Can the Canaries ever be more than average?

[runningyogabooze]

I'm thinking about October half term and as I hate flying, reckon the Canaries are our best bet for sun.

But after stalking these boards for ages, I can't find anyone saying they've had a brilliant time there!

Is it only ok there? Friends of mine have had distinctly average holidays there.

But I would love to hear recommendations from anyone who's loved it there!

Gracie's

Gracias, obvs

We had a lovely time in Lanzarote last summer and we heading back on Monday. Stayed on the edge of Puerto del Carmen in Playa de Los Pocillos.

I guess it depends what you want from a holiday.
I don't think they are particularly beautiful or glamorous and you wouldn't go there for culture and sightseeing.
The sea is colder than the Med as it's the Atlantic. Having said that the climate is such that it seldom gets unbearably hot in summer and while it's not so warm in winter it's pleasant compared with home.
What you do get are good family beach resorts with year round sunshine. The economy relies on tourism and they invest accordingly. You will find good infrastructure, nice promenades not unlit dirt tracks like you get in Greece, children's playgrounds, sports facilities, excellent restaurants.
For me it's the only way to get winter sun without going long haul - DH hates flying.
We've particularly enjoyed Costa Adeje with older teenagers because of Siam Park, though I have been to all the Islands over the years.

"I don't think they are particularly beautiful or glamorous and you wouldn't go there for culture and sightseeing"

Amazing scenery on Lanzarote. Cesar Manrique stuff. Good beaches and good swimming.

I go for the sun, don't expect that much just pool and sunshine. Just came back from Cape Verde which isn't much further, AI hotel was much better than those I've stayed at in Canaries

Second the Lanzarote recommendation. There's loads of interesting things to see and do and it's a small island so easy to travel around. You'd only think it was devoid of culture, glamour and things worth seeing if you went cheap/mid range AI and never left the hotel.

If you avoid Costa Teguise or most of Puerto del Carmen - near old town/marina is fine but not all the new bits near Playa Grande

Couple of threads here - it got repeatedly mentioned as somewhere undeserving of the 'Lanzagrotty' reputation on the Classics thread.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/general_advice_tips/2840789-Remember-that-thread-about-best-holiday-you-thought-was-gonna-be-shite

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/mumsnet_classics/2697832-Holiday-destinations-that-were-unexpectedly-lovely-OR-awful

If you go to the right parts of Tenerife or Gran Canaria too you can have a lovely holiday. You might also get lucky in Andalucia at that time of year too. Somewhere like Nerja or Malaga can be a beach/city combo. Travel to Granada also an option.

We love the canaries. Can highly recommend puerto del carmen in Lanzarote

Fuerteventura is lovely, beautiful clean sandy beaches, and there are some gorgeous hotels there too. Iberostar Jandia is especially family friendly but very German oriented.

I liked Tenerife. Yes, lots of lazing round the pool but there were so many other things to do too. Going up to the volcano was amazing and we tried surfing. We also loved Siam Park!

I agree Lanzarote has stunning scenery, I've driven all over the island (not just stayed in a grotty AI).
I didn't like Plays Blanca when we went a few years ago as it seemed very run down and the local restaurants were suffering from the effects of AI hotels.
I just wouldn't choose the Canaries for anything other than a beach based holiday.

Playa Blanca in Lanzarote is lovely

I disagree it is run down. I found Gran Canaria to be a bit scruffy actually.

We used to go years ago, always self catered (before the euro when it was much cheaper!).

There are lots of nice day trips, depending on where you are - ferry over to La Gomera, whale watching trips, the volcano and national park, the film set for some spaghetti westerns (A Fistful of Dollars I think?), local market days. And there must be water parks and stuff too.

We used to find plenty to fill a fortnight. The beaches and promenades are generally very nice and it is a very 'family' holiday place.

North Tenerife is pretty stunning - I was amazed. Google Garachico, La Orotava and Lagos Martinez in Puerto de la Cruz (the biggest outdoor Museum of Contemporary Art with swimming pools in Europe). V cool.

North of Lanzarote is lovely, especially if you stay in an old fishing cottage or farm house. Weather might not be all that but there are markets, museums, caves etc. We hired a car and thoroughly explored

As others say, it's good for a beach or walking holiday. If you want culture you need to look elsewhere. Food is generally ok but not great in my opinion. Lots of restaurants but not many great ones.

We like Tenerife- a resort called costa adeji. The weather is great, it's fab for children and it's clean and has everything you need. Stay at the playa fanabe side rather than near playa colon.

There's some lovely hotels on the sea front- the Rui is great.

Siam park is brilliant and the tour up to the volcano is really interesting.

We've been to playa Blanca for the weather a couple of times and stayed in gorgeous hotels and explored the island. The main problem, IMVHO, is that the restaurants are all average and atmopherekess at night as most of the hotels offer AI. You don't get the same buzz as you get in, for example, Mallorca or French resorts. I'd never go back to somewhere with so many AI hotels. It's the kiss of death for a resort.

We've been to Gran Canaria a few time, suggest Puerto Morgan, Amadores and Maspalomas.

We love Fuerteventura. DH and I had a wonderful holiday at the TUI Magic Life in Jandia. We've stayed in Corallejo, too, right on a stunning beach with gorgeous views.

We do like Lanzarote, however we really didn't like Playa Blanca.

We went to Gran Canaria last September and wasn't keen.

I agree with flumpybear Cape Verde is better by miles.

We hired s boat in the marina in Gran Canaria on air bnb - it would be amazing with kids- depending on their age. We were in las palmas

Btw the boat doesn't leave the marina, it's your accommodation!

I quite liked Lanzarote. The volcano trip was superb. Nice beaches.

Southern Tenerife was rough but I'd probably have liked it when I was an 18 year old clubber. We took a day trip to the north which seemed much nicer.

i think you need to pick your resort with care. we have liked tenerife, lanzarote and gran canaria - the latter 2 especially - but there are some horrid resorts in each - a bit like the greek islands

We went to Tenerife 6 years in a row - so we really liked it .

Stayed at Costa Adeje, went to Siam Park which is an amazing water park, wandered along the shops/amusements, hired imitation segways - and did a real trip with DS once old enough, ate at nice restaurants and spent time on the beach.

We've also been on sun/beach type holidays to Majorca, Portugal and Puerto Banus and I have to say Tenerife is still my favourite beach type holiday.

Where do you like going on holiday/doing when you're there normally ?

La Gomera is a much quieter island.