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Thalidomide Society

Holiday with Fewer Barriers

Mar Y Sol complex

Tenerife’s Accessible Gem

I’ve visited the Mar Y Sol complex in Los Cristianos, Tenerife, for two years running, and it’s an accessible spa hotel that truly caters to disabled guests. The hotel features authentic Spanish-style architecture, its own diving school, and is fully accessible, though it’s worth noting it sits on a hill.

Dining

The spacious restaurant offers a pool bar and a varied buffet, ranging from Canary/Spanish cuisine to international dishes. Guests can enjoy themed gastronomic evenings, and special diets or vegetarian menus are available on request. Staff are happy to assist anyone who struggles with self-service, and the entire restaurant is non-smoking.

Pools and Therapy Facilities

The hotel has two main pools and a therapy pool, all equipped for accessibility:

  • Main pool 1: 10.80m x 16.80m, heated to ~32ºC with neck showers, whirlpools, jacuzzis, and massage showers.
  • Main pool 2: 10.60m x 14.60m, 1.10–2m depth, ~22–25ºC.
  • Therapy pool: 5.70m x 10.70m, 0.5–0.9m depth, with handrails and a ramp for wheeled access.

Hoists, steps with handrails, sunbeds at wheelchair-friendly height, and large parasols make it practical and comfortable. A lifeguard supervises the pool eight hours daily.

Mobility and Room Accessibility

Showers have various types of pre-bookable chairs (static, wheeled, and self-propelled). Room options include studios and apartments, all equipped with accessible bathrooms, emergency telephones, TVs, safes, kitchens, and some with elevated toilets with grips. Most rooms are non-smoking, with balcony or patio access.

Facilities

  • Wheelchair-accessible transfers and car hireEquipment hires include electric beds, hoists, and wheelchairs.
  • Modern therapy centre with holistic and traditional treatments.
  • Accessible sports hall, golf, and diving activities.
  • 24-hour emergency service.
  • Bedroom and bathroom door widths: 80cm; bed height: 50cm; toilet height: 41cm.

Our Experience

We flew from Bristol Airport with excellent disabled assistance, despite minor hiccups with seat assignments on the plane. Arrival at Tenerife involved a short delay due to a broken stair lift, but airport assistance was efficient, helping us into accessible taxis.

Our rooms were spacious and comfortable, with plenty of accessible features. The pool area became our daily retreat, and the hoist and pool steps made swimming stress-free. The hill leading to the hotel is steep, but we hired a mobility scooter, which was invaluable and cost €250 for 10 days.

We also enjoyed massages at the holistic treatment center, and the staff were skilled in assisting with dressing and undressing. Entertainment at the hotel, including tribute acts and live bands, was lively, friendly, and welcoming.

On departure, assistance at Tenerife Airport worked well, though earlier boarding for those transferring from aisle chairs would improve dignity and ease.

Mandy’s Verdict

We had a fantastic holiday and would highly recommend Mar Y Sol. It’s a practical, fully accessible hotel where disabled guests can relax without standing out. It isn’t five-star luxury, but for accessibility and comfort, it’s hard to beat. Understanding and patience are needed with the wide range of guests, but overall, it’s a gem for accessible holidays in Tenerife.

*DISCLAIMER
The Thalidomide Society does not endorse or recommend any commercial product, service, or external resource. The views and opinions expressed by individual contributors are their own and should not be interpreted as those of The Thalidomide Society unless explicitly stated. Any advertisements or promotional content included are not endorsed by The Thalidomide Society.