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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Fuerteventura

58 replies

SecretPeston · 01/02/2023 11:07

Not an AIBU but posting for traffic.

I am considering booking Fuerteventura for April/May this year but am seeing some mixed reviews. On another thread someone mentions that it is "souless and tacky" - is this overall the case, or just in Corralejo?

We normally hire a car on holiday and we would like to explore the island. The beaches look stunning.

Any thoughts on Fuerteventura please? Would just be DH and I, half board, 10-14 nights, looking to relax and chill but with a few days out here and there.

OP posts:
luckylavender · 01/02/2023 11:12

SecretPeston · 01/02/2023 11:07

Not an AIBU but posting for traffic.

I am considering booking Fuerteventura for April/May this year but am seeing some mixed reviews. On another thread someone mentions that it is "souless and tacky" - is this overall the case, or just in Corralejo?

We normally hire a car on holiday and we would like to explore the island. The beaches look stunning.

Any thoughts on Fuerteventura please? Would just be DH and I, half board, 10-14 nights, looking to relax and chill but with a few days out here and there.

We went in October for 9 nights. First time. It's beautiful in its own way. But there was nothing to do, difficult even to find good restaurants. Soulless and quite boring really.

SharkVega · 01/02/2023 11:14

I've been but wouldn't rush back. We had a lovely time but felt like in a week we exhausted much of what there is to so there if just lying by the pool is not your thing.

We stayed in Lajares, not tacky at all, but not sure you'd find hotel options there. We stayed in a self catering place and ate out.

murasaki · 01/02/2023 11:15

I think the main drag is tacky, but I stayed in an air bnb on the far north west of the island, and it was stunning (el cotillo), lunar landscape beaches, great restaurants, really chilled, we did a lot of walking.

anomaly23 · 01/02/2023 11:16

It was the most boring holiday I ever went on. I was early 20s so found it very dull but I have never been back and I'm late 30s.

Some of the beaches are beautiful, it's very windy though.

Oakbeam · 01/02/2023 11:17

I have been there several times, but it was 30 ago, so will be much more developed now. Aside from that, the scenery is stunning in a moonscape sort of way, but there is not much in the way of “culture” if that is your thing.

The beaches are probably the best in the Canaries.

Backtoreality1 · 01/02/2023 11:20

Went there myself and loved it but wouldn't return. Not a lot to do there unless you are into watersports. I preferred Lanzarote where there are few more options on days out etc. Having said that, our hotel in FUerteventura was lovely and we had a great week sunbathing :)

murasaki · 01/02/2023 11:22

There are amazing almost circular stone windbreaks on the beaches, coz yes, it 8s very windy. I think most of my February tan was wind related...

Limboparents · 01/02/2023 11:27

Was there last year in May. Stayed in Corralejo which isn’t the most authentic place in the world but it’s no Benidorm.

We hired a car and got to see loads of other parts of the island and stunning scenery. We also did a 50km e bike tour into the mountains.

Saw a few of the other places mentioned, my concern about staying in some these places is there wouldn’t be enough bars and restaurants to keep you occupied in the evenings, especially for 2 weeks.

I thought it had a more outdoorsy vibe than the other islands, surfing and cycling are big attractions which I think attracts more outdoorsy people rather than people who just want to sunbathe and drink.

Overall I liked it and would go back.

murasaki · 01/02/2023 11:30

Yes, to be fair, I was there for 5 days and might have struggled with longer.

GinClassHeroes · 01/02/2023 11:31

I wouldn’t stay anywhere other than Jandia. It’s the only place we have ever landed and instantly disliked the look of. It did improve once we got round to the south of the island. There isn’t much to do.

We much preferred Lanzarote overall - we stayed in Costa Teguise, which isn’t exactly upmarket but we all enjoyed it!

Adviceneeded200 · 01/02/2023 11:32

We went one Christmas and it was lovely for a warm break. The beaches were lovely and we managed to swim on Christmas day. It wasn't fabulously warm but about as warm as UK waters get in the middle of a decent summer.

It was far too cold to use the unheated outside pools though.

We got a car and visited the whole island. Jandia was tacky but the drive to it stunning. We.enjoyed our week but there's not a great deal to go back for because we like exploring.

gogohmm · 01/02/2023 11:36

I liked it. There's not a huge amount to do, we did rent a car for a day and drove about, we went out sailing, but mostly we were in our hotel. Holidays are down to what you want from them. Tacky is not how I would describe it, fairly quiet would be a better description but I went when covid restrictions were in place. It's good for mountain biking too.

gogohmm · 01/02/2023 11:38

I don't do nightclubs and bar crawl's these days so I was happy with the bit of entertainment the hotel offered, couple of excellent covers bands

TheFairyCaravan · 01/02/2023 11:39

We’ve been twice. It’s much nicer than Lanzarote.

