Tenerife

[Clearinguptheclutter]

never been to the Canary Islands. we tend to avoid the usual “Brits abroad” type places/package holidays - preferred holidays in the past have been campsites in Netherlands and France, though we also liked the Algarve. kids will be 10 and 11 next year.

anyway looking at Tenerife for Easter next year for two reasons

1. kids love waterparks and have heard of Siam park. They talk about Slide and Splash in Portugal all the time and I’m hoping it’s better?
2. we’d really like to visit a proper volcano. Only warm weather alternative I’m aware of in Europe is Etna - for when they are a bit older I think

I’m looking at self catering in Costa Adeje- can’t bear the thought of AI. We will hire a car for some of the time and head up to the north and other places, not stay there the whole time. I looked at staying in the less developed north but I gather the weather is less reliable.

Will it be warm (ideally not Hot) and will we enjoy it?!

ps Aware of the recent protests in Tenerife and am sympathetic, from what I can tell it’s protesting about the unsustainable development not the actual tourists per se.

Tenerife is lovely. Siam is outstanding, even busy it's great fun.

Expect 22-27c most of the year.

'Can't bear the thought of AI'? I'm sorry but you sound a bit too snobby for Tenerife and will probably spend the week looking down your nose at everyone and everything.

What's wrong with not wanting to go AI?

We've had loads of AI holidays, but this year we have decided to go self catering, purely because we feel fed up with AI now. There's loads of things I don't like about AI, everyone in your group getting up and down constantly for more / different food, drinks etc, queuing for food, wandering around with plates..

We have decided to go SC this year as I want to sit down for dinner and have someone take my order, and then we can chat as a family. It's certainly not from a snobby pint of view, far from it!

I haven't ever chosen to do AI either.
We went to Tenerife to visit a friend who returned home there, otherwise we never would have chosen it.
We stayed in a hotel that wasn't in British southern coastal area.
We loved it, the older towns, the volcanic beaches, great ice cream and wrinkled potatoes, the volcano and lunar landscape.
We hired a beetle and it struggled on the hills a little.
Didn't meet up with the AI crowd until we all got on the plane to go home.

It was how OP said it, like it was a fate worse than death. And the general tone of the post.

Happy to admit I’m a bit snobby :-)

in terms of AI, I went to one once and really hated queueing for buffets and the general holiday camp atmosphere where everyone was drinking and eating as much as they physically could. I’m sure not all AIs are like that (this was in the Caribbean) but I found out it’s not for me.

Thank you. Is SP horribly busy? I have heard it can be.

I hate AI. I like to wander around finding cool restaurants not eat in a canteen on my holidays. Thars part of my holiday If thats being a snob then fair enough

Love Tenerife - going again in July

Last time I stayed here - Ramada Residences by Wyndham Costa Adeje - Costa Adeje hotels | Jet2holidays

It's a way out of town (20 min walk) and up a hill but the views are amazing - I had a 1 bedroom apt - self catering, huge son terrace, lovely rooms - they do 2 beds as well, with a sofa bed.

Not done Siam Park, as went alone last time but will be this year as going with DD3 - looks amazing.

That is exactly where I have short listed! There’s very little like that on the island but it’s just the job for us.
we don’t mind a walk up the hill. Pleased you liked it

I loved it! It's not 'posh' but the rooms are HUGE and modern and the sun terrace was a bonus - could sit in the sun away from everyone! Taxi's about 5-10 euros depending on where you come back from and the bus stops right outside the hotel as well. Just be prepared to drag your luggage up from the road as the coach couldn't fit! (if you are doing coach transport!)

Oh and there's a little shop at the hotel selling fresh bread and a mini market just down the drive with most things you need

I've stayed there too, the are hundreds of places to eat down in the town. The hill back up is a bit of a killer but it's terrific exercise

Yes -amazing leg workout!

