Canary Islands 2024 Holiday Thread
Discussion
croyde said:
Brits abroad eh! 
I was a week into my stay before I spoke English to anybody.
Walking up near Teide, thick cloud and out of the mist a couple appeared in full walking kit.
The girl asked me in Spanish if they were on the right route to El Portillo.
I replied in Spanish whilst pointing where to go.
She then said in heavily accented English 'Do you speak any English'
We then launched into conversation, mainly me gabbling as I hadn't used my own language for a week.
They were Polish.
Later on the only English I spoke was to a French couple, two Germans and a Bulgarian man with his son.
For the most part, every time I have tried to speak Spanish, the reply has been in English.I was a week into my stay before I spoke English to anybody.
Walking up near Teide, thick cloud and out of the mist a couple appeared in full walking kit.
The girl asked me in Spanish if they were on the right route to El Portillo.
I replied in Spanish whilst pointing where to go.
She then said in heavily accented English 'Do you speak any English'
We then launched into conversation, mainly me gabbling as I hadn't used my own language for a week.
They were Polish.
Later on the only English I spoke was to a French couple, two Germans and a Bulgarian man with his son.
In addition, many of the restaurant staff in resorts aren't even Spanish.
It does remind me of a time in Spain when we were heading back down from the mountains and our three young kids were starving so we pulled into a village and with the simple aid of miming eating food and the phrase, "huevos con patatas fritas" we got 5 meals and drinks for a fraction of the price we had been paying at the coast.
croyde said:
Returned last week after 'living' in Icod de los Vinos for 5 weeks.
One proper rainy day in all that time. Washing dried on the line up on the communal roof terrace in an hour or so.
Totally Spanish town, no one spoke English, which was great as they still wanted to chat so forcing me to come out of my shell and actually attempt Spanish
Like the builder who insisted on chatting to me at Lidl and got his phone out to show me his work. As he scrolled I saw thumbnails of him having sex with a beautiful woman. I then met his wife in the carpark. Not the same lady
Also, being amongst the locals, eating out and just stopping for a beer/coke/coffee was so ridiculously cheap.
I'm 61, hate the cold and grey and am now seriously thinking of retiring there asap. Luckily I have an Irish passport but might still have to find some work if possible.
I did drop a mate off at the Airport and went to the beach by Montaña Roja for a swim after. Then popped into Costa Adeje for a look and couldn't wait to leave, head back up into the mountains and stop in a proper café for un bocadillo y una cerveza. €3.
I am glad to hear you are having a splendid time. One proper rainy day in all that time. Washing dried on the line up on the communal roof terrace in an hour or so.
Totally Spanish town, no one spoke English, which was great as they still wanted to chat so forcing me to come out of my shell and actually attempt Spanish
Like the builder who insisted on chatting to me at Lidl and got his phone out to show me his work. As he scrolled I saw thumbnails of him having sex with a beautiful woman. I then met his wife in the carpark. Not the same lady
Also, being amongst the locals, eating out and just stopping for a beer/coke/coffee was so ridiculously cheap.
I'm 61, hate the cold and grey and am now seriously thinking of retiring there asap. Luckily I have an Irish passport but might still have to find some work if possible.
I did drop a mate off at the Airport and went to the beach by Montaña Roja for a swim after. Then popped into Costa Adeje for a look and couldn't wait to leave, head back up into the mountains and stop in a proper café for un bocadillo y una cerveza. €3.
re: Weather (for others coming over) its been a bit up and down but the forecast from today is ridiculously good going into the next couple of weeks.
LuS1fer said:
It does remind me of a time in Spain when we were heading back down from the mountains and our three young kids were starving so we pulled into a village and with the simple aid of miming eating food and the phrase, "huevos con patatas fritas" we got 5 meals and drinks for a fraction of the price we had been paying at the coast.
And that reminds me of a time back in late summer 2016 when I was in the middle of nowhere in Spain and starving hungry at way past 2pm pulled into a roadside house that had a sign indicating food.After a bit of miming and by bad attempt at Spanish we got seated in the backroom that was full of locals eating with the TV on and food was brought and everything was going well.
And then on the tv in a news broadcast Nigel appeared and all heads turned to look at us…
Anyway, glorious day here in Santa Cruz in Tenerife and the nicest in the week or so since I have been here and looking good for the next couple of months on the island.
Carl_VivaEspana said:
I am glad to hear you are having a splendid time.
re: Weather (for others coming over) its been a bit up and down but the forecast from today is ridiculously good going into the next couple of weeks.
Thats good news, we will be there next week but doing a cruise this time, cant wait!re: Weather (for others coming over) its been a bit up and down but the forecast from today is ridiculously good going into the next couple of weeks.
joestifff said:
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!
We booked with Jet2 and they offer the GF Isabel as a stand alone hotel, but also with unlimited entry to Siam Park a which actually worked out £50 cheaper for some unknown reason.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!
https://www.jet2holidays.com/canary-islands/teneri...
We opted for that, and will go and see how much our son gets out of the toddler section there, compared to just the pools around the hotel.
Boringvolvodriver said:
lost in espace said:
If you are coming to Corralejo bring anti mossie lotion! Weather was better today, just in time for me to return to Stevenage.
Are the little blighters around during the day as well? markymarkthree said:
Just arrived at Tenerife south yesterday, had a to do a fingerprint thing with my passport. Anyone know what that is all about ?
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/dec/19/eu-fingerprint-checks-uk-travellers-british-passengers-entry-exit-system-facial-scans Looks like they are starting early.
LuS1fer said:
markymarkthree said:
Just arrived at Tenerife south yesterday, had a to do a fingerprint thing with my passport. Anyone know what that is all about ?
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/dec/19/eu-fingerprint-checks-uk-travellers-british-passengers-entry-exit-system-facial-scans Looks like they are starting early.
Boringvolvodriver said:
55palfers said:
Well I hope that it continues until next week when we are arriving…………romft123 said:
Since late dec, its been above 25 most days except last week when it was windier...(as usual) and cooler.....around 20. Rain.....whats that, none. Bit windy and dusty next coupla days then sun.....medium wind. Mid 20's.
Cheers - fingers crossed - we are going to be there for 3 weeks. Carl_VivaEspana said:
The problem is unpredictability this time of year , the calima has just moved off here in Tenerife, it hung around for days. it's been nice weather but we're glad it's gone.
Indeed - we were in FV for 6 weeks last year from mid Jan to end Feb and had very mixed weather including the Calima so hoping better this yearGassing Station | Holidays & Travel | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff