Canary Islands October half term

[Lookingforwardto2025]

Hello :)

I am going slightly loopy looking at travel websites so was wondering if anyone is able to give personal recommendations.

DH, DS9 and I want to go to the Canary Islands in October half term. DH wants 5* all inclusive, I want a wide range of restaurants to choose from (not just the buffet) and DS wants proximity to a good waterpark. We can be flexible on budget.

We like to do day trips to places of historical interest and natural beauty and aren't massively keen on being in an area purely created for hotels.

Any help much appreciated :)

Gran Melia Palacio de Isora has one of the biggest choices of restaurants and isn’t that far from Siam water park or Teide National Park.

Thank you I will take a look @Forgottenmyphone

How about a P&O fly cruise?

Seaside los jameos or dreams in Lanzarote? We go half board as we like to eat out but friends both liked these ones.

Thank you @AuntieDolly but a cruise is not for us, DH suffers badly with motion sickness.

Thank you @Twilightstarbright I will look at those :)

I've stayed in the Seaside AI and it was very good.

Depending on your budget look at GF Victoria and Iberostar Selection Anthelia in Costa Adeje,

Cheaper is the Iberostar Las Dalias which gets good reviews for its AI option

Came to say this!

https://www.barcelo.com/en-gb/barcelo-playa-blanca/
water park nearby and if you go hb, you can swap if for lunch and venture out at night

https://thetwirlingtraveler.nl/hidden-gems-lanzarote/

Totally agree it's fabulous.

Hard Rock Tenerife is also brilliant.

Lopesan Baoab in Grab Canaria also worth a look.

We like to do day trips to places of historical interest and natural beauty and aren't massively keen on being in an area purely created for hotels.

Your requirements conflict a bit. You won't get a5* AI near a water park unless it's in an area created for hotels.
I know most of the hotels and locations suggested and they are all in tourist areas. The Canaries are perfect for winter sun and family holidays but not especially cultural.

Siam Parc in Tenerife is the best water park by miles IMO. Costa Adeje is a short taxi ride away and has some excellent hotels. I've stayed at the Anthelia recommended above and it's very good.
I wouldn't bother with AI unless you are very heavy drinkers. HB is a better option and you can often swap dinner for lunch and eat out.

Watching with interest.
is weather good at that time of year?
which island is best for beaches?

Thanks all I am just looking at them right now and really like the Gran Melia, Dreams, Barcelo and Hard Rock. Just going to check out reviews for all of them on Trip Advisor.

I agree @Pelifor! It is down to differences in what DH, DS and I want and me trying to find a compromise. Think I will put up with amenities this time and next holiday aim for something more cultural. We don't drink but last holiday we went HB and then spent a fortune on mocktails which is why we were thinking AI.

@Gowlett we are going to the canaries due to the weather. Average of 26 degrees in October which is a struggle to find elsewhere shorthaul.

Costa adeje is a good choice of area. The waterpark is good, the marina area is nice to walk about, plentiful public transport, restaurants a plenty but 5* ai is also available. We stayed a 4 star last year that had 4 restaurants in addition to the main buffet plus a beach cafe then a posh restaurant for additional cost. Tenerife definitely has more options than say fuerteventura for trips out though beaches are better

I disagree somewhat with Pelifor, yes the big AI resorts of the south of Tenerife close to Siam Park are largely in purpose built resorts, but Mount Teide National Park and the UNESCO listed town of San Cristobal de La Laguna are both easily day-trippable from those resorts.