There is enormous variation in Tenerife. Some very lovely parts to the north east and e.g. the area where the best hotels are. We drove through an area looking for some swimming coves (near playa de las americas I think) and it was absolutely horrendous. Thousands of cheap bars and apartments etc so if that’s not your scene do your research really carefully. If you want to do el Tiende make sure you book cable car well in advance and you should take a jacket as it can be extremely cold at the top even if it’s hot in your resort!! Weather is generally great though I think this Easter has been exceptionally hot so I think you could have anything from low 20s to mid 30s!!

I was talking to someone recently who had stayed in a hostel in the North, it sounded amazing and I'm seriously considering doing it myself.

we tend to avoid the usual “Brits abroad” type places

You will hate Costa Adeje, because that's exactly the kind of place it is, unfortunately.

The weather will almost certainly be lovely - because it nearly always is. I'd expect mid-20s at Easter.

Siam Park is the best water park in the world (voted several times), but it's really, really busy. Get there before it opens and then get a fast pass - otherwise you'll just spend the whole time standing in queues.

@ladybirdsanchez makes a fair point - there are a lot of Irish pubs and a Hard Rock Café (good cocktails) and a good shopping complex with a Zara (I am taking my 15 year old - this is a must!) but it has a lovely walk along the front and some nice places to eat - I think most places are like this - but you can avoid it. Also paddle boarding and dolphins so not all bad

I’m quite snobby too and I’ve been to Tenerife lots of times so here’s my opinion!

Siam Park is amazing and worth going to Tenerife for. Look on tripadvisor for lots of tips to get the most out of it. Fast passes etc.

Hire a car and drive up the volcano. I’ve never actually been up the cable car to the top. It’s really great just driving up there and lots of little car parks you can stop off at and join the walking trails.

Normally very pleasant warm sunny weather at Easter. I went this year and it was very hot which is unusual. Quite often it’s a bit hazy but very nice warm climate including the evenings. If you see going somewhere with a pool would be better if heated. We swam in the sea a few weeks ago and it was cold but nice.

Costa Adeje is a big area and varies a lot. Avoid Playas De Americas end. Playa del Duque area is nice and more of a European visitor feel than all brits. La Caleta area also is nice.

We’ve done a couple of sailing boat trips where you can see pilot whales. Last year we went on a kayaking trip from Los Cristianos where we saw lots of turtles and dolphins.

It’s a good place to go at Easter when a lot of other places have bad weather. Lots of people go for sun, beer and English breakfasts but that is quite easily avoided.

@Toomuchleopard
thank you for that balanced post.
I won’t go near Playa de las Americas but as you say my understanding is that the right end of Costa Adeje is somewhat less tacky (if still super touristy). Even my mega snob DM liked it. I don’t mind a strip of English friendly restaurants (especially if the crowd is international), and I’m hoping that a combination of chilling out by the hotel pool and a bit of driving around (dh not the relaxing by the pool type but happy to drive) would be a nice holiday.

Thanks for the tip about driving up Teide. Not sure my younger dc would tolerate the cable car.🚠 Hope it’s not too hairy!

We took my elderly father to Tenerife for Christmas a couple of years ago, he always used to go with my late stepmother and insisted it was lovely. I wasn't keen but ended up falling in love with the island! Agree with pp's about the south, it is very dry, built up and ugly compared to the beautiful, green north (we stayed in a villa just outside of Puerto de la Cruz). I think a good compromise for you would be to stay somewhere in Los Gigantes - it was beautiful there and Siam Park is still accessible.

@PinkPondQueen yes I like the sound of Los gigantes yet not seen accomodation there which suits (yet).

What does AI mean?

All inclusive

Tenerife is lovely and usually nice weather at Easter. Teide is a must do, you can get a cable car up to near the top and do a walk, but due to altitude i think your only allowed an hour, amazing views but i did get a headache.
Drive to the mountain town of Masca, visit Los Gigantes.
Etna is also amazing if you do go to Sicily, we took our daughter when she was 3, it can get very cloudy on the volcano so the cable car can be closed if it's too bad.