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?

I've only been to Lanzarote - the grotty bits are grim but the lovely bits, like the Cesar Manrique buidings and the volcanic inland (plus some older towns/villages) are fabulous.

We did a last minute holiday at Christmas 6 years ago and all that was left were a few apartments in ugly coastal resorts and one much pricier large villa in a tiny village in the middle of the island. I'm so glad we splashed out the extra money on the villa, as it made for a lovely break.

I know what you mean, it’s really odd. I’m sure most British people are lovely when they go abroad but I have witnessed some truly awful, often alcohol fuelled behaviour and unfortunately this has exclusively come from British people (maybe it happens with other nationalities and I just haven’t noticed). As far as I’m aware the Brits have a really bad reputation in various places in Spain.

Am I being a judgy bitch

Yes, unfortunately it appears you are.
You can not like something/somewhere without declaring it tacky.

You're being a snob.
Avoid the British enclaves. Stay and travel further afield.
Canaries have interesting traditions, culture, scenery, as does Tunisia. And Cape Verde too, or so I thought (haven't actually been there).
Remember that ordinary people live in these places, which are more than just a strip of British bars.

True! Although I really like Orlando and that’s definitely tacky so does it work both ways?

YANBU but with a baby on the way you'll need to learn to embrace the tack! Not for the first year - it's still possible to travel mostly to the types of places you used to go with a newborn/crawler but once they are walking, resort holidays will be your new best friend. I'd still avoid the big all inclusives though, there are lots of nice kid friendly options without the Brits Abroad vibes.

There's a lot that is positive about an all inclusive, a kids club and loads of other children....didn't do it before kids but had plenty of great holidays in Spain and the Spanish islands when they were younger. You're a snob.

I lived in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria for a few years. Wonderful city, nicknamed the Rio of Europe due to being built along a gorgeous beach. Only tourists were Spanish mainlanders and some Scandinavians. Great restaurants, bars, colonial era architecture and character. The interior of the island is stunning too. The resorts in the south of the island beloved of the British package hols are very easy to avoid if you want to.

There's a lot that is positive about an all inclusive, a kids club and loads of other children....didn't do it before kids but had plenty of great holidays in Spain and the Spanish islands when they were younger. .

Totally agree. All inclusive when kids are young is a total lifesaver. We went to some brilliant ones in Greece, Italy, Sardinia and Spain.

I used to think the same. But I’ve spent a few years going back to Club La Santa in Lanzarote because it works really well for our family. I love the volcanic landscape there. The climate is amazing and it’s short flight. So it ticks a lot of boxes for us.

You just need to avoid the grotty areas but it’s like anywhere.

I was also surprised about how pleasant the temperature in Lanzarote was in July. You get a breeze. Unlike the inferno that tends to be Greece and Spain these days in summer. I actually think the Canaries may become more popular for this reason.

Be careful, went to North Tenerife in June and it was dark and cloudy, no real beaches and the lidos were empty. Hired a little car to drive to the south each day for sun

whats wrong with a really well cooked fry-up? Or pie and chips? Does that make me a downmarket yob? And there was i thinking i was middle class, educated.

@YaWeeFurryBastard - Your username screams brits abroad 😂

I love Tenerife for reasons mentioned. I go year after year.

We are heading off to Gran Canaria for New Year. It was a bargain and I'm not sure what to expect but I don't like New Year so I'd rather be miserable in the sunshine lol

Out of curiosity, what destinations do you enjoy or what kind of holidays do you enjoy?

Oh no, not curry!

Yes of course YABU for saying a whole place where people live is tacky. If you mean Brits abroad there and the infrastructure aimed at them is tacky, say that.

Hi, we visited lanzarote last year. We stayed in punta mujeres. Not in the least tacky. However we did go into the larger resort type areas and left in a hurry!
there was plenty for us to do the only reason we went to the tacky parts were a bad aquarium, a good submarine (where it leaves from is nice) and a big shop. If you can stay away from the main places for tourists I think it is a very good place to visit!

As has been stated multiple times already, I agree that it depends exactly where you stay. There are nicer and less nice places in most destinations and even stereotypically "tacky" resorts often have some really good quality accomodation, restaurants and things to see in them if you dig a bit deeper. But I think that when you go matters as well as precisely where. You can have a very different experience the same place at different times of the year. We went to Playa Blanca in Lanzarote in November once and absolutely loved it, so much so that we booked exactly the same hotel for a Summer holiday a few years later. It was still OK, and in my opinion the nicest mainstream resort on the island, but it was a different experience and I don't think I'd go back in the high season again. Likewise we went to Tenerife in February once when I just wanted an undemanding warmish week without a long haul flight to help me recuperate from a big operation. It was really lovely, but I wouldn't be in a hurry to go in August when the place is packed and the weather much hotter.
But basically I don't think anywhere is all bad or all good, it depends on exactly where you stay, what time of year it is and of course what you're actually looking for.

👏

Love Lanzarote. Art, food, scenery, wine... it's excellent.

Calling it Lanzagrotty is really snobbish.

I think there are probably parts like this.

Have been to fueteventura- which has parts like this… and la palma- which doesn’t- it does have all inclusives though. La palma was absolutely beautiful, quiet etc- the polar opposite of what you describe tbh x

absolutely agree about la palma x

Not tacky especially, though like anywhere else they have their moments. But I don't love them as a destination, and I've been to three of them. Gran Canaria was the best of the lot for me but I wouldn't be bothered about going back. I loathed Tenerife. I found it really ugly!

First time I went to Lanzarote was for a triathlon training camp. I'm a sun-dodging teetotal all-round boring bastard and was convinced I wouldn't like the place but it gets under your skin. The sea is vivid bluegreen, clean and warm and you can swim in it in January. And it's great for cycling with its well maintained roads and careful motorists - a revelation after the UK's shitty weather, shittier beaches, road network of interconnected potholes and dickhead drivers. The landscape is spooky and beautiful. If it's tacky you want you'll find it wherever you are.

Gran Canaria is also a bit of a Mecca for road cyclists (and mountain bikers) @notprincehamlet

I was there earlier this year and was impressed by the smoothly tarmacked roads and considerate bus drivers who hung back on hills and gave friendly warning beeps when approaching the many bends.

I went on the public buses up into the mountains and there were many roadies out riding and not once did I see evidence of the 'hatred of cyclists' vibe or constant near misses and worse that's all too common in the UK.

I went for the first time a couple of years ago. Not Tenerife. I didn't find it tacky but I did find it really really boring.