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?

No I haven’t been and you’re right the only people I know who have stayed in big tacky hotels they never left due to security reasons. I have never known anyone go on another kind of holiday to Tunisia so it’s interesting to know it’s something people do, or is it more of an advanced traveller thing as opposed to an established family destination?

Every place advertised as a holiday destination that I've been to has the "English / Irish" pubs and party scene, the cultural parts, the adventure activities, the relaxing Hotels.... most recently we were in Albuferia and found the most beautiful historic streets with local cuisine

That’s like writing off the whole of the greek islands because teenagers get drunk in Kavos.

I live on a flight path and the plane that just went over was Tenerife bound. My partner said 'lucky buggers'...I said 'really?. To which we both agreed the Canaries are not for us, however I think that's because we found Gran Canaria 2 years ago awful whereas we had had a nice enough holiday to Lanzarote in the past.
If I wanted a winter sun holiday I wouldn't choose the Canaries again.

We stayed in one of the big inclusive hotels but went on a lot of day trips to really interesting places. Markets, historic sites, smaller towns etc. So interesting and unlike anything in Europe.

It was stressful and unnerving at points venturing out of the hotel to be honest.

And in my family we had a fluent French speaker, and another group I know who went had a family member who spoke some arabic, and that all made a big difference in being able to communicate.

I used to think the same as you, OP. I decided to visit the Canaries and I was pleasantly surprised. The old town in Gran Canaria is beautiful. I went to some lovely parts of Tenerife. You should visit! Avoid the tacky areas (yes, they do exist) and go and explore.

We somehow ended up in a Irish karaoke pub in Rome when we were there for a wedding 🤷🏻‍♀️

By the OP's standards should we write the whole place off as tacky?

I have Spanish family in the Canaries, they live in a gorgeous village, nestled in the mountains. They eat fresh mango and avocado from their finca, and we hike in the mountains and eat tapas in the community run restaurant in the village. When we go to the beach, they know places that most tourists will never see. Definitely not tacky, you just need to do your research and perhaps not book a package holiday if it's not your thing.

I went to Fuerteventura, stayed away from the tourist areas and absolutely loved it.

I don’t mind Tenerife or Gran Canaria, but I didn’t like Lanzarote. There was something soulless and characterless about it.

I'm with you OP. Traveled the world pre-motherhood. But I have a little one now and I want a holiday which is as relaxing as it can be with a child under 4, I want a kids club so I get an hour or two to myself, reliable weather and no cooking/washing up. I also want the big expense of the holiday out of the way before we set off, so all inclusive/half board sounds good to me.

Yes there is absolutely more to Spain (and other countries), so much rich culture/great food etc. and we've been to those places pre-kids, probably will do again at some point with kids when they are older and can appreciate it. But I reckon one of the canneries will be our pick for a first holiday abroad with the DS because you know what your getting. There is a time and a place the package holiday experience. Its a popular industry for a reason and at its best it does what to does well.

Depends what you want, Mount Teide is definitely worth a visit as is the north of the island, personally think Gran Canaria and Furteventura are the worst , but many resorts aren’t really very interesting if you don’t want sun, cheap alcohol and cheap food, for somewhere that actually has things to do and scenic etc, would personally go to Italy or Croatia and some parts of Greece and there’s a place called Britain that actually has some really fantastic destinations but not generally the weather

Had a lovely family holiday on a canary island this year. Parts are lovely and beautiful, parts are a little chavvy. Personally we found the all inclusive really good for DD who can be a bit fussy. She ended up eating lots of salad!
If we could afford it I'd go back again next year

I've been to Fuerteventura twice, Jandia as a couple and Caleta de Fuste with my sister and her 18 month old daughter. It was 12+ years ago in February and November respectively and it was lovely and relaxing.

Interested to know where you live that you found Lanzarote expensive? We were half board as it was easier with the baby but went out for dinner one night and a really delicious tapas dinner for 3 adults with wine and dessert came to €70 total.

We'd be looking at not far off that each for similar where we live.

I fell in love with Lanzarote. It's such an amazing island with incredible landscape and, when you find it, some very cool wildlife.

Unfortunately, it's rammed with the "full English for breakfast and steak and chips for dinner" types.

Northern Tenerife is lovely, much nicer than Lanzarote.

We have been to Tenerife twice during the winter with our kids in November and Jan. Weather is fantastic for them. They are 1 and 4.

Yes it is as you describe in places. However we hire a car and have seen a lot of the island.

We stay in Costa Adeje which I think is the nicest southern resort. We love a day trip to los gigantes, it's beautiful. Also just look for quiet beaches on a map and head off like Playa Abama x

I am the first to hate "brits abroad" holiday spots but we did got to Lanzarote a few years ago when invited to join my brother and his family on a holiday.
The hotel wasn't to our taste but we hired a car and got out and about and had a lovely time, there are some beautiful spots if you look.
As for Cape Verde we had a great time there, we avoided the large hotels and picked a smaller one and did a couple of days trip, snorkelled etc.

I'm off to Tenerife for the New Year and I can't wait. Mid to high 20s, chilling by a pool whilst it's freezing and miserable in the UK. Lovely tapas and wine sitting outside.

Easy enough to avoid the touristy parts if you want to.

Writing off the entire canary islands due to 'brits abroad' is like writing off Ibiza because of San Antonio or Corfu because of Kavos. Both beautiful islands.

Parts of Tenerife are, but other parts are lovely. I've never been to Gran Canaria or Lanzarote. I would imagine it depends where you go.

I have been twice to La Gomera and would go anytime. It's definitely not grotty.

I stupidly thought about Majorca in terms of Magaluf before I went there. It's beautiful. And quite posh in parts.

Yes, your post is coming across as judgy and also very sneery towards British culture.

The types of places you describe are increasingly rare in Lanzarote - it’s now upmarket and trying to price out some of those Brits. It’s a beautiful island in many places

I agree with @SharpOpalNewt La Gomera is gorgeous and definitely not touristy/tacky.

Yes, you're being a snobby cow. There's far more to the Canary Islands.