — a two-story layout with dual bathrooms, a separate living area, and side sea views. At approximately $480 per night, it is the splurge option for families or couples who want genuine room to spread out.

Then there is the Star Prestige Suite, starting around $500 per night. Star Prestige is Iberostar’s premium-within-premium tier, and at Anthelia it adds access to an exclusive lounge, reserved Balinese sun beds in the gardens, designated pool areas, and premium room positioning. If you hold IHG Annual Lounge membership, you can access the Star Prestige lounge for yourself and one guest regardless of your room category — a genuine loyalty perk worth knowing about.

Our Pick

For families, the interconnecting garden view rooms at $350 per night represent the sweet spot — enough space for everyone without paying suite prices. For couples, the Priority Location Sea View at $320 delivers the view you actually want without the Star Prestige premium. If budget allows and you want the resort-within-a-resort experience, Star Prestige is worth the upgrade, particularly for the Balinese beds and reserved pool areas that let you carve out quiet time.

Food and Dining

Anthelia has five restaurants and three bars, which is a solid lineup for a 367-room European all-inclusive. The complication is that only two of those restaurants are included in the all-inclusive rate without extra charges.

Zeus Restaurant — The Main Buffet

Zeus is the all-inclusive workhorse, serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner buffet-style with show cooking stations and live cooking demonstrations. Dinner quality is generally praised for variety — think international buffet with rotating themes, a chocolate fountain, and reasonable range across European and international cuisines.

Breakfast is another story. During peak season (Christmas, Easter, UK school holidays), Zeus becomes what one TripAdvisor reviewer memorably described as a “chaotic scrum.” The dining room fills fast, queues form at the popular stations, and the experience can feel more cafeteria than five-star. If you are staying during peak weeks, get there when doors open at 7:30 or wait until 9:30 when the initial rush subsides. Outside peak periods, breakfast is perfectly civilized.

Specialty Restaurants

This is where Anthelia’s dining program genuinely impresses — and where the all-inclusive restrictions frustrate.

Poseidon Gourmet Restaurant is the flagship, led by Chef Jose Miguel Barrera and celebrating local Canary Islands flavors in a fine dining format. Think creative takes on local seafood, Canarian potatoes with mojo sauces elevated to tasting-menu standards, and volcanic island ingredients you will not find on any buffet. Open nightly for dinner, reservation required.

Sea Soul Restaurant and Lounge is the atmospheric highlight — a seaside Mediterranean and seafood restaurant with lobster, crab, oysters, and mussels in what is probably the most beautiful dining setting on the property. The beach-adjacent positioning makes this the place for a special evening. Open Wednesday through Sunday for dinner.

Portofino serves Italian with wood-fired pizzas, fresh pasta, focaccias, and mozzarella. Live cooking demonstrations add theater. Open Monday, Tuesday, Friday through Sunday for dinner.

Here is the frustration: all three of these restaurants cost extra for all-inclusive guests. If you book a stay of seven nights or more, you get one complimentary a la carte dinner during your stay. One. For the entire week. Every additional visit to Poseidon, Sea Soul, or Portofino comes out of your pocket.

Compare this to a resort like Excellence Playa Mujeres in Mexico, where all specialty restaurants are included in the all-inclusive rate, and you understand why some guests feel the Anthelia AI package underdelivers for a 5-star property.

Barbacoa Poolside Lunch

The Barbacoa poolside lunch venue serves Canary Islands specialties and international dishes from 1:00 to 4:00 PM daily and is included in the all-inclusive rate. This is a useful option — casual pool-area dining with local character that spares you from the Zeus buffet at lunchtime. The snack bar also runs from 10:30 to 6:00 PM with ice cream service included.

Bars and Drinks

Three bars serve the property: pool bars and a lobby/hall bar with live music in the evenings. The all-inclusive covers house-brand spirits, beer, wine, and cocktails from 9:30 AM to 1:00 AM.

The drinks quality is a genuine sore point. “House brands” at Anthelia means Canary Islands local spirits. If you want Grey Goose, Hendrick’s, or any recognizable international premium brand, you pay a supplement. This is standard for European all-inclusive resorts but will disappoint anyone coming from Caribbean or Mexican all-inclusives where top-shelf is routinely included.

