Tenerife is the largest of the Canary islands and famously popular for winter sun holidays. Tenerife used to be a classic package destination with not much to offer but sun, cheap hotels, lager and chips. The island still has all these, but now it also tempts discriminating travellers with a lot more besides. Los Christianos and Playa de las Americas are the big resorts for easy fly and flop holidays. But nowadays, northern Tenerife is pulling in more discriminating travellers with a combination of elegant hotels, botanical gardens and health spas. Much of this revival is focused around the original resort of Puerto de la Cruz, where the riot of greenery is a welcome sight for winter eyes tired of the grey skies of home. The beauty of a holiday in Tenerife is that most places are pretty much accessible from wherever you stay. Tenerife has eight golf courses so golfers can play a different course every day of the week, all year round.
Families with small children - family attractions and beaches are best in the south
Lazing and sunbathing
Black beaches - they may sound interesting, but when the black sand (inevitable on a volcanic island) starts getting in your clothes and on your towel, it just looks like dirt.
Local wine - Canary island wine is widely offered but tends to be overpriced for the tourist market. There’s plenty of inexpensive and good wine from mainland Spain on offer.
There are two airports, Tenerife North and Tenerife South. Be clear about which one is yours – or you may end up missing your flight home. Your Travel Counsellor will advise you accordingly. Tenerife is part of the EU and EU passport holders do not need a visa.
Despite Tenerife’s ‘winter sun’ reputation, temperatures in the winter season are not always that high – usually the low 20s°C, around 70°F – and you may find that swimwear gets chilly unless you find a corner out of the wind. Summer temperatures can easily top 30°C/86°F. The rainiest months are December, January and February
Flights to Tenerife take around four hours from the UK
Driving is on the right and car hire firms easy to find. However the local Titsa bus services are excellent, even to remote areas. You’ll find timetables at the tourist offices.