Canary Islands 2023 Holiday Thread
Discussion
Lee_sec said:
39 Days till I am off to playa blanca in Lanzarote - any top tips / must do's? I'm a diver so will be doing a underwater museum dive to tick it off the list and the volcano / caves look kinda cool...
Cueva de los Verdes (green caves), Lagomar House andCesar Manrique House.
Obviously the volcano national park is worth a visit. We also visited a small volcano that was used as a doctor who film set!
There's split in the side so you can walk into the culdera
Edited by 98elise on Friday 4th August 16:12
Lee_sec said:
39 Days till I am off to playa blanca in Lanzarote - any top tips / must do's? I'm a diver so will be doing a underwater museum dive to tick it off the list and the volcano / caves look kinda cool...
We did a boat trip out to Playa de Papagayo, moored off the beach and had a swim\snorkel & paddle board followed by a BBQ on the boat, https://www.chilloutcruise.com/Kingdom35 said:
98elise said:
Thanks for the heads up. Nudists....the joys of trying to explain that to 2 young girls...il leave that to my partner (the explaining that is :-) )
Assuming you drive there, you need to find the Riu hotel and access the dunes via a path/entrance through the middle of the hotel grounds. There's parking on the surrounding roads.
The hotel is the white building at peak of the developed area...
Edited by 98elise on Friday 4th August 16:02
You walk right through that big entrance at the front of the hotel building and it leads to the path down to the dunes.
Edited by 98elise on Friday 4th August 17:35
98elise said:
Kingdom35 said:
98elise said:
Thanks for the heads up. Nudists....the joys of trying to explain that to 2 young girls...il leave that to my partner (the explaining that is :-) )Assuming you drive there, you need to find the Riu hotel and access the dunes via a path/entrance through the middle of the hotel grounds. There's parking on the surrounding roads.
The hotel is the white building at peak of the developed area...
Edited by 98elise on Friday 4th August 16:02
You walk right through that big entrance at the front of the hotel building and it leads to the path down to the dunes.
Edited by 98elise on Friday 4th August 17:35
Went to the acquarium up the north of the island which was great.
Didn’t go to aqualand as the reviews are awful of late.
Kids happy and we’re happy so no need to venture out anymore. Keep it simple
98elise said:
Lee_sec said:
39 Days till I am off to playa blanca in Lanzarote - any top tips / must do's? I'm a diver so will be doing a underwater museum dive to tick it off the list and the volcano / caves look kinda cool...
Cueva de los Verdes (green caves), Lagomar House andCesar Manrique House.
Obviously the volcano national park is worth a visit. We also visited a small volcano that was used as a doctor who film set!
There's split in the side so you can walk into the culdera
Edited by 98elise on Friday 4th August 16:12
Jordan247 said:
98elise said:
Lee_sec said:
39 Days till I am off to playa blanca in Lanzarote - any top tips / must do's? I'm a diver so will be doing a underwater museum dive to tick it off the list and the volcano / caves look kinda cool...
Cueva de los Verdes (green caves), Lagomar House andCesar Manrique House.
Obviously the volcano national park is worth a visit. We also visited a small volcano that was used as a doctor who film set!
There's split in the side so you can walk into the culdera
Edited by 98elise on Friday 4th August 16:12
When you walk down from the car park towards it, turn right at the end of the path to go around the volcano counter-clockwise as that gets you to the split in the side sooner.
PF62 said:
Jordan247 said:
98elise said:
Lee_sec said:
39 Days till I am off to playa blanca in Lanzarote - any top tips / must do's? I'm a diver so will be doing a underwater museum dive to tick it off the list and the volcano / caves look kinda cool...
Cueva de los Verdes (green caves), Lagomar House andCesar Manrique House.
Obviously the volcano national park is worth a visit. We also visited a small volcano that was used as a doctor who film set!
There's split in the side so you can walk into the culdera
Edited by 98elise on Friday 4th August 16:12
When you walk down from the car park towards it, turn right at the end of the path to go around the volcano counter-clockwise as that gets you to the split in the side sooner.
It's one you can drive to rather than going into the national park.
Cool shot from above
It's smaller than you would think for a volcano.
Edited by 98elise on Saturday 12th August 22:14
Just starting planning for Jan / Feb 2024 - I hope it's ok to clutter up this thread.
My current thinking is for a 2 centre break for 10 days at the end of Jan / beginning of Feb 2024. Tenerife and Gran Canaria are my current thoughts. We'd fly into 1, stay 5 nights, catch a ferry to the other, stay 5 nights and then fly home.
What are the areas to avoid on those Islands? I do want decent restaurants and a reasonable amount of life, but I don't want endless nightclubs, casinos etc. I have absolutely zero interest in all inclusive hotels
We went to Lanzarote this year, and places like Playa Blanca and Costa Teguise were pretty much on the money, whereas Puerto Del Carmen was too "in your face"
And before anyone suggests it - I don't want to go to Fuerteventura at this point. We went 15 years ago and didn't like it. I know it will have changed and is probably lovely - I just need a bit more time to get used to the idea.
