Tenerife

[PiratePenguin]

So, after a long discussion we have decided to go to somewhere warm in October. We are thinking of somewhere like Tenerife, Turkey..... Ideally want an apartment / hotel room with a pool. Children are 13 and 15. They like water parks; my husband and I like culture! Can any one recommend an area of Tenerife or any where else that they would recommend? We've not done this sort of holiday before and I am totally lost - I don't know where to start looking. Can anyone help me? Many thanks, xxx

Costa Adeje, Tenerife. Playa del Duque end.

There is a nice fishing village called La Caleta you can walk to. A trip to Mount Teide and up the cable car there is amazing. You can do a night time star gazing trip too I think. The north of the island is apparently very different and interesting but we ran out of time to visit. Waterpark is nearby but I absolutely hate them and when we went with our teens I found the crowds hellish.

Concur

@CurlyhairedAssassin beat me to it, Costa Adeje is where you want to stay in Tenerife, we always stay at the Bahia Del Duque.

For activities I can highly recommend -
Trip up Mount Tiede at night for stargazing.
Boom Trikes tour.
Whale and dolphin boat trip (book with one of the operators at Puerto Colon).
Paragliding landing on Enramada beach.
Siam water park.

Definitely Costa Adeje

I'd hire a car actually and tour the island yourself.

In Tenerife the north is much nicer and if you like hiking I really recommend a walk in the Anaga mountains. However, if you like culture my tip would be Lanzarote. There, you can visit some amazing and unusual places linked to the artist Cesar Manrique. I would suggest staying in Puerto Calero, which is a bit classier than Puerto del Carmen.

Costa Adeje, I'm here right now and can definitely recommend it!

No culture in Tenerife though. Doesn't mean there isn't stuff to do but I find the lack of culture a bit dull. I've been to the Canaries a lot in search of winter sun. Went to Tenerife last October half term and vowed not to go again.

I relented a few weeks ago as the winter set in and went to Fuerteventura for 5 nights just before Christmas had great weather and really enjoyed it.

Costa Adeje is your best bet.

You can then go up into the village of Adeje and up further into the hills for a bit of actual Canadian culture. You won't find any in the tourist resorts!

If you want walking the Baraanco del inferno is good.

Trip up mount teide.

Trip to peurto de La Cruz in the north shows a different side of the island.

Or catch the ferry to La gomera for the day.

But honestly as nice as Tenerife is (I lived there for many years) it's not very cultural, the weather is hot and miss at that time of year - but it's still very cheap

We love Playa Del Arena, near Los Gigantes on the West Coast. Good bus links to other areas, great beach and not too busy.

Thanks for your suggestions - I'll start my accommodation search in the places you have mentioned. As well as Tenerife, I'll also check out Lanzarote and Furureventua. I really appreciate your help!!

Another vote for Costa Adeje. Your children will love Siam water park.

If anyone has any suggestions of accommodation, I'd be grateful. Ideally 2 bedrooms and with access to a pool. Thanks.

Been to Tenerife (Los Cristanos & adeje) personally l prefer Lanzarote, for a number of reasons, hotels etc low rise. Other than The Grand at Arecife, not had cockroaches in any of the villas or apartments we have stayed in there too. I like Puerto Del Carmen & Costa Teguise.

Meaning Arecife Grand, is a tall hotel, not cockroaches!

I like a bit of culture but didn’t find much in Tenerife to be honest, however I did really enjoy Lanzarote.

I'd vote turkey. For the culture, scenery and food.
Tenerife is nice of course, not much culture though and more touristy.
You'll get good weather at both in October (before 15th if Agean side for turkey) but you'll get more for your money in turkey without a doubt.

We stay at the Roya**l Sun apartments in Los Gigantes, fantastic views, large apartments that all have self catering options or you can eat at the restaurants on site, near a major bus depot that has connections around the island. The pool is small but you can do trips to the big water park easily. A lovely little black sand beach at the bottom of the hill with snorkling and paddle board hire and marina which has lots of boat trip out to see the wildlife.

I lines in Tenerife, it’s an amazing place and such a pity that so few people head to the north of the island where is green and lush and there is a golden sandy beach there called las teresitas - that where all the Spanish head.

also you have the old capital of la Laguna where I lived and it’s basically a maze of 17-18th century streets very beautiful. Museums everywhere here and fabulous bars. If you like windsurfing you can head to el medrano but it’s always really windy.

Santa Cruz se Tenerife is the new capital and you can get there using the 103 from
playa americas or los cristianos

Teide is also amazing - you’ll need a hire car though and anoraks plus sunscreen as you end up way up above the clouds. We used to go there at winter.

Compostela beach g*lf, walking distance to Las americas, Las vistas, Los Cristianos beaches. Pick all inclusive. 100% would do again.

Consider playing paddle too! It's fun

Referring to pp, Tenerife has alotmof
culture, it’s just that Most people don’t find it when they’re sitting on the rock in the south 😂

Agree with the recommendations for Costa Adeje, We stayed in the Riu Palace twice and loved it.

Only thing I would add is that both times we have been in October, the cable car up mount Tiede was closed due to the wind.

And the Siam water park is fantastic. I havent been to another one as good as that anywhere else, including the ones in Florida.

Can I suggest Cairo, short flight, fabulous hotels along the Nile, lovely food & plenty of culture, and several great water parks.