The bigger annoyance: there is no poolside waiter service. You want a drink at the pool? Walk to the bar, wait in line, carry it back to your sunbed. At a resort charging $300+ per night, this feels like an operational choice designed to reduce labor costs rather than enhance the guest experience. It is one of the most frequently mentioned complaints in TripAdvisor reviews.

Food Quality Verdict

The specialty restaurants are genuinely excellent — Poseidon and Sea Soul would hold up as standalone dining destinations outside the resort. The frustration is that the all-inclusive package actively discourages you from eating at them. The Zeus buffet is solid but not exceptional, and house-brand drinks feel restrictive at this price point. Budget an extra $50-80 per person for at least two specialty restaurant dinners during your stay, or book 7+ nights to claim your one complimentary visit.

Beach and Pools

Fanabe Beach

Anthelia’s beach position is its single greatest asset. The resort sits directly on Fanabe Beach, a Blue Flag golden sand beach with clear Atlantic water. Walk five to ten minutes south along the promenade and you reach Playa del Duque, consistently rated one of the best beaches in the Canary Islands — upscale, well-maintained, and lined with boutique shops and quality restaurants.

You have roughly 600 meters of accessible beachfront between the two beaches. The sand is fine and golden, the water is clear (though the Atlantic brings more chop than the Caribbean, particularly in winter months), and the setting is backed by Costa Adeje’s low-rise resort architecture rather than towering condominiums.

There is no private beach — this is the Canary Islands, where all beaches are public — but the resort’s positioning means you step out of the grounds and onto the sand. During peak season (Christmas, Easter, July-August), Fanabe gets moderately busy, particularly the sections closest to the promenade restaurants. Walk south toward Playa del Duque for more space.

Pools

Anthelia’s pool setup is one of its strongest family selling points. The exact count varies by source — somewhere between three and six depending on whether you count splash pools and feature pools separately — but the key areas are distinct and well-thought-out.

The main outdoor pool is the centerpiece, large enough to absorb families and couples without feeling overcrowded. The adults-only pool provides a genuinely separate space where parents can swim and read without kids cannon-balling next to them. The children’s pool features a pirate ship theme with water slides and shallow wading sections — kids love it, and it keeps them happily occupied while parents take turns at the adult pool.

The indoor heated pool is Anthelia’s ace card during Tenerife’s winter months. December through February, outdoor pools can feel bracing despite the year-round sunshine, and having a heated indoor option means you never lose pool days to weather. This is a rarer feature than you might expect in Tenerife resorts.

Activities and Entertainment

Daytime Activities

Complimentary tennis and paddle tennis courts give active guests a genuine workout option beyond the pool — and the courts are actually maintained, which is not always the case at all-inclusive resorts that treat tennis facilities as decorative checkboxes. Non-motorized water sports are available at the beach, and the fitness center handles the standard gym needs.

The real daytime advantage is the location. Siam Park, consistently rated the world’s best water park, is a ten-minute drive away. Take the kids for a full day of water slides that make any resort’s pool look tame, then return for dinner. Costa Adeje Golf Club is five kilometers away for golfers, and diving schools operate nearby for certified divers.

For the defining Tenerife experience, Teide National Park and Mount Teide — Spain’s highest peak and a genuine volcanic landscape — is about an hour’s drive. Book a stargazing tour on a clear night and you will see why the Canary Islands are one of the world’s premier astronomical observation sites.

Evening Entertainment

The lobby bar hosts live music evenings, and the resort runs a nightly entertainment program with themed events. This is European all-inclusive entertainment — expect musical performances, quiz nights, and seasonal shows rather than the production-style Vegas revues you find at Mexican mega-resorts. It is pleasant background activity rather than a destination in itself.

Star Camp Kids Club

Star Camp covers ages 4 through 17 with age-appropriate programming, and reviews consistently rate it well. This is not a glorified babysitting service — the activities are structured, the staff engage with children meaningfully, and kids genuinely want to return. For parents, the kids club combined with the adults-only pool creates the essential equation of a family all-inclusive: your children are having fun, and you are having peace.

