Which Canary Island Should We Go For?

[ganesh]

We are in our fifties so aren't looking for a manic noisy party resort but like a resort with a bit of life and nice restaurants and an attractive beach and not too built up with high rise hotels. We also want a few things to sight-see on the island and our choices are between Gran Canaria, Tenerife and Lanzarote. and we have the chance to go next week so want the warmest if there is much difference.
Anyone got any suggestions, or resorts to definitely avoid?

[Caribeing]

Lanzarote is lovely we stayed in the San Antonio Hotel in Puerto Del Carmen beautiful just on the beach good food and great entertainment, you can sight see around the Island. We went in November and it was warm and sunny but there can be showers as well and breezy especially at night. Enjoy yourselves.

[boxtops]

You haven't named it, but for a quiet yet interesting holiday, I'd go again to Fuerteventura. Plenty to see.

If not, we go regularly to Tenerife. Stay away from Playa de las Americas and Los Cristianos, and you'll have a lovely time. We stayed at Fanabe this year, previously in the resorts on the south.

Plenty to see and do - worth taking an organised Island Tour on any of the islands.

Not much difference in temperature, but be aware that it'll be windy!

[ganesh]

Thx, I heard that the southern resorts are a little less windy and tend to be warmer. Could go to Feurtevertua, not so easy flight-wise, and it looked a bit 'beach' and nothing much else so I ruled it out. On research I saw that Playa del Carmen was one of the more lively resorts, but you know how it is,you go round in circles on tripadvisor and other web-sites, and it gets confusing. Tenerife (costa adeje) looks promising?

[chrissa1]

We stayed twice at the Hotel Botanico in Puerto de la Cruz in Tenerife. Lovely hotel and lots of good restaurants.

[patsyann]

Lanzarote. High rise buildings are banned there. Lots of lovely beach areas and a trip up to the volcanic area and volcanic caves that have been turned into theatres and homes. We loved it there.

[tezmand]

gran canaria every time for me i am 50 i go twice a year march and nov or dec love the place weather is always spot on you can go to the lively centres or the more quiet ones recommend the eugenia victoria hotel in playa gel ingles

[Jennykenny]

You could be a bit adventurous and visit both Tenerife and La Gomera.
La Gomera is a beautiful island and well worth a visit. Get the ferry from Tenerife.

[ganesh]

Well, decided on Tenerife and I think we must have had the worst weather in the history of the island- rain,2-day storm, cloudy skies (have to admit it was warm though and in November??) Global warming, freak weather, or are the tourist boards lying to us.

[Prudie]

That's a shame ganesh, hope the westher didn't spoil it too much? I went to Gran Canaria for a week in November a few years back and never saw the sun once - it was a big deal to me as I'm a beach bum. It really is pot luck with the Canaries this time of year.

[ganesh]

That's interesting. I looked at all the guides and weather charts and November looked very promising. We only booked it a week before and the forecast looked good.According to the tourist boards and it is an all-round sunny destination (hardly ever rains in the canaries) and although I liked the place the lack of sunshine WAS very disappointing.

[boxtops]

That's hard luck, ganesh - where did you stay? It's always windy on the islands (remember going to Greece in November one year, it lashed down all week!)

[ganesh]

Went to costa adeje, very nice. I was surprised how warm it was and we really went there for a sunny holiday (the rest of Europe is rubbish in November.) I would go again, maybe a different island and maybe a different month! The mountain are is soooo strange and the whale-watching was our highlight. If the weather had been good it would have been amazing.

[ganesh]

when we left it was 25'C,and 4 hours later in Bristol it was 5'C. !

[tezmand]

you were unlucky i go every november /december for last 5 yrs never had bad week also go end of march , gran canaria ,that is also never had bad week hope it dont put you off

[hc4361]

Our apartment got flooded one November in south Tenerife. We were three floors up but there is no guttering or downpipes so the rain was flowing along the walkway and coming under the door. It was also coming in under the patio doors that led on the balcony and through the window sills. The rain was so heavy the road to the airport collapsed and we would have missed our flight had all flights not been suspended due to the weather.

[ganesh]

Unlucky too it seems hc, but makes me feel better not being the only one. I think you may be the lucky one, tezmand, unless gran canaria is drier than Tenerife. I think we are possibly getting porkies from the tourist industry. I will go again but I thought I was taking a risk with a holiday in Europe inNovember, and it turned out I was. I will go in the spring/summer as I usually do-this year was unusual.

[ganesh]

Decided to look at Lanzarote for next year and looking at a villa and pool instead of hotel. Looking online all the villas look like they are in vast complexes on flat land and don't really appeal. Is that Lanzarote or does anyone know of more secluded more rural types of villas or a company to go for? Or maybe am I looking at the wrong island for this type of thing?

[tezmand]

this time last year i was in gran canaria had a very hot week im there again in march will keep you informed