Tenerife or Gran Canaria or Lanzerote ? Go !

[ollypollymolly]

With Teens - villa and pool not hotel.

which island do you prefer and why ?

I think there’s most to do for teens in Tenerife - huge water park for example. The waterpark is lanzarote doesn’t compare and I’m not sure about GC (my daughter was too little to bother going).

If you just want beaches and pool I don’t think it matters, all have good weather and some good beaches. Just go to wherever you can get the best deal/accommodation etc. Lanzarote may have the most white sand beaches if black sand bothers you.

Thank you !

anyone else ?

Not Gran Canaria, I think Lanzarote has lots to do but more spread out. If they are older enough for independence and you're not isolated then Tenerife would perhaps give you more options for that.

However my favourite of the 3 is Lanzarote based on my own holidays.

Definitely not Gran Canaria.

Lanzarote!

Haha, apparently we chose wrong but we’re going to Gran Canaria with 3 teens this summer. We’ve been to Lanzarote and fuerteventura before. We go for hotel with big pool near the beach.

I've been to all 3, admittedly Tenerife was in my late teens! On the whole I've preferred Gran Canaria so far, interesting that others have not enjoyed it. I'm going to GC again in a few weeks in fact, weather is perfect for me, mid 20s and a breeze. Like the landscape more than Lanzarote too but I've only been to Playa Blanca so can only comment on that!

I don't like South tenerife. Too busy, bad traffic.
Lanzarote much more relaxed and interesting sights and architecture. Lovely beach at playa blanca. Nice fish to feed in the marina. Beautiful sights in the North with rocky coast , and the volcano.

My kids loved it, but are a few years off teen.

We love Lanzarote. We have recently come back from PDC. I would recommend LanzaroteOne for good value villas with private pools. Ideal for a relaxed family trip. More space, loads of restaurants to eat out etc. have a fantastic holiday OP.

They are all much of a muchness to me. You just need a decent hotel in a decent resort.

Eg Gran Canaria - Meloneras

Lanzarote - Playa Blanca

Tenerife - Los Gigantes or look at the high end ones like Grand Melia Palacio

You just want to make sure you avoid the Playa De Las Americas Brits en masse type areas (unless they appeal!)

We’re huge fans of Lanzarote and are going again this year with our girls who are 6 and 8. With older children however, we’d probably opt for Fuertaventura as I think there’s more to do for teenagers.

Sorry realised not hotel but same applies to resort!

Playa Blanca in Lanzarote.

No one could fail to appreciate the amazing architecture of Cesar Manrique which is found across the island. The volcano is a fab experience. DS2 has scuba dived there, and you can get a boat over to Fuerteventura (we saw flying fish) to the sand dunes where I think you can do land sailing. Also some great tapas bars.

Lanzarote for sure. A nice mix of things to do and see. Hate Tenerife!

Depends on your teens. If they like water parks and high energy fun, then Tenerife - Siam Park is seriously brilliant but very crowded so get there early, get fast passes and aim to leave when everyone has had enough (which was about 1pm with my family - by then it was RAMMED). Mt Teide is beautiful and really nice for views and hiking too. It looks like one of the western US national parks when you get up there. Really stunning!

Lanzarote could also work, although it's more low key. If your teens are into art then the Cesar Manrique places are great, Timanfaya National Park is a lot of fun, black lava everywhere, you can eat meat that's been roasted over the heat coming up from a vent on the top, but it's definitely more of a laid back destination.

If you're all into water sports, particularly surfing (inc. kite-surfing), then Fuerteventura. We have some friends with four boys and that's where they go, because they're all into surfing. You can also kite surf in Tenerife, btw, on the south coast.

I heard Elevenerife is the best

I didn't like Gran Canaria at all , but ds1 did become ill and the hotel was noisy but this was 21 years ago! Most people I know who go there become poorly .. not sure why ?
Tenerife was pretty rough outside the hotel, but might have been the area the hotel was located in. Hotel was great though and seems more to do with teens.
Never been to Lanzorote , but watched a programme with Jane McDonald on channel 5 who went there and it looked nice enough. It is meant to be one of the better islands.

Thanks for all the great info. We binned off Tenerife and have gone for Lanzerote. Looks great.

I love the sound of the park and architecture, the water park is near us, any other hidden gems? Is there any hot springs ????

Cactus gardens are great to visit. Do a tour (south tour) that takes you to fire mountain, el Golfo, green lake, wine region, optional camel trek, great tour for a first time visitor. Lanzarote is a really interesting island to visit. What resort did you book OP? If Costa Teguise, there is a lovely craft market on one evening in the square Pueblo Marinero, lots of restaurants here too. Puerto calero is great to visit too, small village with Marina of luxury yachts, lots of restaurants, small market on a tues. you can walk from Puerto del Carmen harbour boardwalk along the cliff top, or take the water taxi from PDC harbour. I don’t know Playa Blanca very well as not stayed there, but it’s popular. Lanzarote is a great value destination, consistently good weather, we have been many, many times. We usually stay at PDC, or CT, but prefer PDC personally. Also a nice shopping centre The Biosfera at PDC with a Zara, roof top cinema, mini golf, lots of stores, fashion, makeup & McDonalds.

As mentioned, Jane Mcdonald has done a 4 part series on The Canaries on Channel 5 which has just been broadcast do you should be able to watch it all on catch-up.

Been to all 3. Tenerife best for kids in my opinion. Lanzarote more chilled and laid back. Depends what you enjoy.

Go to Timanfaya national park and the volcano.

Grab Canaria is good for teens. We got annual membership to a water park and used it for the two weeks we were there ours absolutely loved it.

Out of the three I prefer Gran Canaria, especially Puerto Rico.

Hire a car and do a trip around the manrique sights. The roads are good. Excellent food all over the island. Especially Arrieta in North.

The vineyards are interesting and can get a nice lunch.

We loved the marina at calero. Can feed the fish and if you step just beyond the sea wall it was like viewing an aquarium.

Playa blanca is purpose built so no history, but a nice promenade walk. Doraya has clear water and a beach bar. The nearby marina has lots of shops and restaurants.