Canary Island Holiday recommendations please?

sporina · 07-02-2023 11:38am #1

Hi folks,

I need some help.

We wanna go away - say early April - for some sun and relaxation.

Never been on a holiday like this before - previous trips have all been either hiking or city breaks or long haul travel.

But we have had a tough 3 yrs and need to get away - and get some sunlight.

The brief: somewhere with sun, the ocean, peace and quiet - not tacky/v touristy.. scenery, nature - maybe some history/culture..

We wanna go for walk on the beach/hills, mayb rent a bike.... not into lying on the beach... wanna see the ocean in the am and mayb eat dinner outside at night - watch the sunset or at least go for a walk in the evening sun...

Thinking Lanzarote or Gran Canaria? I think they can be very touristy but maybe we could base ourselves in a quiet area?

No idea how accommodation works? Friends who have been go all inclusive - no interest in that - but mayb an apartment or a hotel where we could have an apartment? and get b'fast in the hotel or something? Have to fear of being part of a hotel and having to hear live music at night - defo don't want that.

Those with god knowledge - would really appreciate some info.

And shud be book on line ourselves or go to a travel agent?

TIA xxx

07-02-2023 11:58am

Go to Corralejo Fuerteventura. Books flights with Ryanair, book accommodation with Airbnb or Booking.com.

Rent a car, miles upon miles of class beaches.

Hooked · 07-02-2023 12:11pm

Loads to see and do in Lanzarote - or Fuerteventura (island next door). We go most years. You can hop between both.

Prices have gone a bit mad of late - for flights and accom.

A good friend of mine rents his (new) 2 bed villa in Playa Blanca, Lanza - drop me a PM if you want the web address. Early April is available! LOL

07-02-2023 12:18pm

There are tons of interesting g options in the Canary Islands, I have been to all except El Hierro. The ones with direct flights are Tenerife (maybe the most generally interesting), Gran Canaria (mountainous interior) Lanzarote (volcanic) & Fuerteventura (sandy). They all have off the beaten track places to visit.

The smaller islands without direct flights from Ireland should also be considered if you want something different. La Palma Island is still volcanically active, mountainous and is culturally still very much Canarian. It has two mini low key resort areas. Can be reached by short flight with Binter Canarias from Tenerife (north airport has more connections).

La Gomera is a lovely little mountainous island easily reachable from Tenerife by ferry from Los Christianos.

La Graciosa is a small desert island off the north of Lanzarote. Can be done as a day trip or you can stay there as I did. 30 minute ferry ride with bus connecting from airport if you time it right. Good for walking, the only village has streets of sand, a very unique place with a Wild West feel. I stayed there last October.

El Hierro is second smallest populated island, on my bucket list. Not many hotels and they tend to be on peripheral parts of the island. Reached by flight, most connections from Tenerife. There’s a ferry too.

maebee · 07-02-2023 12:18pm

We're just back from a week in Puerto de Santiago in Tenerife. It's a bit further out from the hotspots of Los Cristianos, Playa de las Americas etc. €50 taxi ride from the airport but worth every penny for the peace and quiet. We stayed in Ona el Marques hotel. We had an apartment, which was like a small house. No loud music poolside or anywhere else. We did this fabulous cliff/beach walk every day. We ate out in a different restaurant every night. Good quality food at very reasonable prices. I would highly recommend.

monseiur · 07-02-2023 12:51pm

I'd advise to book a package holiday on line or with travel agent, transport will be included to & from hotel / apartment - it can work out cheaper. Go self catering, you'll have an apartment with cooking facilities etc. & almost guaranteed that a selection of pubs, restaurants etc are within 5 minutes walk away. There's a lot of hassle in booking flights and accommodation separately and trying to arrange transport. Check out the likes of Budget Travel, Cassidy Travel, Stein etc. on line, they all have a good selection available especially from Dublin. Don't leave booking to the last minute as prices tend to shoot up without warning depending on the volume of booking, demand etc. Avoid Easter weekend if you can, the week after tends to be a lot cheaper ! Budget for approx €1,200 for two flights & accommodation.

Gran Canaria and Tenerife South will be around 20 to 25 Celsius in April so ideal for cycling, walking swimming etc. Enjoy 😍

sporina · 07-02-2023 3:05pm

thanks for all the replies..

umm.. food for thought

we live in Cork - would fly from here or Shannon..

We won't hire a car.. neither confident enough

endofrainbow · 07-02-2023 3:11pm

We're just back from Fuerteventura. Stayed in the quiet resort of Caleta de Fuste which is about 10 minutes from the Airport. We went 1/2 board as it was a very good deal.

One thing to bear in mind if self catering is that you need to be relatively near to a supermarket. Food prices not as cheap in previous years so you may need to factor this in to the overall price.

PM if you want further details.