Winter sun - Tenerife?
Discussion
Hi guys,
The misery that is the British winter has finally done me in and I'm needing a shot of winter sun. I've done some searching around and sleezyjet fly from Bristol to South Tenerife each Friday morning and and offer a sunday return. What is South Tenerife like this time of year? The forecasts all seem to differ on how hot it is.
D1
The misery that is the British winter has finally done me in and I'm needing a shot of winter sun. I've done some searching around and sleezyjet fly from Bristol to South Tenerife each Friday morning and and offer a sunday return. What is South Tenerife like this time of year? The forecasts all seem to differ on how hot it is.
D1
South Tenerife is lofvely at this time of year. Apart from the odd cold day most days are clear and warm. This must not be confused with hot since you will find all swimming pools will be cold and not suitable for kids. We always go for a oplace with a heated pool if we go between Xmas and Easter. This makes finding places much harder since heated pools are not that numerous. For example in Costa Adeje the Hotel Jacoranda was the only hotel we could find with a heated pool.
Rgds
Richard
Rgds
Richard
For me Tenerife is the best place for winter sun, if you don't want to fly too far and don't want to deal with Arabs. Been quite a few times in the past, usually warm, only had one trip where it was wet and chilly for the week. Not been for a good few years so cannot recommend any accommodation.
Current highs are around 18/19C ... I've been going to The Canaries since 1973 ... the weather in January seems to have got worse in the last ten years ... can't help with a hotel in Tenerife I'm afraid, in the last few years we've been going to Lanzorote, Gran Canaria, La Gomera and La Palma. Defo go for a Hotel with a heated pool or Spa ... you'll pay extra for the Spa pool though
+1 for winter sun in the Canaries.
The first time I went to Tenerife about 10 years ago, it was around this time of year. When I arrived, the week was like a good summer's day here, with no day below about early to mid 20's degrees.
I had my first lesson about the place on day 1, when I hired a Jeep Wrangler for the week. Your man drove it around to the front, and handed it over. It didn't have a roof, in fact the canvas cover was missing altogether. When I quizzed him, concerned about weather protection and rain, he just smiled and said 'you don't worry - you won't need roof - it won't rain!' He was right, too!
Since then, I've done most of the Canaries at different times of the year, and always this time of year it's been lovely.
Probably the best I can remember was spending Xmas and New Year on Fueteventura one year. Getting a tan on the beach on 1st Jan is a bit of a novelty!
I like Tenerife the best though, because you've got the touristy beaches and resorts in the south, the more real Tenerife towards the capital in the north, and going up mount Teide for some fun and breathtaking views. It's great and I recommend!
The first time I went to Tenerife about 10 years ago, it was around this time of year. When I arrived, the week was like a good summer's day here, with no day below about early to mid 20's degrees.
I had my first lesson about the place on day 1, when I hired a Jeep Wrangler for the week. Your man drove it around to the front, and handed it over. It didn't have a roof, in fact the canvas cover was missing altogether. When I quizzed him, concerned about weather protection and rain, he just smiled and said 'you don't worry - you won't need roof - it won't rain!' He was right, too!
Since then, I've done most of the Canaries at different times of the year, and always this time of year it's been lovely.
Probably the best I can remember was spending Xmas and New Year on Fueteventura one year. Getting a tan on the beach on 1st Jan is a bit of a novelty!
I like Tenerife the best though, because you've got the touristy beaches and resorts in the south, the more real Tenerife towards the capital in the north, and going up mount Teide for some fun and breathtaking views. It's great and I recommend!
We're usually there June/July time with the kids but managed a week back in November for the first time without them & was pleasantly surprised at how pleasant the weather was.
Hotel pool temp was fine, as was the water park, as was the sea when out on jet bikes. It got chilly up the mountain on the quad safari but we had been warned in advance.
Days were around the 26 mark and nights rarely below 20 in the resort.
We usually stay around the Puerto Colon area, La Pinta & Fanabe beaches are nice. The in laws stay in Los Cristianos most of the time but they are the right age for that end!
Hotel pool temp was fine, as was the water park, as was the sea when out on jet bikes. It got chilly up the mountain on the quad safari but we had been warned in advance.
Days were around the 26 mark and nights rarely below 20 in the resort.
We usually stay around the Puerto Colon area, La Pinta & Fanabe beaches are nice. The in laws stay in Los Cristianos most of the time but they are the right age for that end!
I sympathise. I caved in to a week on Gran Canaria at the end of this month. The reason I went for it was that Thomson fly from Cardiff and the flight was £200 cheaper than when I was originally ploanning to go on 18th Feb (£178 vs £378)
I've had two holidays in January before - one a long weekend in Puerto Banus on the Costa del Sol which was actually reasonably sunny but still a little brisk, needing a fleece or coat, though PB itself was dead and still the beer was ridiculously priced.
I also went to Furteventura at the end of January and it was sunny and plenty warm enough for T-shirts during the day, some beach sunbathing though the sun is low in the sky and no rain for the week we were there exploring the island. As has been said, a very good summer's day in the UK.
It does get chilly at night such that a fleece can be useful though not always required but that's mainly a wind thing. Overall, I'm pleased we went. We didn't swim in the unheated pool either..or at all.
Don't be deceived by the wind either. One guy spent a day sunbathing and turned up in the evening with a red sunburnt face save for big white panda eyes where hsi sunglasses had been.
