Anyone familiar with the Canary Islands? I need advice on what areas to look at

[TarkaDarling]

We're looking for some kind of self-catering place walking distance from shops/bars and restaurants.

Obviously, I can see the dots on the map but I'd just appreciate any advice on towns that have more Stuff to do or that are more likely to have holiday lets.

Thanks!

I would recommend Fuerteventura 'El Sultan Apartment ' block. Book through Owners Direct ( make sure that here is a Uk telephone number and owner) and pay around £400-450 a week for a three bed two bath apartment. It has two large pools and two small pools. The block is small and very quiet within walking distance ( 20 mins) of the sea shore and Carrelejo town with bars and restaurants. A supermarket is 5 mins away that also has cafes and shops.
The airport is not far away and taxis are cheap.
It is absolutely beautiful. It is one of the few Canary Islands with white sandy beaches.

Oh I didn't realise that about the white sand. I don't like the look of black sand at all.

What is Corralejo like, are there plenty of shops and restaurants?

i like Playa Blanca in Lanzarote. A couple of nice small beaches, with just enough restaurants and shops to keep you busy. No lairy nightlife though.

Have stayed in a hotel (Hesperia Playa Dorada) twice, and rented a villa privately. It was a bit of a walk to the centre, but do-able. Taxis are cheap, and we had a hire car for the week anyway.

There are a lot of private holiday lets in Playa Blanca.

is it unpleasantly windy?

Playa Blanca sounds a good size for us, we don't need nightlife but want to be able to eat out easily.

All the Canaries are windy but then so is Blackpool, without the sun,
I don't think Carrelejo is any more windy than any other of the islands, Lanzarote is much more commercial than Fuerteventura and it has black sand and a big volcano in the middle of it.
We have stayed in the four star Vulcan Hotel in Lanzarote and every island except Las Palmas.
I like La Gomera as well but my favourite is still Fuerteventura.

Fuerteventura is Spanish for 'strong wind' and is a noted windsurfing place. All the islands are of course in an exposed Atlantic position.

volcanic islands have mostly black sand. You won't get dirty. Wear beach shoes. That beach on Fuerteventura looks beautiful though.

there are some unique natural sights on both Tenerife and Lanzarote and the former has excellent walking, as does La Gomera.

OK so wind is part of the deal then!

I have never been, but have looked at Puerto Mogan/ Puerto de Mogan (?) on Gran Canaria. I hear consistently good things about it.

Playa blanca in lanzarote is gorgeous, it has lovely clean little beaches , clean little town , lovely views . Quite peaceful this time of year .

No wind in tenerife, and the south is a great winter sun destination. Try Costa Adeje, some lovely hotels and restaurants

A lot of beaches in Tenerife have imported golden sand including Costa adeje which is a lovely resort.

Yes, because the black sand is grim.

Id recommend Costa Adeje.

I have been to all four of the main Canary Islands ( a few times) and can't say that the wind has been much of an issue. apart from a washout February halfterm break a few years ago Some beaches are better than other for the windsurfing etc - and are often the more remote and less commercialised areas.

More recently I have started visiting the north of Tenerife- Puerto de la Cruz is just lively enough for me. But there are no beaches - the sea is too rough up there for swimming. I like the scenery and the more Spanish feel. (to an extent, it is still a holiday resort).

Quite a lot of holiday lets up there too.

I've been to them all at various times of year. A lot depends on when you want to go OP. A lot of people have unrealistic expectations of the climate in the Canaries. It's not tropical. In summer it is lovely and warm but not as brutally hot as the Med. In winter the daylight hours are shorter and it's not as hot, though it is usually warm and sunny. The sea and pools are cold in winter, if pools are important you need a heated one.
You can be unlucky and get cloudy days or rain. I had a week of rain once in Tenerife in February.
I remember shivering on the beach near Correlejo in July because of the wind. It is, however the most beautiful beach I have ever seen.