Canary Islands Easter 2025 - which island / resort

[Jellybean023]

To set the scene we are a family of 4 - DD will be 6 and DS will be 3 when we travel. DH’s idea of a perfect holiday is definitely something more cultured - think city breaks with plenty of museums or somewhere with lots of roman ruins - however he’s coming round to the idea that these kind of holidays don’t necessarily suit young kids, so he’s willing to give a beach type holiday a go (though I would say he’s still expecting not to enjoy it, so I really want to make sure I get it right and change his mind). Kids love a beach and DD in particular would spend hours in a pool with slides etc. Neither DH or I are the kind to sit and sunbathe all day so definitely would be looking for somewhere with something to do, obviously to keep kids entertained as well.

We want to go away Easter 2025. Have considered turkey, Greece, Italy etc but the weather is too hit and miss or it’s out of season in April so we’ve landed on the Canaries. We’ve got quotes for GF Isabel in Costa Adeje (Tenerife), a couple of places on Lanzarote (Costa Teguise) and Elba Sara in Costa Caleta (Fuerteventura). All are priced roughly similar at around £3-£3.6k half board or full board as a package with flights (all are apartment style options with at least a separate bedroom for the kids, which is important for us).

I can’t decide which location will suit us best so looking for tips / inspiration or alternatives. How do the different resorts compare? Which would you choose? Help please!

I went to lanzarote zona playa blanca in 2021. It was ok tho not loads of restaurants if you want to go out at night. We went to a few local ones.
(iberostar selection)
locationwise it was ok. Close to a few places (timanfaya or the famous beach). But a bit far for other touristic places

going to Tenerife end of this year. Staying in a H10 in Costa Adeje. Despite I’m Spanish I’ve never been , my mum tho has told me that the south is more touristic and the north is more quiet. Playa las americas and Adeje are the most touristic ones. Will rent a car and go a few days to the north

Puerto de Mogan is always my recommendation for the canaries

Cordial Mogan Solaz is set within Cordial Mogan Playa, so you get the best of both worlds of an apartment plus gorgeous hotel facilities, great restaurant etc.

The Radisson Blu has fab kids facilities but doesn’t have the more apartment style accomodation.

Puerto de Mogan is a much smaller resort, but a gorgeous safe beach and lovely restaurants. Not at all Brits abroad.

Fuertaventura will be windy but less touristy . Tenerife more Blackpool in the sun but lanzerote will be the best of the weather and more scenic.

I’ve stayed at the Isabel. I think Lanzarote is more what you’re looking for although the zoo in Tenerife is brilliant.

Thanks all. Initially I was attracted to Tenerife as looking like it had the most going on / things to do (Costa Teguise and Fuerteventura look comparatively small and quiet and I was worried there’d be nothing to do except pool and beach. That said, comments like “Blackpool abroad” definitely fill me with fear in terms of how DH might react. I don’t think this would be his cup of tea at all (although I suspect the kids would love it). Is it really that bad?

We went to Costa Teguise during May half term (haven't been to Tenerife or Fuerteventura) and really enjoyed it. The kids thought it was the best holiday ever because of the beaches. Its not a massive resort and we hired bikes and booked day trips and had a couple of beach and pool days.

The kids made loads of friends and spent most of the day in the pool and chasing each other and it was a proper chill out holiday. It does have a Brits abroad vibe at times but we went to some lovely restaurants and cocktail bars and would certainly return.

As mentioned by a previous poster Puerto de Mogan in Gran Canaria is lovely and certainly not Brits abroad. Amazing restaurants and great for sitting by the harbour looking at boats and yachts.

I did not enjoy South tenerife at all. Although the North is nice.

Exploring lanzarote by car is fun and easy. Lots to see and a nit different.

Ps. We were very bored in Costa caleta. Maybe just me and I was probably grumpy due to non sleeping baby. We soon hired a car to get out of there.

Lanzarote doesn’t allow high rises so it’s pretty and more traditional looking.

Costa Adeje is very built up and not pretty, I can see why it’s fun but it’s not picturesque and I suspect not what your husband wants.