My current thinking is for a 2 centre break for 10 days at the end of Jan / beginning of Feb 2024. Tenerife and Gran Canaria are my current thoughts. We'd fly into 1, stay 5 nights, catch a ferry to the other, stay 5 nights and then fly home.
What are the areas to avoid on those Islands? I do want decent restaurants and a reasonable amount of life, but I don't want endless nightclubs, casinos etc. I have absolutely zero interest in all inclusive hotels
We went to Lanzarote this year, and places like Playa Blanca and Costa Teguise were pretty much on the money, whereas Puerto Del Carmen was too "in your face"
And before anyone suggests it - I don't want to go to Fuerteventura at this point. We went 15 years ago and didn't like it. I know it will have changed and is probably lovely - I just need a bit more time to get used to the idea.
omniflow said:
My current thinking is for a 2 centre break for 10 days at the end of Jan / beginning of Feb 2024. Tenerife and Gran Canaria are my current thoughts. We'd fly into 1, stay 5 nights, catch a ferry to the other, stay 5 nights and then fly home.
Probably better to do two centres on the same island than different islands, not least because the ferries between the islands are not cheap unless you are a local, and there is sufficient difference between say the north and south of Tenerife to make it worthwhile doing that.98elise said:
PF62 said:
Jordan247 said:
98elise said:
Lee_sec said:
39 Days till I am off to playa blanca in Lanzarote - any top tips / must do's? I'm a diver so will be doing a underwater museum dive to tick it off the list and the volcano / caves look kinda cool...
Cueva de los Verdes (green caves), Lagomar House andCesar Manrique House.
Obviously the volcano national park is worth a visit. We also visited a small volcano that was used as a doctor who film set!
There's split in the side so you can walk into the culdera
Edited by 98elise on Friday 4th August 16:12
When you walk down from the car park towards it, turn right at the end of the path to go around the volcano counter-clockwise as that gets you to the split in the side sooner.
It's one you can drive to rather than going into the national park.
Cool shot from above
It's smaller than you would think for a volcano.
Edited by 98elise on Saturday 12th August 22:14
Party central aka the Riu Maspalomas has announced that the newly refurbed hotel will re-open next month with a full re-opening in November when the onsite nightclub re-opens.
https://www.tuigroup.com/en-en/media/press-release...
I am a big fan of this hotel in its previous form so I have high hopes for the refurb.
Plenty of accessible volcanoes in Fuerteventura.
I have previously visited the National Park in Lanzarote bt, this time, faced with a 12 Euros per person entry (food is extra at the top and you get an insulated coach trip round the volcanoes), we didn't bother.
Lagomar is a bit of an anticlimax. 8 Euros each to get into a cave house that Omar Sharif owned for about 5 minutes but they milk it anyway - plus the caves were closed so slightly underwhelming. I think I prefer Jameos de Los Aguas.
On the subject of prices, the Miramar at the top of the island is also about 8 Euros each but you can see from the side anyway.
I have previously visited the National Park in Lanzarote bt, this time, faced with a 12 Euros per person entry (food is extra at the top and you get an insulated coach trip round the volcanoes), we didn't bother.
Lagomar is a bit of an anticlimax. 8 Euros each to get into a cave house that Omar Sharif owned for about 5 minutes but they milk it anyway - plus the caves were closed so slightly underwhelming. I think I prefer Jameos de Los Aguas.
On the subject of prices, the Miramar at the top of the island is also about 8 Euros each but you can see from the side anyway.
LuS1fer said:
Plenty of accessible volcanoes in Fuerteventura.
I have previously visited the National Park in Lanzarote bt, this time, faced with a 12 Euros per person entry (food is extra at the top and you get an insulated coach trip round the volcanoes), we didn't bother.
Lagomar is a bit of an anticlimax. 8 Euros each to get into a cave house that Omar Sharif owned for about 5 minutes but they milk it anyway - plus the caves were closed so slightly underwhelming. I think I prefer Jameos de Los Aguas.
On the subject of prices, the Miramar at the top of the island is also about 8 Euros each but you can see from the side anyway.
I liked Lagomar for the Cesar Manrique architecture. It's like a 70's flim set. The Omar Sharif connection is just a nice story.I have previously visited the National Park in Lanzarote bt, this time, faced with a 12 Euros per person entry (food is extra at the top and you get an insulated coach trip round the volcanoes), we didn't bother.
Lagomar is a bit of an anticlimax. 8 Euros each to get into a cave house that Omar Sharif owned for about 5 minutes but they milk it anyway - plus the caves were closed so slightly underwhelming. I think I prefer Jameos de Los Aguas.
