Winter sun in Canaries - which island?

R

RubyBlueZ4MC

Veteran
 West London
Thinking of planning a trip to catch some winter sun out in the Canary Islands with my folks in the new year. I've been to Lanzarote a few years ago on a sailing course and stayed on the boat for all of the 2 weeks.
Been reading a bit about all of them and unsure where to head for. Other possibility is Madeira. Any advice?
 
Looking for nice beaches (no epic wavy ones), relaxation and a few day trips to interesting places. Mum likes to walk round the shops.
 
Myself and Mrs Zed like melonoras in the south of grand Canaria and use Lopesan group hotels - a mainly German brand but the quality is really good


We like here


http://www.lopesan.com/en/hotel-lopesan-villa-del-conde-resort_1l4.html

Fuertaventura is the prettiest but we've not seen a hotel we really like yet
 
Over 25 years we've been to the 4 main Canary islands multiple times to them all but would only return to Playa Blanca on Lanzarote .
Bit like car's choosing holiday destination's as what suits some doesn't suit all :wink: if you want some nice shops , no groups of teens or rowdy singles, sandy beaches , 30 mins from airport & no hassle day or night from anyone when you are out & about then i can recommend
Now been 6 times we had a great 10 days in October & will be going back

http://www.hotelh10timanfayapalace.com/en/index.html?gclid=Cj0KEQiA-uWjBRChu9ie05m5ipgBEiQAuHIuK3rl_WY_QzUjGtMl_VGB3LmDU02unPvWXF8VXTxoVMAaAjJX8P8HAQ
 
Grand Atlantis Bahia Real near Corralejo in Fuerteventura is superb. It used to be a Kempinski and I stayed there for a week on my own after my marriage breakdown. Highly recommended and close to some nice beaches.

I'd second Rob's recommendation of Meloneras. Nice shops, beaches and mostly 4*, 4*+ or 5* hotels. I stayed at the Riu Palace once there and that was good. I'd also recommend La Caleta in Tenerife. Really nice restaurants, shops and hotels. La Gomera is an easy trip, by ferry, from there as well. I think it only has one hotel as well, so if you fancy seclusion it might be worth looking at.
 
I would agree with Tenerife seems to meet your needs.Futaventura is a bit more low key and quite windy.
 
Went to La Gomera about 25 years ago, before it was developed. beaches were either very rocky or black volcanic sand. Was a really secluded, relaxing place then, hotel was built in a cliff, lovely sunsets and great festivals (in late June) in the local villages.
 
ZermattV said:
Myself and Mrs Zed like melonoras in the south of grand Canaria and use Lopesan group hotels - a mainly German brand but the quality is really good


We like here


http://www.lopesan.com/en/hotel-lopesan-villa-del-conde-resort_1l4.html

Fuertaventura is the prettiest but we've not seen a hotel we really like yet
Click to expand...

Big plus one on Lopesan Hotels. :thumbsup:

We have stayed just down the promanade, here.

http://www.lopesan.com/en/hotel-lopesan-costa-meloneras-resort_1l5.html

MrsG and I went to Grand Canaria, with the kids when they were younger and walked past. We promised ourselves we would go back. Went back last year for a couple of weeks. The best hotel pools I've ever seen. Good selection of shops close by. Decent, if not fantastic selection of eateries, down by the beach and it's a great beach, 200 yards from the back gate. One of the best places we've ever stayed and yes, it is full of Germans. :o

P3120236.jpg

One of several great pools.


Madera was to quite for us, in our 50's so doubt it would suit. Plus there are no beaches.

Furteventura, Nice but no plans to go back.

