Tenerife - First time and looking for tips
Discussion
The tourist areas of Tenerife have always been a pit , Los Christianos used to be a nice little village close to playa but now is utterly subsumed. Los Gigantes is probably a nicer spot to stop.
The best bits are away from the tourists, mt teidi, some nice parks on the hills up there and north/est areas genuine spanish towns.
used to live there ( worked in playa, lived in silencio) but that was ah near 30 years ago :O
The best bits are away from the tourists, mt teidi, some nice parks on the hills up there and north/est areas genuine spanish towns.
used to live there ( worked in playa, lived in silencio) but that was ah near 30 years ago :O
RobDickinson said:
The tourist areas of Tenerife have always been a pit , Los Christianos used to be a nice little village close to playa but now is utterly subsumed. Los Gigantes is probably a nicer spot to stop.
The best bits are away from the tourists, mt teidi, some nice parks on the hills up there and north/est areas genuine spanish towns.
used to live there ( worked in playa, lived in silencio) but that was ah near 30 years ago :O
but why would you go, as a tourist, to a tourist island, and then seek to avoid the tourist places? It's always nice to get away from tourists but how practical is that for a family package holiday?The best bits are away from the tourists, mt teidi, some nice parks on the hills up there and north/est areas genuine spanish towns.
used to live there ( worked in playa, lived in silencio) but that was ah near 30 years ago :O
If your idea is lounging round a pool or on a beach with 1000's of other sweaty English people then getting pissed in stinking holes (veronicas etc) then yeah go to playa and live the dream.
Package deals used to make that cheap as chips. throw in some cheap car hire and you can get away from that pretty cheap and still enjoy the island and the climate.
Its a decent way to get a mix of both.
if you want a non touristy trip then work a bit harder to find somewhere non touristy to stay...
Package deals used to make that cheap as chips. throw in some cheap car hire and you can get away from that pretty cheap and still enjoy the island and the climate.
Its a decent way to get a mix of both.
if you want a non touristy trip then work a bit harder to find somewhere non touristy to stay...
RobDickinson said:
If your idea is lounging round a pool or on a beach with 1000's of other sweaty English people then getting pissed in stinking holes (veronicas etc) then yeah go to playa and live the dream.
Package deals used to make that cheap as chips. throw in some cheap car hire and you can get away from that pretty cheap and still enjoy the island and the climate.
Its a decent way to get a mix of both.
if you want a non touristy trip then work a bit harder to find somewhere non touristy to stay...
it couldn't be further from what i'd want from a holiday, but it's not my thread. He's said he wants to go to water parks etc and is concerned his hotel might be more than 2 mins walking distance from "the strip". I don't believe they are on a hunt for off the beaten track locals only lonely planet stuff.Package deals used to make that cheap as chips. throw in some cheap car hire and you can get away from that pretty cheap and still enjoy the island and the climate.
Its a decent way to get a mix of both.
if you want a non touristy trip then work a bit harder to find somewhere non touristy to stay...
RobDickinson said:
If your idea is lounging round a pool or on a beach with 1000's of other sweaty English people then getting pissed in stinking holes (veronicas etc) then yeah go to playa and live the dream.
Package deals used to make that cheap as chips. throw in some cheap car hire and you can get away from that pretty cheap and still enjoy the island and the climate.
Its a decent way to get a mix of both.
if you want a non touristy trip then work a bit harder to find somewhere non touristy to stay...
English and Irish Chavs 'aaavin it 'faaakin large on beer and chips in the sunshine has been a Canarian problem ever since we started going regularly in the early 90's. I'd suggest always staying well clear of all the major resorts and especially avoid any cheap self catering or all inclusive deals. If you really need to be based in a resort then a minimum of 4 star accommodation will probably be acceptable as most of the larger European chain hotels seem to have a mix of Spanish, English, German and Scandanavian families and older guests who generally behave themselves. Tripadvisor is your friend here. Package deals used to make that cheap as chips. throw in some cheap car hire and you can get away from that pretty cheap and still enjoy the island and the climate.
Its a decent way to get a mix of both.
if you want a non touristy trip then work a bit harder to find somewhere non touristy to stay...
Our solution is to always hire a car, go self catering and find a detached villa on the outskirts of a village. We'll go into resorts for food and booze shopping or an evening meal but that's all. The very best of the Canaries is always found a few miles drive down a gravel track or half an hours walk along a mountain footpath well away from anybody else except perhaps a few locals and goats.
I've been half a dozen times
It's as chavy as you want to make it
We usually get an apt opp the Arona gran,
I don't tend to bother with the English bars if I can help it but that's just me
The monkey park is good and get a trip booked to the island out to sea,
Get a coach trip to gomera, that's quite nice
And I'd also recommend
https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g1...
