Canary Islands 2024 Holiday Thread

[Carl_VivaEspana]

Mr Tom said:

Hi All, what’s the weather like feb time?

it's a dice roll but if it's like it is now in Tenerife you will be laughing. Weathers been incredible . I would avoid Lanzarote and the South East of Tenerife.

It's been an exceptional year of weather and it could continue, records could be set or turn into a storm or two in Feb.

[curvature]

Earthdweller said:

This is who I always use https://www.cabreramedina.com/EN

No hidden fees or deposits, always had a great experience with them

It can be cheaper to rent from the airport for the whole holiday rather than for a few days from a resort shop/hotel though

Even though I’ve had transfers included in the past I just walk out and tell the rep I don’t need it and take the car to the hotel

Did exactly that in La Palma the week before Christmas.

TUI wanted £186 each way for private taxi transfers for the four of us. I rented a small Skoda SUV type car for under £180 for the entire week and this included the insurance excess waiver.

If anyone has not been to La Palma it is well worth going. Very unspoilt and superb roads including the roads up to the top of the volcano at just under 8000ft.

It is also the only place to have a rain forest in Europe.

[Earthdweller]

curvature said:

Did exactly that in La Palma the week before Christmas.

TUI wanted £186 each way for private taxi transfers for the four of us. I rented a small Skoda SUV type car for under £180 for the entire week and this included the insurance excess waiver.

If anyone has not been to La Palma it is well worth going. Very unspoilt and superb roads including the roads up to the top of the volcano at just under 8000ft.

It is also the only place to have a rain forest in Europe.

Been there once, roads are indeed interesting!

Not much of anything else there to be fair though

We stayed at the La Palma Princess on the west coast just south of where the earthquake was

Lovely hotel but the road down to it was rather steep and challenging in a 1.0 Corsa!

Not sure I’d go back though

Last car I rented in Lanzarote was a Fiat 500 and was €100 for 7 days all in, pretty much the same as a return taxi to playa Blanca from the airport

Me and my lad used it every day to go to Lanzarote karting and spin all round the island .. and fuel is much cheaper than at home

[joestifff]

chip* said:

CardinalBlue said:

Hope I'm not stepping on any toes by starting the 2024 thread...

Booked 10 nights in Costa Adeje at the GF Isabel for me, my wife and my young son. We've got unlimited tickets to Siam Park which I've been to a few years ago - but I expect it might be a different experience with a toddler in tow....

Stayed at Isabel back in May with my 2 girls. My quick feedbacks:
Hotel is geared towards families so your son will enjoy the young but friendly staffs running the kids club + disco, kids pool, and decent secure playground (nicely in the shade after lunch). An older hotel with old styled apartments / bungalows which are fairly spacious, but some could do with a refurb (I believe some has been refurbed). We went HB for convenience sake with my girls, but it was just adults, I would select B&B. Would I go again? Not for an adults only holiday, but definitely if I was taking my girl's!

I am looking at booking the GF Isabel. Family of 4, two young ones (8 & 5).

Is there enough to do for them at the hotel, will head to Siam park couple of times, is it worth buying tickets direct with Siam. Also probably select all inclusive.

Link to Tui:

Click me to go to Tui

We have never done Tenerife, so am going in blind, but hotel seems to fit us all in a room fairly well!! Flights are also sensible.

[chip*]

joestifff said:

I am looking at booking the GF Isabel. Family of 4, two young ones (8 & 5).

Is there enough to do for them at the hotel, will head to Siam park couple of times, is it worth buying tickets direct with Siam. Also probably select all inclusive.
.

We didn't go to Siam park as my girls (4 &5) would almost fail all the slides/rides height restriction, so check before you book the tickets. I did consider Aqualand too, but my girls wasn't that bothered as they were happy going to the kids club (can only book in person 15mins before the session to reduce no-show) in the morning, then playing in the playground (shaded in the afternoon which will make a difference in the +30C heat!), and the pool with the girls they met in the kids club. There are other activities too e.g. football session, darts comp, yoga, usual pool exercise class etc..Between myself, kids clubs and the girls they met, my girls was entertained for the week, but we did break it up by going to the beach too (Playa del Duque is the nearest one).

[joestifff]

chip* said:

joestifff said:

I am looking at booking the GF Isabel. Family of 4, two young ones (8 & 5).

Is there enough to do for them at the hotel, will head to Siam park couple of times, is it worth buying tickets direct with Siam. Also probably select all inclusive.
.

We didn't go to Siam park as my girls (4 &5) would almost fail all the slides/rides height restriction, so check before you book the tickets. I did consider Aqualand too, but my girls wasn't that bothered as they were happy going to the kids club (can only book in person 15mins before the session to reduce no-show) in the morning, then playing in the playground (shaded in the afternoon which will make a difference in the +30C heat!), and the pool with the girls they met in the kids club. There are other activities too e.g. football session, darts comp, yoga, usual pool exercise class etc..Between myself, kids clubs and the girls they met, my girls was entertained for the week, but we did break it up by going to the beach too (Playa del Duque is the nearest one).

Thanks Chip

Although ours would be 8 & 5 I am wondering if they would still fail the height issue. We are a short family! 7 year old is the height of a 5 year old.

Were you happy with the hotel overall, food etc, presume sleeping arrangements aren't to bad with the lounge area?

[chip*]

joestifff said:

Thanks Chip

Although ours would be 8 & 5 I am wondering if they would still fail the height issue. We are a short family! 7 year old is the height of a 5 year old.

Were you happy with the hotel overall, food etc, presume sleeping arrangements aren't to bad with the lounge area?

