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?

It's quite hard to find an affordable destination that is also a reasonable flight time and is warm in february. That's why canary islands are popular. And because they're popular, there are a lot of tourist crap. I'd love to go somewhere unique, exotic, local, full of culture. But I can't afford it money or timewise. So teneriffe it is.

Oh I completely agree. I bet it’s bloody great for kids and way more fun for them than being hauled round a museum in Slovenia for example.

It totally depends on your kids though too!

Saying all kids would like a holiday with 'pools with slides, making sand castles all you can eat chips and nuggets and ice cream, kids discos and entertainment' is just as daft as saying that Tenerife is tacky!

All kids are different. Some kids love doing all the culture stuff, whilst others don't. I mean there's a whole industry of history for the internal British market - and kids genuinely enjoy activities put on for them. Its not just for the parents to shove onto the kids. These places have to attract enough local and international tourism to be viable afterall. If they were full of kids all being dragged around, they'd be miserable places with no repeat visits! And plenty of kids love to do outdoorsy stuff rather than sitting home doing craft stuff.

There's something out there for everyone. This is fine. Don't assume there aren't kids who don't love musuems and history cos there are. I've got a full on nerd. He can spend hours upon hours in the Natural History Musuem (Way past me getting bored).

Canaries in winter reminded me of Eastbourne (lots of retired English folks), however it is great for cheapish winter sun with little ones.

Las Palmas in Gran Canaria is a great city.

Not RTFT but they are excellent for outdoors, activity holidays. Diving is excellent as are the cycling and hiking routes. The smaller islands especially are lovely - La Palma is one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been, certainly have Sri Lanka a run for its money.

I specifically said MY kids like pools with slides….. and that maybe your kids will be different.

My point is exactly that, people and yes kids are different with different interests and that yes it’s a bit judgmental to say a whole region is tacky because it doesn’t carter to your interests. Nobody is forcing you to go to these “tacky” places, there’s plenty of other places to visit.

Yes you might see some obnoxious brits being loud and drunk but you will also see lots of lovely families just having a nice time enjoying the sun shine who have saved hard and stretched their budget to give their kids a nice holiday. I don’t understand why you would judge that.

I think the ' escape to Tenerife for Christmas' thing has grown legs..apparently it was very crowded last year, like peak summer season .

We have considered there in the past as it's one of the only places still warm and ' open' in October half term, but they are having issues with tourist numbers and the local government are at odds with the hospitality industry, as far as I can make out.

Been to Gran Canaria twice. Didn't stay anywhere remotely tacky. There are different resorts in holiday locations for different tastes. You could say the same about places in Corfu, for example, where the north of the island attracts many well to do Brits who definitely aren't doing shots in the bars in Kavos of a night time, eating a full English every day and looking for a Sunday roast. And there's nothing wrong with any of those things. If that's what people want to do on their holidays and that makes the local businesses money then that's fine.

YABU. I've had some of my best holidays in Lanzarote.

Tbh, in a way Tenerife has the added bonus of being tacky as well as cultured so you can play it straight down the middle if you wish.

There's nothing stopping you doing fry ups and Siam Park one day followed by a rowdy night out and then doing full on culture the next if you really want. I think there's more families like this now, than wanting either one extreme or the other.

I think this often makes for a better experience all around as everyone does something they love but also has something to contrast it with too.

If you want family friendly winter sun in Lanzarote without all the English bars, tacky tat shops and 1001 brits then I'd recommend Flamingo beach. You can still walk to Playa Blanca (tourist hell IMO) but it's much prettier and more chilled. It's literally all hotels so hardly local culture but it's perfect for little ones I think. Definitely avoid the hell hole that is Playa Del Carmen but there is lots to see on the islands, Timanfaya, the cactus gardens, caves and our fave - Museo Lagomar - it's like a bloody Bond lair! Amazing.

Haha this with knobs on

Loved Tenerife and La Palma (island not capital city of Gran Canaria) and kicked ourselves for not having gone previously - gorgeous scenery, mountain drives, villages clinging to hillside, beautiful walks & hikes, visit to world class observatory, consistently great food at a good price (with a bit of help from TripAdvisor and Google Translate to avoid the tourist traps). La Palma was stunning but also interesting as one of the volcanoes had erupted a couple of years previously. Maybe a still smoking volcano is not on everyone's holiday wishlist 😅 but we found it fascinating. It's quieter than Tenerife though, so it depends whether you are outdoorsy or looking for entertainment and a beach resort. If you want peace, quiet, sun and few other Brits then there are plenty of lovely airbnbs on both islands, local restaurants and countryside. If you want a nice resort, good beach and still to have no other Brits you'll find it harder.

Just keep away from the main tourist areas. I know Tenerife and Lanzarote. Tenerife South is similar to Benidorm but the island overall is beautiful and the people and food are lovely. Same with Lanzarote really although I would say the touristy areas are nicer.

I liked Playa Blanca in Lanzarote and Benidorm, so much with the latter that we are going again next year, yes there is the tacky side if you want it but the old town and Poniente beach are lovely and the food was fabulous, plus there is a tram that goes from Alicante ( also lovely) all the way up the coast to lots of little gems. Benidorm is hugely popular with Spaniards nowadays.

Well if they are tacky it's precisely because of tourists who go there with colonial and ignorant attittudes about the indigenous culture.

Love Lanzarote for all the same reasons, and Feutuventura, not so much culture but loved the beaches for photography etc

We visited because friends from Tenerife moved back home, I wouldn't have chosen it but it wasn't what I expected at all.
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.
We stayed in La Oratava, hired a car, spoke Spanish all week, didn't see any other Brits, didn't see any British food. We did see some German walkers. We ate traditional food and saw a three kings parade complete with camels.
I think what you get depends where you go in the island.

Can I interrupt the debate to ask if anyone has a specific hotel recommendation? I'm looking for somewhere to take my elderly mum. She can walk but not far so ideally a hotel on the front, with nearby restaurants and bars. Access to buses ideally. Our last - successful - trip was to Chania if that helps. Not fussed which island, not horrified by occasional tackiness - one woman's tacky is another woman's fun - but just want somewhere not hectic and noisy but with some choice of where to eat and some feeling of being in Spain. And the option of a few trips inland or around the island to see a bit of where we are.
Any suggestions welcomed.

We love Lanzarote for a week in October. We stay in playa blanca and there are so many beautiful, traditional restaurants with not an English breakfast in sight. The weather is always gorgeous and we find plenty to do aside from sunbathing/pool. I am not as keen on Costa teguise or puerto de carmen and would not stay in those resorts. I don’t like Tenerife at all (a disastrous trip to Las americas in my teens well and truly put me off!).

I’m here just now and it’s getting busier by the day!

we have a week and go home before Christmas-literally just here for the sun, maybe a couple of meals out over the week but live that blast of heat at this time of year

And I’m neither retired or English!

The British think that they’re unique in so many ways - their sense of humour, their reserve , their love of talking about the weather etc. but they never mention what I’ve never come across anywhere else - this anxiety to avoid their own when they go on holiday.

what are Brits abroad if not Brits at home?

I don't have a specific hotel recommendation, but Corralejo in Fuerteventura might fit the bill. Close to the airport, well connected and a beautiful beach. Some might say it's a bit tacky, but I found it laid back and charming.

What, all of us?