We have only been to Tenerife at the end of February. Tenerife has more of an unpredictable climate as it has a big mountain in the middle. Overall, we had largely good and sunny weather, we did use the unheated pool but we had a day of rain. The national park round Mt Teide is spectacular and a "must do" as is the zoo on the northern coast (Seaworld linked killer whales etc)so there is plenty to do and explore there. Saw a few good classic cars round and about too but then I love driving round when on holidays so it depends what you are into.
We used to holiday in Southern India in January where it is boiling but the bargains are not so much about and the flights are quite long (10-11 hours).
I've had two holidays in January before - one a long weekend in Puerto Banus on the Costa del Sol which was actually reasonably sunny but still a little brisk, needing a fleece or coat, though PB itself was dead and still the beer was ridiculously priced.
I also went to Furteventura at the end of January and it was sunny and plenty warm enough for T-shirts during the day, some beach sunbathing though the sun is low in the sky and no rain for the week we were there exploring the island. As has been said, a very good summer's day in the UK.
It does get chilly at night such that a fleece can be useful though not always required but that's mainly a wind thing. Overall, I'm pleased we went. We didn't swim in the unheated pool either..or at all.
Don't be deceived by the wind either. One guy spent a day sunbathing and turned up in the evening with a red sunburnt face save for big white panda eyes where hsi sunglasses had been.
We have only been to Tenerife at the end of February. Tenerife has more of an unpredictable climate as it has a big mountain in the middle. Overall, we had largely good and sunny weather, we did use the unheated pool but we had a day of rain. The national park round Mt Teide is spectacular and a "must do" as is the zoo on the northern coast (Seaworld linked killer whales etc)so there is plenty to do and explore there. Saw a few good classic cars round and about too but then I love driving round when on holidays so it depends what you are into.
We used to holiday in Southern India in January where it is boiling but the bargains are not so much about and the flights are quite long (10-11 hours).
Southern Lanzarote and northern Furteventura are sheltered by the Papagayo mountains and have the best micro climate in the Canaries - especially in the early spring. That means choosing either Playa Blanca in Lanzarote, or Corralejo in Furteventura or nearby villages.
Playa Blanca has a good selection of 4 star hotels, small man made beaches and a long promenade along the sea front. Corralejo is more biased towards self catering and has several good restaurants and live music bars in the high street. Hotel food will be reasonabe, but not brilliant buffet style and the evening entertainment will be dire. Corralejo buzzes in the evening and there's three live music venues in the high street alone. Mercedonia have recently opened a supermarket in Corralejo which is equal to any of the ones you'll find in France.
Both islands have enough to do for a week and a car is essential to go exploring. Fuertventura has epic beaches and Lanzarote has stunning inland scenery.
Whichever you choose expect warm sunny weather most of the time, you might get the odd dull day and it may be windy. The sea will be freezing cold and can be dangerous on exposed beaches.
We've been to all the large Canary Islands over the last 20 years - Furteventura is our favourite.
Playa Blanca has a good selection of 4 star hotels, small man made beaches and a long promenade along the sea front. Corralejo is more biased towards self catering and has several good restaurants and live music bars in the high street. Hotel food will be reasonabe, but not brilliant buffet style and the evening entertainment will be dire. Corralejo buzzes in the evening and there's three live music venues in the high street alone. Mercedonia have recently opened a supermarket in Corralejo which is equal to any of the ones you'll find in France.
Both islands have enough to do for a week and a car is essential to go exploring. Fuertventura has epic beaches and Lanzarote has stunning inland scenery.
Whichever you choose expect warm sunny weather most of the time, you might get the odd dull day and it may be windy. The sea will be freezing cold and can be dangerous on exposed beaches.
We've been to all the large Canary Islands over the last 20 years - Furteventura is our favourite.
Obiwonkeyblokey said:
Steve, thats very helpful indeed. Thank you.
No problem - if you're going to Lanzarote you must visit the Timanfaya national park, El Golfo and spend a couple of hours at Puerto Calero marina. There are a couple of good seafood restaurants in the old harbour area of Puerto del Carmen, but the rest of the resort is best avoided. Nicest beaches on the islands are on the Papagayo coast just outside Playa Blanca. A day driving round the island upto the north and back down the middle through the valley of 1000 palms and La Geria is worth doing too. Look out for the Cesar Manrique wind sculptures on almost every roundabout. Lanis snack bar in the marina Rubicon at the end of the promenade in Playa Blanca offers a good lunch, but there's not many restaurants in Playa Blanca. El Golfo has several on the seafront but check prices - a fresh seafood platter won't come cheap.
The north and south of the island is very different in character, the south is mostly hot and dry with several pretty villages whilst the north is much more rural and agricultural and a bit scruffy in places.
Jaguar steve said:
Obiwonkeyblokey said:
Steve, thats very helpful indeed. Thank you.
No problem - if you're going to Lanzarote you must visit the Timanfaya national park, El Golfo and spend a couple of hours at Puerto Calero marina. There are a couple of good seafood restaurants in the old harbour area of Puerto del Carmen, but the rest of the resort is best avoided. Nicest beaches on the islands are on the Papagayo coast just outside Playa Blanca. A day driving round the island upto the north and back down the middle through the valley of 1000 palms and La Geria is worth doing too. Look out for the Cesar Manrique wind sculptures on almost every roundabout. Lanis snack bar in the marina Rubicon at the end of the promenade in Playa Blanca offers a good lunch, but there's not many restaurants in Playa Blanca. El Golfo has several on the seafront but check prices - a fresh seafood platter won't come cheap.
The north and south of the island is very different in character, the south is mostly hot and dry with several pretty villages whilst the north is much more rural and agricultural and a bit scruffy in places.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lS9PcM9q_v4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IYaV9sk1kiY
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