Siam park has toddler sections which iirc had 1.1m / 1.25m restriction, and my youngest was barely 1m, and my eldest was 1.1m back in May-23, so it wasn't worth it for us. To get on the decent slides, you have to be 1.4m from memory, but best to do your own checks / research.

Food: Kids just wanted pasta, spaghetti, ice cream etc.. they will be in heaven. Personally, I rather pay extra to eat out, but if you want convenience and just to be fed, the hotel restaurant will be fine too.




EDIT: quick google with height restrictions below (but check these are still valid!)

https://atoztenerife.com/siam-park-tenerife/

[i]Naga Racer: 110cm
Mekong Rapids: 110cm
Jungle Snakes: 110cm-125cm (they are 4 different slides which accounts for the different height restrictions)
The Giant: 125cm
Kinnaree: 125cm
Dragon: 125cm
The Volcano: 125cm
Singha: 125cm
Tower of Power: 140cm/14 years old
The Mai Thai River, Sawsadee, The Lost City and The Wave Palace at Siam Beach don't have any height restrictions [/i]

Edited by chip* on Tuesday 9th January 15:30

[joestifff]

chip* said:

Siam park has toddler sections which iirc had 1.1m / 1.25m restriction, and my youngest was barely 1m, and my eldest was 1.1m back in May-23, so it wasn't worth it for us. To get on the decent slides, you have to be 1.4m from memory, but best to do your own checks / research.

Food: Kids just wanted pasta, spaghetti, ice cream etc.. they will be in heaven. Personally, I rather pay extra to eat out, but if you want convenience and just to be fed, the hotel restaurant will be fine too.




EDIT: quick google with height restrictions below (but check these are still valid!)

https://atoztenerife.com/siam-park-tenerife/

[i]Naga Racer: 110cm
Mekong Rapids: 110cm
Jungle Snakes: 110cm-125cm (they are 4 different slides which accounts for the different height restrictions)
The Giant: 125cm
Kinnaree: 125cm
Dragon: 125cm
The Volcano: 125cm
Singha: 125cm
Tower of Power: 140cm/14 years old
The Mai Thai River, Sawsadee, The Lost City and The Wave Palace at Siam Beach don't have any height restrictions [/i]

Edited by chip* on Tuesday 9th January 15:30

Thanks again chip.

7 year old is 113cm, and 5 year old is 102cm (like I said we are short!!!)

Non of the resorts in Tenerife seem to have slides at the hotel, or ones of any substance, I guess that is because everyone goes to Siam.

I won't rule it out as a resort, and I like to go on recommendations, just need a nice resort with kids fun for a week in August, that isn't Turkey or baking hot or freezing cold!

[Carl_VivaEspana]

The best ride, bar none is the wave machine at Siam Beach. there are also two licenced bars at the back.

Edited by Carl_VivaEspana on Tuesday 9th January 20:12

[Narcisus]

Just arrived at hotel in Tenerife 24’ I can live with that. Too the bar !

[Carl_VivaEspana]

might as well , it's a bit iffy weather wise for a few days but it will pass. weather has been incredible tbh.

[Narcisus]

Carl_VivaEspana said:

might as well , it's a bit iffy weather wise for a few days but it will pass. weather has been incredible tbh.

Nice now sat outside about 22’ … -3 at home !

[Rob 131 Sport]

Lanzarote with the wife and non of the (grown up) children for 10 days in Mid February.

We’re staying in an Airbnb (first time) 1 bedroom apartment just outside Puerto del Carmen. We’ve paid a decent sum for the apartment so I’m expecting something quite good and a nice pool.

I first went to Lanzarote as a 13 year old in 1986 and have been back a few times since. It will be the first time in the Canaries for the wife and Lanzarote is by far my favourite of all the islands.

[airsafari87]

I’m off to Tenerife at the start of Feb for 10 nights.

Booked an Airbnb in La Mareta for myself, Mrs Safari, mother and stepdad.

[raceboy]

Started looking at the Canaries for a 5 night break in April, it's initially looking cheaper than a long weekend in London.
I'm guessing by April the weather is pretty dependable, not really bothered which island as it'll be a brain out, lie by the pool nailing the all inclusive drink/food all day.
Not been for 30 years, back then it was 14 Saturday nights in a row and needed a detox when I got back, probably be a bit different now.

[_Rodders_]

joestifff said:

Thanks again chip.

7 year old is 113cm (snip)

Our 3.5yo is 109cm. I only know because he loves rides of any type and 110 seems to be a very common height restriction.

However hard I try to explain he needs to stand up really tall he immediately goes onto tiptoes which usually raises suspicions and the measuring stick of doom comes out.

Our 2yo is very short for his age though, the bugger will barely eat anything other than boob.

We're just trying to toss up between skiing and Canaries at half term, first time we've been tied to school holidays so it might not happen.

[LuS1fer]

Booked flights at the end of February to FV. Strange how a bit of moving flights from Wednesday to Monday can pretty much half the cost.

FV tends to have higher cost flights than GC, Lanzarote and Tenerife but lower apartment costs so you have to balance it all and weigh up flight times as that can lose you a day.

Also juggle your car hire search as with Payless, it was cheaper for 8 days than 5.

As for AI, not for me. Fly cheap, rent cheap, eat out every night.

January and February tend to be decent weather but the wind can be a touch chilly.

[Narcisus]

About 22’ at the mo in Tenerife peaked at about 25’ yesterday.

[Carl_VivaEspana]

It's pissed down all day today. not seen rain like it for over a month mind.

[Narcisus]

Carl_VivaEspana said:

It's pissed down all day today. not seen rain like it for over a month mind.

You in the north ?