It's as chavy as you want to make it
We usually get an apt opp the Arona gran,
I don't tend to bother with the English bars if I can help it but that's just me
The monkey park is good and get a trip booked to the island out to sea,
Get a coach trip to gomera, that's quite nice
And I'd also recommend
https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g1...
BobToc said:
Just got back.
- Stayed near Caleta, lovely little village although the surrounding area was a bit of a bomb site
- Ventured into Los Christianos for a night. Appalling.
- Had days out in Masca / Garachico, Mt Teide / Vilaflor and Anaga / Laguna. All absolutely glorious.
Thanks, being a Glaswegian i'll make sure i have my football strip ready to go, dodgy green / gold jewellery and be pissed from 08:30.- Stayed near Caleta, lovely little village although the surrounding area was a bit of a bomb site
- Ventured into Los Christianos for a night. Appalling.
- Had days out in Masca / Garachico, Mt Teide / Vilaflor and Anaga / Laguna. All absolutely glorious.
In reality it will be some quality family time with the odd trip out.
Just got back although I was there on my stag, my expectations were very low and they were met.
Stayed in Apartamentos Oro Blanco - Hoteles Stella Polaris, Google describes the hotel in the following way:
"Casual apartments with kitchenettes, in a relaxed hotel with an outdoor pool, a hot tub & a bar. - Google"
I can confirm it was a complete s
thole which we were thrilled about as after not surviving my first night I didnt feel so guilty about soiling the room. My best man had to fly home the next day apparently he had a panic attack. Everything down the road that hotel was situated on reminded me of bendorm with every restaurant and strip club offering us drugs. Nightlife down the strip was good enough.
So our intentions were not to have a family holiday.
We did venture into Los Christianos once for food and couple of g&t, it was a little nicer although still an element of st tip about it as people have mentioned. Had a Chicken korma somewhere which was quite nice really but ended up spewing it all up in a takeaway which then had to close for the night, the rest went all over the bathroom and in my bed.
Weather - I did La Gomera in Sept last year and it was HOT. No breeze saw 45deg one day and i spent 11am till 3PM out of the sun. Suspect the Reef will be the same.
Go to the waterpark and spend a full day there it was truly epic, I guess itll be busy that time of year. I would wear very strong sun cream and keep it topped up frequently if I was going there in Sept.
I would also spend a bit of time by the beach it was quite nice really.
Stayed in Apartamentos Oro Blanco - Hoteles Stella Polaris, Google describes the hotel in the following way:
"Casual apartments with kitchenettes, in a relaxed hotel with an outdoor pool, a hot tub & a bar. - Google"
I can confirm it was a complete s
thole which we were thrilled about as after not surviving my first night I didnt feel so guilty about soiling the room. My best man had to fly home the next day apparently he had a panic attack. Everything down the road that hotel was situated on reminded me of bendorm with every restaurant and strip club offering us drugs. Nightlife down the strip was good enough.So our intentions were not to have a family holiday.
We did venture into Los Christianos once for food and couple of g&t, it was a little nicer although still an element of s
t tip about it as people have mentioned. Had a Chicken korma somewhere which was quite nice really but ended up spewing it all up in a takeaway which then had to close for the night, the rest went all over the bathroom and in my bed. Weather - I did La Gomera in Sept last year and it was HOT. No breeze saw 45deg one day and i spent 11am till 3PM out of the sun. Suspect the Reef will be the same.
Go to the waterpark and spend a full day there it was truly epic, I guess itll be busy that time of year. I would wear very strong sun cream and keep it topped up frequently if I was going there in Sept.
I would also spend a bit of time by the beach it was quite nice really.
MikeGoodwin said:
Go to the waterpark and spend a full day there it was truly epic, I guess itll be busy that time of year. I would wear very strong sun cream and keep it topped up frequently if I was going there in Sept.
Went when the playa waterpark first opened, absolutely no shade or cover at all, I must have been 14-15, spend the next week indoors glowing red burnt to a crisp. :/RobDickinson said:
MikeGoodwin said:
Go to the waterpark and spend a full day there it was truly epic, I guess itll be busy that time of year. I would wear very strong sun cream and keep it topped up frequently if I was going there in Sept.
Went when the playa waterpark first opened, absolutely no shade or cover at all, I must have been 14-15, spend the next week indoors glowing red burnt to a crisp. :/Temperature wise should be around 29-30 in the day, 23-24 at night, unless you get a Calima (hot wind blowing over from the Sahara) then it could creep up to nearer 40 but these normally only last a few days. The sun will still be very intense so use lots of cream, and if its windy then it'll fell much cooler than it is. Just look out to see how many lobsters you see in the day who have been caught out.