Be aware that at Easter while you should get warm sunny weather the sea and pools are cold and it's always windy. You need a heated pool and they don't heat them very warm.
I like Lanzarote Playa Blanca is family orientated. Also Corralejo in Fuertaventura.
Costa Adeje is good for older children and teenagers. We took ours when they were 17/19.
My opinion is that a holiday with children only works if they love it. Pools, slides and beach were what mine loved. You can do the culture in a few years time when they are gone.

I would look at Puerto de Mogan Gran Canaria or Playa Blanca Lanzarote.

Costa Teguise is very English with lots of English bars and pubs. Costa Caleta similar.

I would also personally swerve Tenerife.

I've been, with my two young sons (7 & 4), to Tenerife, Lanzarote and Gran Canaria.

Pp comments re Tenerife are correct.
Lanzarote was nice and we found a kids oriented hotel with adults only areas and ample entertainment.

We've also been to mainland Spain, Greece, Cyprus, Turkey, Portugal and Egypt also which offered some of the things you mentioned being important to you all.

If you go to Lanzarote, definitely get the boat over to La Graciosa. It's a wonderful little place where the only town/village has dirt streets, like the Old West, and completely different geography to Lanzarote itself.

(It's also a great trivia resource: "Name all of the inhabited Canary islands". Most people think there are only 7, but this is the 8th.)

Thanks all, some very helpful comments. I’m going to take a closer look at lanzarote and also gran canaria as it sounds like those may be our best options.

if anyone has any specific hotel / resort recommendations please do let me have them.

Been to all the island and Gran Canaria is my favourite. Puerto Rico/ Puerto de Mogan have the best weather as they're the most southerly. Mogan port is beautiful. I've also been the last two Easter's and temp has been high 20's/ early 30's.

Jet2 holidays have several lovely hotels in Puerto de Mogan. Marina sun suites or grand palace in Puerto Rico.

Following as we have a similar discussion going on at home for October half term. As a family for health issues we definitely need a 2 bedroom apartment and love to explore. I was veering towards Tenerife but this thread has opened my eyes. Also any websites or places you know with 2 bed useful. We've never booked through a tour company before and never done AI although I am open to it although I think DP fears a lot of drunk brits round a pool who have started on the beer at 10 am. 😂

@Attictroll AI is perfect when you have older children or teenagers. Not for the unlimited alcohol but the food. Teenage boys can eat 11 meals a day f they want. Small children can have pop and ice cream every half hour if they want. Picky eaters can just go and get a different meal if they don't like it.
I don't bother now it's just DH and I as half board suits us.
Iberostar Lanzarote Park is a lovely hotel. I've stayed in the adult wing but there is family as well. Excellent food and definitely no drunken Brits! We go HB but they do AI as well.

We've passed through Tenerife on our way to La Gomera (ferry from tenerife). I haven't really liked what I have seen of it (South side of the island). We definitely didn't like Los Cristianos where there are lots of people in the street pestering you to go to their restaurant to eat all the time. We are more like your DH and I think if we were to go to Tenerife we would go to the north side of the island which seems quieter and is more picturesque.
I do know people who went to Tenerife at Easter and it was pretty cold, grey and misty so not sure the weather is guaranteed in the canaries at Easter either.

Thanks. Really helpful. Ds is 12 so on verge of that so can see benefit 😂 although on other holidays we v rarely let dc have more than one ice cream a day. Dc has a very sweet tooth and I am sure he could easily over do it and end up fat.

I've always taken the view that rules don't apply on holidays. A week or two of late nights, zero veg or over indulgence isn't going to hurt. But if that's a concern then maybe AI isn't for you.

I’m now looking at H10 Suites Lanzarote Gardens in Costa Teguise. Anyone any experience? It looks like it has a kids club from age 3 (most are age 4) and gets good reviews.

@Attictroll if you look at their website direct they have some two bed suites / apartments which don’t seem to come up on the package holidays. At first glance it looks like a better option to book direct and add own flights separately.

I just wouldn’t pick Costa Tequise as an option. It’s very brits abroad which isn’t really what your DH wants. Lots of British bars and not the most picturesque.

Puerto Mogan Gran Canaria. Look at the options there. Or Playa Blanca Lanzarote.

@friendlycat puerto Mogan looks lovely but am I right that it’s a long (2 hour) transfer from the airport? I’m not sure my 3yo would cope well with that after a 4.5 hour flight.

If you ditch the transfer and get a taxi it’s 35 minutes.