Tenerife, We go there most years, for sun a surf. Very busy Island. Lots of shops. Not yet found a decent hotel though, keep meaning to try the other islands, but I like my surf spots too much. :roll:

If you do go to Grand Canaria, make sure you take a drive around the canyons in the South. Reminded me of the Grand Canyon, very impressive Scenery .(Only smaller)
 
That looks like Costa Meloneras which is one of the three Lopesan hotels ... Where OG stayed at the Riu is just next door to Costas Melonaras( looks like it had had a recent revamp when we there in May) and Villa del Conde where we tend to go - although we tend to come down and use the Spa at Costas Meloneras.

I think we have now been 6 times over the last 8 years. Works for us to escape the worst of the Scottish winter for a week .
 
mr wilks said:
Over 25 years we've been to the 4 main Canary islands multiple times to them all but would only return to Playa Blanca on Lanzarote.
Click to expand...

Done Playa Blanca several times in January/February, lovely old seaside town on the beach with lots of shops etc for the girls.

Will probably go back next year.
 
ZermattV said:
That looks like Costa Meloneras which is one of the three Lopesan hotels ... Where OG stayed at the Riu is just next door to Costas Melonaras( looks like it had had a recent revamp when we there in May) and Villa del Conde where we tend to go - although we tend to come down and use the Spa at Costas Meloneras.

I think we have now been 6 times over the last 8 years. Works for us to escape the worst of the Scottish winter for a week .
Click to expand...

Yep the Spa is rather good, if a little pricey. :D Three lengths up and back, of the main pool, each morning, set us up nicely for Breakfast.
 
Found Gran Canaria too busy - been to Fuerteventura twice - miles of yellow sandy beaches :D :D a lot quieter but still enough bars/clubs around if that's what you want - stayed in Caleta de Fuste - good for a winter break - cheap car hire and good restaurants . Depends on what you want - for a peaceful relaxed holiday just to chill out then Fuerteventura is the one to choose - if you want to be doing things everyday then perhaps Lanzarote or Tenerife would suit . One thing common to all the Canaries are the time share sellers and North Africans who plague you constantly to buy rubbish - you just cannot browse the shops and have to be rude to get them to leave you alone :( :(
 
gov said:
. One thing common to all the Canaries are the time share sellers and North Africans who plague you constantly to buy rubbish - you just cannot browse the shops and have to be rude to get them to leave you alone :( :(
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No sign of either of these in Playa Blanca (Lanzarote) & was a deciding factor many years ago to stop visiting Tenerife , the "luckylucky" chinese folks that would hassle you even while you were eating , the constant offer of "free" scratch cards wherever you went & the restaurant owners desperate to drag you in with "free" ice cream & i don't need a fake Breitling nor do i want my hair braiding :x
A pal has a place in Los Cristianos i can use for free & even that doesn't tempt me
 
Thanks for your suggestions all :thumbsup: I'll be looking at booking something when I return from the Christmas markets in Cologne this coming weekend :)
 
mr wilks said:
Over 25 years we've been to the 4 main Canary islands multiple times to them all but would only return to Playa Blanca on Lanzarote .
Bit like car's choosing holiday destination's as what suits some doesn't suit all :wink: if you want some nice shops , no groups of teens or rowdy singles, sandy beaches , 30 mins from airport & no hassle day or night from anyone when you are out & about then i can recommend
Now been 6 times we had a great 10 days in October & will be going back

http://www.hotelh10timanfayapalace.com/en/index.html?gclid=Cj0KEQiA-uWjBRChu9ie05m5ipgBEiQAuHIuK3rl_WY_QzUjGtMl_VGB3LmDU02unPvWXF8VXTxoVMAaAjJX8P8HAQ
Click to expand...

:thumbsup: We've also been a number of times to the two H10 hotels in Playa Blanca but the Timanfaya Palace and the town itself are hard to beat IMO. Of all the Canary Island destinations we've been to, Playa Blanca ticks all the boxes.
 
I just came back from Sharm El Sheikh and the weather was terrific. Ok, it was a bit Benidorm, but I was pleasantly surprised by the place overall. Worth a look if you are looking at the Canaries.

The hotel pool on page one looks incredible.
 
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