Spa and Wellness

Spa Sensations operates three treatment rooms offering massages, body scrubs, facials, and reflexology, along with a sauna and Turkish bath. The standout feature is the Mayr Kur Space, a detox and purification concept that is genuinely uncommon in Canary Islands resorts. If you are into structured wellness programs beyond the standard massage menu, this adds a dimension that most competitor spas do not offer.

All spa treatments are priced separately and not included in the all-inclusive package. The hydrotherapy circuit is also extra cost. Budget accordingly — a couples massage will run in the range you would expect for a 5-star European resort.

What Is Included vs What Costs Extra

Included in All-Inclusive	Costs Extra
Buffet breakfast, lunch, and dinner at Zeus	Poseidon Gourmet Restaurant
Snack bar 10:30-18:00	Sea Soul Restaurant and Lounge
Ice cream service	Portofino Italian (beyond 1 free visit on 7+ night stays)
House-brand spirits, beer, wine, cocktails 09:30-01:00	Premium/international spirits
One complimentary a la carte dinner per stay (7+ nights)	Spa treatments and hydrotherapy
Tennis and paddle tennis courts	Safe deposit box
Star Camp kids club (ages 4-17)	In-room minibar consumption
Fitness center	Star Prestige upgrade
Non-motorized water sports	Motorized water sports
Wi-Fi throughout	Golf, Siam Park, excursions
Nightly entertainment	—

Pricing and How to Book

Price Ranges by Season

Season	Period	Price per Night (Double Room)
Low season	May-June, September-October	$220-$280
Shoulder season	March-April, November	$280-$380
High season	December-February, July-August	$380-$550
Peak (Christmas/New Year)	Dec 20-Jan 5	$500-$550+

Tenerife’s pricing is inverted compared to Caribbean destinations. European high season runs December through February, when northern Europeans escape to the Canary Islands for winter sun. Summer (July-August) is also peak pricing due to UK and European school holidays. The sweet spot for value is May-June or September-October, when the weather is still excellent and rates drop significantly.

Best Time to Book

Book three to four months ahead for peak season (Christmas, Easter, UK school summer holidays). For shoulder months, six to eight weeks ahead typically secures reasonable rates. Last-minute deals do appear during low season, particularly through UK tour operators.

Where to Book

IHG.com is the smart choice if you are an IHG One Rewards member — earn points on your stay and access potential member rates. Iberostar.com direct sometimes offers the best flexible rates with free cancellation. For UK travelers, Jet2holidays and TUI frequently offer competitive package deals with flights included, which can undercut room-only rates from Booking.com significantly. For room-only comparison shopping, check Booking.com and KAYAK side by side.

The value hack: book seven nights or more on the all-inclusive package to unlock the one complimentary a la carte restaurant visit. Booking five or six nights on AI means you miss this benefit entirely, which makes the seven-night threshold a real decision point.

Compared to Nearby Resorts

Iberostar Selection Sabila is literally next door and serves the adults-only market that Anthelia explicitly does not. Sabila has a contemporary design-led aesthetic, a rooftop infinity pool, and a Gourmet Market dinner concept with 70+ food options. If you are traveling as a couple without children, Sabila is the better property — cleaner design, quieter atmosphere, and a more interesting dining concept. Anthelia wins for families; Sabila wins for couples. It is that simple.

H10 Atlantic Sunset Horizons Collection is a newer 5-star all-inclusive overlooking Paraiso Beach with swim-up rooms, a rooftop suite, five restaurants, and six bars. It offers a more modern product than Anthelia and makes a strong case for couples without families. The swim-up room concept is something Anthelia cannot match.

Barcelo Tenerife competes directly in the family space with seven pools, a beachfront position on San Miguel, and a premium all-inclusive program. Its Royal Level adults-only wing (59 rooms) gives multi-generational groups the option to split between family and adults-only zones within the same resort complex. If Anthelia’s dated room decor concerns you, Barcelo is worth comparing.

