To think the canary isles are tacky?

[YaWeeFurryBastard]

Lighthearted and I’m definitely open to having my mind changed!

I’ve been to what my family call Lanza-grotty as a teenager and there were some nice volcanic bits. I did notice there was a lot of places serving full English/curry etc. and a very brits abroad vibe. I get the distinct impression that Tenerife/grand canaria are even worse and when people I know go there, they seem to be aiming to max out on the beer/all inclusive and return to the same place every year. There doesn’t seem to be much culture or things to do that aren’t very geared towards British tourists (banana boats etc.)

In my mind I group the canaries in with Benidorm/Tunisia/Cape Verde I.e. places I would not want to go. However I can see how they’d be good for an off-season bit of sun and now we have a baby on the way it’s going to be more challenging to go long haul in winter.

Am I being a judgy bitch and actually missing out on a perfectly nice destination?

You’re not wrong! It’s good for winter sun but defo geared for the English with egg and chips everywhere. Hard to find a decent restaurant in the main bits (all menus with pictures on 🤢) but beggars can’t be choosers when it comes to winter sun and a flight time under half a day!

Nice to hear I’m wrong! Will definitely have another look and try and see if we can find somewhere nice outside the main tourist bits. Sounds like there’s more to it than my judgy perception so this thread has been helpful.

My family and I love an all inclusive in the Canaries. We even take the kids to Siam Park! I find it’s the best sort of holiday for avoiding middle class tits with a chip on their shoulder.

Don't be such a snob

Incredible that you can dismiss whole regions where people live and work as “tacky” just because you personally can’t be bothered to explore what they have to offer beyond the obvious.

In fairness I was a teenager when I went so had no control over where we stayed. I also haven’t been to Dubai as it’s not a place that really interests me and I think it’s seriously ethically dubious.

I’d also put Egypt and possibly Turkey in places I’d be quite wary about going as have heard some not great things.

Yeah you’re being a judgey bitch!

I’ve been to Gran Canaria, Tenerife and Lanzarote, we’ve actually been to Lanzarote 4 times in the last 16 months. We love the sunshine, the relaxed pace of life, the volcanos, the wine region , we did a tour of the north of the island.

lanzarote is such a beautiful island.

however we all have places we love and dislike to go, for me Turkey and Tunisia and Dubai are places I never want to travel to. Each to their own as others love these places.

I've just recently been to Lanzarote and didn't see any of what you describe, so maybe it's the resort you stayed in? We stayed in Costa Teguise and hired a car to explore the island. I believe Playa del Carmen is the major 'Brits abroad' area? We didn't go there.

Tenerife I've been to lots, mostly for work. It has 3 resorts as you describe and the whole rest of the island that is not that at all. We went up north last time I was there, totally different. San Cristobal de La Laguna and Teide National Park are both UNESCO World Heritage sites, so they're hardly totally devoid of culture 🙄

Um, the Canary Islands aren’t countries in their own rights they are regions of Spain…..

I used to own a timeshare in Tenerife and had a lovely two week holiday every year for 12 years. It was quite "brits abroad" with lots of all day full English breakfast type places but we tended to avoid those and went to Spanish and Italian run restaurants - one of our favourite places to go was actually a Belgian run place.

We explored the island well over the years and did the hike to the waterfall near Adeje and the drive up to Teide and to the resorts on the north of the Island.

Over the 12 years we were going there there we saw the rise of all inclusive holidays and how they damaged the local businesses . Lots of our favourite restaurants closed down sadly.

I haven't been back for 16 years after we gave up the time share but I'd love to one day to see how things are now.

Presuming you do actually want to have some recs and aren't just being provocative....

North Tenerife was a revelation for me. It's properly pretty, amazing scenery, beautiful villages. Lots of hiking, walking and chilling - La Oratava, Masca, Garachico... I would highly recommend.

I was similarly snobby about Malaga before I went there - just the name conjures up Brits abroad and English breakfasts for me. Not so, At All. One of the nicest, cultured, arty, foodie places I've been to. I was ashamed of my ignorance, tbh!

All the main bits are as you’ve described (Playa de las Americas and costa Adeje in Tenerife, as well as playa del Carmen in Lanzarote) and they’re fine for a sun hol but not for culture. If you want any more than sun you need to stay elsewhere on the island and do more tours/outdoor activities.

Mainly brits on here though so you won’t get the views you’re looking for!

Tunisia?! Tacky?

Depends how you're travelling it I guess.

Did you go to Carthage while you were there? It's a historic trading outpost with a rich history - a crucial country in the development of the Middle East region.

Jesus wept.

My worst holiday was to Lanzarote. I ended up on tears wanting to come home. We did everything in a couple of days. The place was crawling with English bars and all you can eat breakfasts. I go on holiday to experience the life there and do tourist bits. It was soulless and it was expensive.

Thanks that’s helpful. We’ve actually been to Malaga and liked it so I get what you’re saying.

Why is Tunisia on the list? Have you actually been?

Maybe it's changed over the years but that was one of the most interesting holidays I'd ever been on in terms of different cultures. Obviously you have to leave the big all inclusive hotel though to experience that...

Lol at Grand Canaria. The canaries are lovely - really good and predictable weather, not too hot in the summer, lots to see and good value for money.

@chollysawcutt - I had always wanted to go to Málaga because of Picasso and finally went last year. It is gorgeous and interesting.

Marbella on the other hand I don't think is for me ...

I've only ever done a budget, last minute trip to Gran Canaria in my 20s for winter sun with a friend. The resort was very tacky (big shopping centres etc.) but we did find some hidden gems in terms of restaurants.

I'm sure this is not all the Canaries has to offer, but it does bring to mind middle-aged egg and chips scoffing, sunburnt Brits with flab hanging out and a British Bulldog tattoo, just as Dubai brings to mind overly botoxed 20 somethings with trout pouts, fake boobs, big, fake teeth and synthetic hair.

Just to add now I re-read your OP and see you have a baby on the way, Lanzarote was our first holiday with our baby and it was ideal. Lovely and warm but not blisteringly hot (we went in November) and he was welcomed everywhere with open arms. The Spanish love babies!

Yeah you are missing out. Like anywhere it’s what you make it. If you go to the resorts and just stay there then that’s the experience you will have. Or you could get hold of a map hop on the local bus and get out and see the island eat locally and just potter about. No need at all to have the standard ‘brits abroad’ experience if you don’t want it.

👏 love this response

Yes, you're being judgey and showing your ignorance. I've been Lanzarote many times and think it's beautiful. The north of the island is gorgeous and fantastic for sea sports such as windsurfing and surfing, it's also world class for cycling training. The vineyards are fascinating and produce excellent wine that isn't hugely exported off the island. Cesar Manrique's actual house as well as the gallery house are really interesting and wonderfully maintained.
You are grossly generalising and YABU.

With no disrespect did you just stay in Puerto Del Carmen because Lanzarote is beautiful but you need to go off track to get the real feel for it?