Unabashed luxury in a fabulous location

Five-star sparkle at the Ritz-Carlton Abama

Anne Murray takes a lingering look at a hotel of unabashed luxury set in a fabulous location - where Penelope Cruz tops up her tan

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his is a luxury five-star enclave sitting on the west coast of sun-soaked Tenerife... a year-round destination for warm weather that attracts a celebrity clientele. Its 72-hole golf course is a key attraction, as is a lovely gold-sand beach.

Penelope Cruz, Javier Bardem, Bill Clinton, Stephen Hawking.

A Moorish palace of excellence in Tenerife, set high on the cliffs, the terracotta walls of the Abama shore up the Canary island's most luxurious hotel. Surrounded by extravagant tropical gardens, you'll find nearly 500 suites and rooms amid its shady courtyards. Its cliff-top setting means that you'll be whisked down to the beach by a cable car, but if you want to stay put there are nine swimming pools, including an infinity pool at the cliff's edge that looks out across to the island of La Gomera.

The Abama's unabashed luxury continues with two Michelin-starred restaurants. MB comes under the supervision of Martin Berasategui, with classic Spanish cuisine. Kabuki serves Japanese in a sleek red and black interior.

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Tucked away on the west coast, near Playa de San Juan resort, which is a 15- minute walk away along the cliff. The rest of the island requires a hire car.

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Privacy and the sort of luxury that you normally find in only a handful of exclusive resorts around the globe. Reliable short-haul winter sun with Ritz- Carlton finesse (Asprey products in the bathrooms). The hotel's extensive grounds are meticulously kept, and the beach has imported sand because the local stuff was considered to be a bit dark and gritty for the hotel.

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Good enough for the rest of us?:

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Enjoy a fine dining experience at the Abama

72-par golf course. Considered to be one of Spain's finest, it brings golf-minded celebrities including Bill Clinton to the resort. Other sports facilities include seven tennis courts - one a show court with seating for 600 people.

Eight others include Le Mirador, which specialises in seafood and has views of the ocean. During school holidays, the bankers of Europe descend en masse with their young children. If you want to escape beautifully dressed euro-tots, head to the Tagor villas. The most exclusive (and expensive) of all the Abama's

Panoramic view of the Ritz-Carlton Abama

"Abama's exclusive 72 hole golf course is considered to be one of Spain's finest."

Cruz and husband Bardem were at the Abama recently.

Technically, the Abama's beach is public - but access is almost impossible without going via the hotel.

Original article published in Feb 2015. All info and prices correct at time of publication.

Rocks and palms fringe a clifftop pool at The Abama, with views across the ocean

A stroll on the peaceful beach, which is reached by cable car from the hotel