Sustainability

Anthelia deserves genuine credit here. The resort holds EarthCheck certification, runs on 100% renewable electricity, has eliminated single-use plastics, uses LED lighting throughout, and sources MSC-certified sustainable seafood through Iberostar’s Wave of Change program. For environmentally conscious travelers, these are not greenwashing checkboxes — EarthCheck is a legitimate third-party certification, and the renewable electricity commitment is substantial for a property of this size.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Iberostar Anthelia truly all-inclusive?

Yes, but with caveats that matter. The all-inclusive rate covers buffet meals at Zeus, snack bar, ice cream, house-brand drinks, kids club, tennis, and entertainment. However, the three specialty restaurants (Poseidon, Sea Soul, Portofino) cost extra, with only one complimentary visit per stay on bookings of seven nights or more. Premium spirits also cost extra. It is a more restrictive all-inclusive package than what you would find at comparable resorts in Mexico or the Caribbean.

Is it good for families with young children?

Excellent. The Star Camp kids club accepts ages 4-17 with structured activities, the children’s pool has a pirate ship and water slides, interconnecting rooms sleep up to six, and Siam Park (the world’s best water park) is a ten-minute drive. The adults-only pool gives parents genuine downtime. This is the strongest family all-inclusive proposition in Tenerife.

How does it compare to Iberostar Sabila next door?

Anthelia is for families; Sabila is for adults-only couples. They share the same beachfront strip and Iberostar Selection tier, but the experiences are different. Sabila has a more contemporary design, a rooftop infinity pool, and the Gourmet Market dinner concept. Anthelia has the kids club, family pools, and interconnecting rooms. If you are traveling without children and want quiet, go Sabila. If you have kids, Anthelia is the clear choice.

Are the rooms dated?

Some are. The property opened in 1999 with a major renovation in 2008, and while maintenance is generally good, certain room blocks have older furniture and aging televisions. Request a recently refreshed room or consider the Star Prestige upgrade for better room positioning and amenities. The common areas and grounds are well-maintained regardless.

What is the Star Prestige upgrade and is it worth it?

Star Prestige is Iberostar’s premium tier within the resort. It adds exclusive lounge access, reserved Balinese sun beds in the gardens, designated pool areas, and premium room positioning. The surcharge is roughly $50-80 per person per night. For couples who want a quieter, more premium experience without moving to Sabila, it is a worthwhile upgrade. For families, the standard rooms and facilities are sufficient. Note: IHG Annual Lounge Members receive Star Prestige lounge access for two guests regardless of room category.

When is the best time to visit?

Tenerife works year-round — that is its greatest advantage. November through April offers the best weather for European escape season, with temperatures consistently in the low to mid-70s Fahrenheit. December through February is peak pricing due to northern European demand. May-June and September-October offer the best value with excellent weather and lower rates. July-August is hot and crowded with European school holidays. Avoid Christmas and New Year unless you book early and accept premium pricing.

Final Verdict — 8.5/10

Iberostar Selection Anthelia is the best family all-inclusive resort in Tenerife, and a strong contender for the best family all-inclusive in all of Spain. The beachfront position between Fanabe Beach and Playa del Duque is genuinely premium, the family infrastructure (kids club, multiple pools, interconnecting rooms) is thoughtfully executed, and the specialty restaurant lineup headlined by Poseidon and Sea Soul reaches higher than most European all-inclusives attempt.

The frustrations are real but predictable: the all-inclusive package is tighter than Caribbean or Mexican equivalents, house-brand drinks feel stingy at $300+ per night, and the lack of poolside service is an operational choice that prioritizes cost savings over guest experience. Some rooms need a refresh.

But here is the thing — if you want a family all-inclusive in a year-round warm destination that does not require a transatlantic flight from Europe (or a five-hour flight from the US East Coast), Tenerife is the answer, and Anthelia is the best option on the island. Book seven nights or more on the all-inclusive, budget for two specialty restaurant dinners, and take the kids to Siam Park for a day. You will have a genuinely excellent family vacation.

Score: 8.5 out of 10 — the best family all-inclusive in the Canary Islands, limited only by a European-style all-inclusive package that does not match the generosity of its Caribbean competitors.