Where to go in Tenerife?

[RooTwo]

We would like to go to Tenerife next month to get some much-needed sun - but wondering which bit to go to. We would like to do self-catering and hire a appt/villa ideally, but not in any over-developed resorts - somewhere more characterful and low-key and beautiful! Have two small DCs and would like a pool and to be near beach ... any suggestions?
Also budget not huge so needs to be relatively affordable ...

El Medano is very close to airport so hear planes but lovely child friendly beach, nice restaurants. Anywhere in the North will be away from the nightmare of Las Americas.

The towns along the coast north west of LA can be nice.

Thanks ohmeohmy - have been doing bit of research and looks as if north/northwest is our best bet - the idea of Las Americas is fairly hideous! Are there nice beaches up that way though?

There are nice beaches all around, if you have a car then it will be easy to get to a beach as nothing too far away on the island. Trying to remember some of the other beaches... playa san juan good but gets deep fast so not great for small kids swimming (reason we like Medano beach is that it is shallow enough for kids to be quite independent without being in danger), Playa de las teresitas nr capital lovely populare with locals, PLaya san marcos was nice.

Sure you'll find something nice. Have a good holiday.

Hi there.
I live and work in Tenerife as a childcarer.

If you want the hot and sunny weather then you should stay south of the island as the North is a lot cooler and you get more rain there.

Also, due to the weather there last week there was a lot of floods, some knee deep in Santa Cruz and Puerto del a cruz.

I persionally like La Caletta in the south.
It is an 'oldy worldy' part of the island with a lot of tradition still in place like the narrow cobbled paths and lovely local houses.

There is a lovely complex in La Caletta called 'Oasis' which is great for children as they have a childrens section of the pool.
You are also a 20min stroll from a busier town (but dead quiet compared to Americas)where you have shops, restaurants and bars.

If you want or need anymore info please letme know.

Lisa.