On the subject of prices, the Miramar at the top of the island is also about 8 Euros each but you can see from the side anyway.
I just wish I'd gone to Manriques home as well. Architecture like this is amazing...
Edited by 98elise on Wednesday 16th August 19:24
Be aware that an area in the east of Tenerife near Mount Teide is currently on fire. Although flights to and from the island are still operating as normal it might be worth checking with your tour operator to make sure there are no restrictions or precautions in place that might affect your trip.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-66525861
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-66525861
omniflow said:
Just starting planning for Jan / Feb 2024 - I hope it's ok to clutter up this thread.
My current thinking is for a 2 centre break for 10 days at the end of Jan / beginning of Feb 2024. Tenerife and Gran Canaria are my current thoughts. We'd fly into 1, stay 5 nights, catch a ferry to the other, stay 5 nights and then fly home.
What are the areas to avoid on those Islands? I do want decent restaurants and a reasonable amount of life, but I don't want endless nightclubs, casinos etc. I have absolutely zero interest in all inclusive hotels
We went to Lanzarote this year, and places like Playa Blanca and Costa Teguise were pretty much on the money, whereas Puerto Del Carmen was too "in your face"
And before anyone suggests it - I don't want to go to Fuerteventura at this point. We went 15 years ago and didn't like it. I know it will have changed and is probably lovely - I just need a bit more time to get used to the idea.
What was wrong with FV?My current thinking is for a 2 centre break for 10 days at the end of Jan / beginning of Feb 2024. Tenerife and Gran Canaria are my current thoughts. We'd fly into 1, stay 5 nights, catch a ferry to the other, stay 5 nights and then fly home.
What are the areas to avoid on those Islands? I do want decent restaurants and a reasonable amount of life, but I don't want endless nightclubs, casinos etc. I have absolutely zero interest in all inclusive hotels
We went to Lanzarote this year, and places like Playa Blanca and Costa Teguise were pretty much on the money, whereas Puerto Del Carmen was too "in your face"
And before anyone suggests it - I don't want to go to Fuerteventura at this point. We went 15 years ago and didn't like it. I know it will have changed and is probably lovely - I just need a bit more time to get used to the idea.
Carl, Lus1fer, any recommendations on All Inclusives? Not really tied to an area yet but definitely don't want the Canaries versions of Blackpool so hard pass on anywhere near a cafe doing all day fry ups and re runs of Only Fools & Horses. Must be 4 star up. Barcelo mar at Caleta has caught my eye this year and last but it's over £4k for a week in Oct half term. Family of four looking for good food, pools, entertainment and bottomless ice cream..
Edited by Chicken Chaser on Thursday 17th August 22:54
Jordan247 said:
98elise said:
PF62 said:
Jordan247 said:
98elise said:
Lee_sec said:
39 Days till I am off to playa blanca in Lanzarote - any top tips / must do's? I'm a diver so will be doing a underwater museum dive to tick it off the list and the volcano / caves look kinda cool...
Cueva de los Verdes (green caves), Lagomar House andCesar Manrique House.
Obviously the volcano national park is worth a visit. We also visited a small volcano that was used as a doctor who film set!
There's split in the side so you can walk into the culdera
Edited by 98elise on Friday 4th August 16:12
When you walk down from the car park towards it, turn right at the end of the path to go around the volcano counter-clockwise as that gets you to the split in the side sooner.
It's one you can drive to rather than going into the national park.
Cool shot from above
It's smaller than you would think for a volcano.
Edited by 98elise on Saturday 12th August 22:14
Well worth a look. It was cold when we went but I'd imagine you'd want to take drinks with you in the height of summer. Took us a while but then I was coaxing a 1 and 2 year old there and back.
Think they were moaning about stones in their shoes at this point.
Edited by ChocolateFrog on Thursday 17th August 23:05
Chicken Chaser said:
Inclusives? Not really tied to an area yet but definitely don't want the Canaries versions of Blackpool so hard pass on anywhere near a cafe doing all day fry ups and re runs of Only Fools & Horses. Must be 4 star up. Barcelo mar at Caleta has caught my eye this year and last but it's over £4k for a week in Oct half term. Family of four looking for good food, pools, entertainment and bottomless ice cream..
as above Riu maspalomas is open then but nightclub will be shut.Edited by Chicken Chaser on Thursday 17th August 22:54
Hotel Riu Buenavista is a good Tenerife option.
Currently at the Iberostar selection lanzarote park and I rate this as the best all inclusive hotel we have visited in Europe.
They have a section called star prestige which is adults only, a nice tiuch for those not wanting the kids running riot in the pools.
Top shelf alcohol included as standard too.
They have a section called star prestige which is adults only, a nice tiuch for those not wanting the kids running riot in the pools.
Top shelf alcohol included as standard too.
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