Holiday help needed - Canary Islands

[Tenegrief]

Hi all,

I've name changed as I've spoken to lots of people about this IRL and some of the details are outing...

I'm tying myself in knots trying to book a holiday for my family. We haven't been away on a 'sunny' holiday since my DS (5) was born (he's never been on a plane) so we decided to bite the bullet and do it this year. I've also never booked a package holiday before, preferring pre-kids to DIY and get a lovely AirBNB and our own flights - but we think the kids would prefer a resort this time. I work in a school so we're tied to the school holidays by and large (I'm part time so there's a bit of leeway with start and end dates). We've looked and can't afford going in the May half term or summer holidays so we've opted for the October break. I originally had my sights set on Majorca (having been told by someone that it was still lovely at that time of year) but I've now decided it's too risky in terms of weather and things being shut for winter.

Soooo, we're now looking at the Canaries but I'm finding all the options completely overwhelming. Does anyone have any recommendations or tips for good places to go?

Our criteria:
We want it to be warm and to be able to enjoy pools etc.
Kids will be 10 (DD) and 6 (DS) when we go so we want to be somewhere where there are things for them/us to do.
We're vegetarian (one of us is vegan) so we need to be able to eat.
We're thinking about going all inclusive but the veggie/vegan thing worries me a bit (don't want to pay for AI and then not have much (or any!) choice).
We want an apartment with a separate bedroom so we're not living in each others pockets (and we're not bored in the evenings having to be quiet while the kids sleep!).
Kids club would be cool, although I'm not sure my DD would be persuaded to go so this isn't a deal breaker.
Our budget is about £2000 for the package (not including spending money, car hire (happy to do this) etc). Can go a bit higher for the right place.

I've found some places that tick all of these boxes but then I read reviews and I get cold feet. For example, I found a resort on Fuertaventura (Pierrre Vacances) that looked great but then I heard that this island is really windy (I hate wind! But is it really that bad?!) and boring (I'm not sure this would bother us - there seems 'enough' to do for 7 days).

Basically, we want this to be an amazing holiday (who doesn't?!) but, because we're highly unlikely to be able to go away again for quite a while, the pressure to get this right and avoid risks/pitfalls is pretty immense.

Any help or suggestions?

Thanks so much.

OP, don't overthink it.

Hopefully this will be the first of several holidays to the Canaries, all will be lovely, especially as you fine tune where and what you like.

It therefore doesn't need to be 'the most perfect ever' holiday, it will be lovely anyway. Family time, beach, excursions, play parks etc.

If you want to go to Fuerteventura (you do know what this means in Spanish, don't you? ) then go. People who said it was boring probably want different things to you, perhaps they prefer bigger resorts with more shops, bars etc? You said you'd found enough to do.

Plus, if you are near the north of the island (Corralejjo?) then you can do a day trip on the ferry to Lanzarote and check that out for future reference.

Look at paradise park in low cristianos
Great for kids, good food, separate bedrooms in the annexe, couple of pools and good location you won't need a car hire

If you want beautiful beaches go to Fuerteventura.

We stayed at Caybeach Melonares in Gran Canaria, they are bungalows and have a small kitchen to make your own food, Two pools, not far from the beach, not far from the dunes. There's also a water park, and a wild animal park in short distance.

Yes but I think with kids Playa Blanca Lanzarote is perfect. Plus when we went to Fuerteventura we stumbled upon a few too many nudist beaches by accident!

Playa Blanca is nice I agree (Lanzarote).

Catering for a vegan will be difficult in the Canaries, they are not really geared up for it. I wouldn't bother paying for AI if one of your party is vegan, as their food choices will be limited.

We went to the same hotel in Gran Canaria two years running when our DC were that age, because it was perfectly set up for us. Amazing kids club. Great food and I’m veggie too. Rooms with separate bedroom. French doors that open onto poolside. All low buildings around several pools.

hotel koala garden with jet2 holidays

That budget is very tight for ai. It wasn't windy when I was on fuerterentura. I went with TUI, magic life, but on your budget it would be one room and even then it may not be affordable, it's one of the cheapest options. As to vegan food - there were vegetarian foods but mostly they were salads, tortilla (eggs), pasta, chips etc, didn't see any vegetarian mains as in the centre point of a meal, I mostly eat fish but always assess suitability as my dd is vegetarian (adult, wasn't with me) in case of looking for a big multi generational holiday.

With strict dietary restrictions I would suggest self catering is a better option

I haven’t read through the thread but Playa Blanca in Lanzarote is lovely. Canaries is easy to do independently ie villa with pool plus flights or there are resorts. I’d not do AI as (am also vege) there will be more choice food wise and you’re not funding more expensive food.

Princessa Yaiza in Lanzarote is lovely, lots to do, pools a little chilly is my only complaint. It's right on playa Blanca which is a great wide promenade with lots of restaurants and a marina. Might be over budget though I'm not sure.

Ps i travelled with my vegetarian dd all over Europe and she's always struggled to find vegetarian food (and she isn't that strict eating cheeses which may have rennet in etc plus eggs) Italy was the easiest and Sicily was the only place I've been with vegan food more widespread (other than Britain, east here). Avoid france l, they treated us like crazy people, how dare one person not want meat! And Germany ... got offered a vegetarian menu, great, on it ... one baked potato with cheese and... two baked potatoes with cheese

Self cater!

Playa Blanca, Lanzarote. Off there next week, again! Small villa with private heated pool. Can't wait. Hire a car to see everything the island has to offer.

Fuerteventura is lovely and plenty of stuff to do for a week eg cheese museum, beaches. The Dino range of supermarkets are well stocked with food for veggies or vegans.

I have been to the canaries in Feb and in Dec, and I don’t think an unheated pool would be warm enough in October to spend much time in.

Playa Blanca is lovely and you can even take a short ferry ride over to Fuerteventura so would get to see both. One thing I've noticed which would be an advantage for that time of year is that there are loads of villas with heated pools in Playa Blanca. That's usually the problem with October holidays, warm air and sea temperatures but absolutely freezing pools. We went to lanzarote in April one year and all these huge beautiful hotel pools were empty because they were too cold to use.

Wow! Thanks so much for all the ideas, tips and advice. I'm going to check out all of your suggestions this afternoon when we're back home from our walk.

I'm especially grateful for the advice around food... I think I knew deep down that our vegan would struggle, but I was beyond tempted by the allure of AI and not having to think about what we're going to eat. I might see if a half board type thing might be worthwhile. If not, self catering it is (really no bad thing - it just means we'll eat out a lot (and I LOVE eating out 😀), and have back up grub for the vegan at our hotel in case he can't find anything). And @gogohmm - I totally get you re - Europe and vegetarians. I went to Malta a few years ago when I was (temporarily) a vegan and we knew the hotel owner. He reassured us that the staff had been prepped about our requirements and when we sat down for dinner they ceremoniously brought us out a salad. With chicken pieces, boiled eggs and cheese... Awkward. France has always been disdainful of veggies, but they are getting a bit better.

@BarbaraofSeville - I found your post very reassuring, thank you. 'Overthinker' is my middle name though so I can't make any promises 😊.