If you want a home from home you can find it but its easy enough to avoid. I'm back out Friday for a few days, only came back on the 3rd of Jan. Mrs FFG went out on her own on Tuesday.
FFG
If you want a home from home you can find it but its easy enough to avoid. I'm back out Friday for a few days, only came back on the 3rd of Jan. Mrs FFG went out on her own on Tuesday.
FFG
Thanks everyone. Daughter is sensitive to the sun so as usual will be plastered in cream.
For the last ten ears or so we've visited Florida where the heat is very humid, as well as that last year we did Lanzarote last year that had a very intense, dry heat that my bald head wasn't prepared for. Same sort of climate in 'reef? (am i doing this right Blown 2CV)?
For the last ten ears or so we've visited Florida where the heat is very humid, as well as that last year we did Lanzarote last year that had a very intense, dry heat that my bald head wasn't prepared for. Same sort of climate in 'reef? (am i doing this right Blown 2CV)?
Davie_GLA said:
Thanks everyone. Daughter is sensitive to the sun so as usual will be plastered in cream.
For the last ten ears or so we've visited Florida where the heat is very humid, as well as that last year we did Lanzarote last year that had a very intense, dry heat that my bald head wasn't prepared for. Same sort of climate in 'reef? (am i doing this right Blown 2CV)?
Yes, dry heat. I've done the forehead a few time sbut still have hair. Try and wear a hat particularly early on and ease yourself in.For the last ten ears or so we've visited Florida where the heat is very humid, as well as that last year we did Lanzarote last year that had a very intense, dry heat that my bald head wasn't prepared for. Same sort of climate in 'reef? (am i doing this right Blown 2CV)?
FFG
Been a good few times ... lovely place if you ignore the Jeremy Kyle waiting room feel of LA.
However, it's mentioned earlier in this thread, but Masca is the most glorious place on the island ... You can get bus trips there, but the drive is worth it for scare value
As you head off the main road to Masca there is a fantastic viewpoint with a coffee van ... worth pulling up for 30 mins before you brave the road to Masca.
With the kids the walk to the beach is a no-go, it's not an easy walk, but the village is stunning and worth having lunch there .. google it and search it on youtube.
hth
However, it's mentioned earlier in this thread, but Masca is the most glorious place on the island ... You can get bus trips there, but the drive is worth it for scare value
As you head off the main road to Masca there is a fantastic viewpoint with a coffee van ... worth pulling up for 30 mins before you brave the road to Masca.
With the kids the walk to the beach is a no-go, it's not an easy walk, but the village is stunning and worth having lunch there .. google it and search it on youtube.
hth
On hire cars, Payless are pretty good and are a subsid of Cicar. However, if you book through Cabrera Medina, who are also Cicar (same logo), you can often getr a car from Cicar cheaper.
Just had a Cicar Fiat 500 on Fuerteventura through Cabrera Medina. Fuel policy is return it with the same fuel. Mine was slightly under and I was charged 3.75 Euros for the minor shortfall which I can live with.
Just had a Cicar Fiat 500 on Fuerteventura through Cabrera Medina. Fuel policy is return it with the same fuel. Mine was slightly under and I was charged 3.75 Euros for the minor shortfall which I can live with.
arfur said:
Been a good few times ... lovely place if you ignore the Jeremy Kyle waiting room feel of LA.
However, it's mentioned earlier in this thread, but Masca is the most glorious place on the island ... You can get bus trips there, but the drive is worth it for scare value
As you head off the main road to Masca there is a fantastic viewpoint with a coffee van ... worth pulling up for 30 mins before you brave the road to Masca.
With the kids the walk to the beach is a no-go, it's not an easy walk, but the village is stunning and worth having lunch there .. google it and search it on youtube.
hth
This. And go hear for the lunch. Walk down the main hill thru the village and turn right where the wee fruit man is. You'll also walk past an absolutely mint gte nova in a car port. We go at least twice any time we're in Tenerife. The views are spectacular.However, it's mentioned earlier in this thread, but Masca is the most glorious place on the island ... You can get bus trips there, but the drive is worth it for scare value
As you head off the main road to Masca there is a fantastic viewpoint with a coffee van ... worth pulling up for 30 mins before you brave the road to Masca.
With the kids the walk to the beach is a no-go, it's not an easy walk, but the village is stunning and worth having lunch there .. google it and search it on youtube.
hth
https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g1...
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