The first time we stayed just outside Corralejo. The beach was stunning. The second time we went we stayed in Morro del Jable. I prefer that end of the island, tbh.

We went April/May time both times. It was really hot but it’s windy so you need a hoody for early morning and the evening.

Crunchymum · 01/02/2023 11:40

I haven't been for over a decade (pre kids) but it was perfect for what we wanted. Decent weather and total relaxation. We didn't do much beyond visiting the sand dunes and lazing by pool / on the beach. We were SC so are out every night for dinner and a few drinks, some places were nicer than others. It wasn't a "showstopper holiday" or anything but was perfectly pleasant.

I have actually been twice.

I did prefer Playa Blanca in Lanzarote - which I expected to hate. Again this was pre kids so over a decade ago.

Lcb123 · 01/02/2023 11:40

We did 1 week all inclusive, mostly stayed at the hotel. Wouldn't go back - didn't seem to be anything to do and the beach was off limit as the sea was so incredibly rough you weren't allowed to swim. I've heard much better things about Gran Canaria

Adviceneeded200 · 01/02/2023 11:40

We stayed at Celeta de Fuste as I wanted to be near a hospital (as I wasn't quite sure what was going on). It was small and I'm pleased we were AI although there was a decent boardwalk which we used each night and it was quiet. We needed the hotel though for food and drink. There weren't many other options at Christmas.

shieldmaiden7 · 01/02/2023 11:42

I went twice 20 odd years ago when I was a teenager and honestly all I did was sit by the pool. It was beautiful though and would like to go back eventually. It's more of a sight seeing place than activity filled place from what I tenner my parents saying.

seratoninmoonbeams · 01/02/2023 11:45

@luckylavender I agree. We went in August last year. Also found the obvious favouritism of 'locals' on holiday and ignoring British annoying. One example. We went on a boat trip to Lobos and weren't allowed to get on the boat until all the Spanish had got on and then had to sit inside as there was no room on the lovely deck areas. I think I've been spoilt by Greek hospitality over the years where they are so friendly. I've decided I can't be arsed with any of the Canary Islands now. All a bit generic and soulless.

TheFormidableMrsC · 01/02/2023 11:49

I've been but I probably wouldn't go again. We were in an all inclusive resort that was fine but there's so little to do. The beaches are beautiful but there was a lot of abandoned construction around and it spoiled the feel I thought. There is an amazing zoo if you like that sort of thing. It's also incredibly windy which means you have to be super careful with sunscreen as it's easy to underestimate the strength of the sun.

Oakbeam · 01/02/2023 11:53

I thought it had a more outdoorsy vibe than the other islands

We used to split our time 50/50 beach and exploring, either on foot or 4x4. It suited us but I can see why it might not be to everybody’s taste. I have considered going back but I’m worried overdevelopment would spoil my memories of the place as it was.

Fuerteventura
Fuerteventura
WimbyAce · 01/02/2023 11:55

We have been many a time but prefer the South of the island Jandia. It depends what you want in a holiday really, we used to go for a week of relaxation.

GinClassHeroes · 01/02/2023 12:02

WimbyAce · 01/02/2023 11:55

We have been many a time but prefer the South of the island Jandia. It depends what you want in a holiday really, we used to go for a week of relaxation.

Yes, that’s why we went. I’m surprised by people saying Jandia is tacky - it’s far, far less tacky than the north of the island. still, barely anything to do except eating, drinking and relaxing.

WoolyMammoth55 · 01/02/2023 12:07

Hi OP, we did our babymoon in Fuerte, 5 nights in Morro Jable and then 5 in Costa Calma.

The weather was glorious for Feb/March (though yes, windy!) and the beaches are amazing too. Lots of German nudists in Morro Jable IIRC, but easy enough to avert your eyes from the suntanned weiners... :)

We did SC in a nice apartment in MJ, just raided the lovely supermarket for bread, cheese, padron peppers and jamon serrano (which devoted nearly-dad DH was freezing for me and then defrosting to ensure pregnancy safe! Ahhh...)

Plenty of good tapas places but not a 'lively nightlife' scene - which was ideal for me as I just wanted to lie around like a pregnant whale.

We had a car and explored a bit, but honestly it's mostly scraggy bushes, medium-sized lunar rocks and wandering goats. Not a load to discover!

Costa Calma beach was incredible and the hotel was good too there, I can check if DH remembers the name... It wasn't tacky but it also wasn't a cultural mecca, IYSWIM? But very nice for a chilled time by the lovely beaches.

Sparkletastic · 01/02/2023 12:10

It's fine but I far prefer Playa Blanca in Lanzarote