Tell me about “The Canaries”

[beadyboo]

This winter has felt very long. DC go to different schools and their half term holidays rarely coincide. However, next February they are off the same week and we’ve decided some winter sun would be very well received.
I haven’t been on a traditional package holiday for about 25 years. I have family overseas and we usually visit them for holidays. When I did go on a package it was with mates and we sunbathed all day, drank all night and lived off crisps etc. It was brilliant in my late teens early twenties, but not what I want now with my family.
The consensus is that for warm weather we need to head to The Canaries. I’ve never been and really don’t know where to start.
Please give me your suggestions of Islands you’ve enjoyed, and which towns to look at or avoid. DC are 11 and 13 so not babies, like activities, history, culture, bit of beach / pool sunbathing. I don’t really want to hire a car, but also don’t want to be in the middle of what travel agents usually describe as “lively”!
I’d just like a week away where the weather is (almost) guaranteed and we can recharge, eat out and mooch about.
Please wise MNetters give me your suggestions so I don’t make an expensive mistake.

I can recommend the los zocos resort in Costa teguise in Lanzarote. Ideal location. Short transfer from the airport too

Gran Canaria is nice but be careful to pick the right resort/town.

Playa del Ingles is the boozy lively spot so you want to avoid this.

Puerto Rico is busy, plenty of activities/shops/restaurants and it is more geared towards families and adults who don't want the party scene. It is very touristy though.

Mogan is a lovely little seaside town and would be my pick, but may be a bit quiet in the evenings. There are other resorts like Maspalomas which I'm sure others can comment on.

Palmitos Park is a great day out with the kids.

We've been to Gran Canaria several times, Lanzarote (DH calls it Lanzagrotty) and Fuerteventura. Jandia is beautiful, has some of the most gorgeous beaches which are normally deserted. Stayed at El Palacete Hotel which was fab, really nice with excellent service / facilities and very close to the beach.
We've been to Puerto Rico, Gran Canaria many times as our children love it. Stayed at the Altamadores which was very reasonably priced. Mogan as a pp has said is very pretty but possibly better for couples rather than families.

Definitely Puerto Rico in Gran Canaria. That area of the island doesn't really see bad weather, it hardly ever rains.

Giving your post a bump as I came on here looking for the exact same information. We want to go somewhere sunny October half term and concluded that the Canary Islands were the place to go. We don't want anywhere too noisy or touristy.

I'd avoid lanzarote and fuertaventura in February. The weather can be hit and miss.

I've only been to two places in the Canaries - Playa Blanca in Lanzarote and Puerto de Mogan in Gran Canaria and I'd recommend both. You should hire a car though if you want to see stuff - particularly in Lanzarote. Having said that, the roads are beautiful! EU money has been spent there to make them new, shiny and very pleasant to drive on. Lanzarote is NOT grotty IMO and DH, our kids and I all really enjoyed our week there. There are things to do, there are nice hotels, but it's not 'lively'. We have friends who've taken their kids to the Costa Adeje in Tenerife for a week every years for ages - their kids are now 11 and 17 and they all love it. They don't hire a car and have a lovely relaxing time.

Playa Blanca every time. Either hire a villa or stay at the Princess Yaiza - gorgeous. Easy trips to the volcanoes, snorkelling, boating etc.

My parents stayed in Costa Teguise on lanzarote for a few months in the winter.
They paid for us to go for a week. I didn't take my jumper off once and wore long trousers the majority of the time because it was cold.
They did say it was unusually cold! It was sunny but not what I would call warm!!
To be honest, I wouldn't go back! It's very anglicised and all the paella etc is frozen stodge.
I'm not a big fan.