Canaries - recommendations

I go to Gran Canaria every December, and like others, would recommend Puerto de Mogan ( unless, as Casdon said, you’ve ruled out Gran Canaria). It’s very pretty, with plenty of nice restaurants and also seats for a wee rest! A nice harbour to catch ferries to Anfi and Puerto Rico ( very hilly). Meloneras and Maspalomas are nice too, but have less of a village feel. There is a gigantic market every Friday, which seems to appear overnight!
In Tenerife, like Gran Canaria, the South of the island is warmer, and Golf del Sur and Los Abrigos are nice.

Go to Madeira 😀

We have been to La Palma many times, Lanzarote three times and Gran Canaria once. We love La Palma but its not as warm in the winter months and you cant always get a direct flight. We booked with TUI last year just for flights and then they withdrew all their direct flights in October and we cancelled. We like Lanzarote and usually stay inland near Tias in self-catering. You need a hire car to do this as its not very large, but its also not very touristy. We swam in an unheated pool in January in Tias (temperature like the North Sea in August!). Last January we stayed in San Agustin in the far south of Gran Canaria near Maspalomas. It was about 20 degrees and sunny. There is a nice long sea front promenade from San Agustin to the dunes.

We’ve been to Puerto Morgan in late November it’s very nice.

I've been to most of the Islands, but love Lanzarote. I surprised myself by how much I loved it!
I just thought tye walking, swimming, snorkeling and sightseeing generally won hands down over everywhere else.
We were there in February and it wasn't windy at all.

I love Lanzarote and stay at Playa Blanca. We have stayed at H10 White Suites Hotel a few times, which is adults only. A short walk to the sea front and then you can have a lovely promenade walk along the seafront. Turn left towards the marina where the best restaurants are located. Turn right towards the port, more restaurants along this route. You can get the ferry to Fuerteventura for a day trip. Don't miss a trip to the Timanfaya National Park, Cesar Manrique House, cactus gardens and Teguise.

Tenerife may be more suited but Lanzarote ok and you also have the island of La Palma which is up and coming. Was in Gran Canaria a couple of months ago and Puerto Rico does have a variety of restaurants and sports bars and stays open till quite late. Most wonderful place close by was Puerto de Mogan known as Little Venice. This would be our choice

I have been to the 3 Canary Islands in question many times and have spent several weeks in either Tenerife or Lanzarote almost every winter for the last 15 to 20 years.
My favourite is Lanzarote. I like to go to Puerto del Carmen but that may be too busy for you. If you go to Lanzarote I think Playa Blanca may be better as it is quite flat and has a lovely marina, or Matagorda which is near the airport and is a lot quieter than it’s neighbour Puerto del Carmen.

Over the last 30 years, we have visited Fuerteventura at least 50 times. Always guaranteed sunshine, even if a bit windy. We usually go in the winter months (anything from October through to March) and have not been disappointed. Occasionally we have had dull days, but warm. Always take a cardigan for evenings, as it can be a bit cooler late in the evenings. Very popular now (never was when we first visited) and last time there, early this year, we found it was very crowded and mainly youngster there.

About 15 years ago we went to Lanzarote at the end of December (came back on Christmas Day). It was very pleasant, even in the evening. I don't know if that is unusual or not because that's the only time we've been there. I wasn't particularly keen on Lanzarote, although the food was nice. I found the landscape a bit boring after a while.

We went to Puerta de la Cruz in the north of Tenerife about 12 years ago. I believe it was in about May. The weather was very nice and we really liked that part of the island.

A solicitor in my office went to Fuerteventura some years ago and said it was windy and very boring.

I worked in Lanzarote and hated it, it was windy, full of cockroaches and made Blackpool look sedate. That was in Puerto Del Carmen, the main street was all fast food restaurants, curry houses, Irish bars, drag bars and I could not find anywhere to eat a Spanish meal. I visited Costa Teguise which was much nicer but I still would never go back to Lanzarote by choice.

I’ve only ever been to Lanzarote, loads of times! We love Matagorda. It’s a bus ride away from the very busy Puerto del Carmen, which is good for a few nights out. Matagorda is completely flat, right on the coast and very civilised! We went with my parents twice, when they were in their 80s and they loved it too!

Have you thought of Madeira which is beautiful? Also a Canaries cruise you might find easier to take your Dad on?

I Second Costa Adele in Tenerife but do prefer Playa Blanca in Lanzarote , particularly the Rubicon Marina end which is flat and with just enough to do

Lanzarote windy
Tenerife rocky
Gran Canaria is best to accomodate your needs.

Tenerife our favourite. Very green, decent weather.Nice walks. Along the prom which is flattish,nice outings if you want…Puerto de la Cruz, Los Gigantes and Loro Parque if you like a wildlife centre. Has bus station as well which can be useful.

Lanzarote for us, Matagorda = quiet resort 5 minutes taxi from airport. Good sea swimming all year road.

Ps We prefer Madeira but it could be a bit cooler than the Canary Islands in December.

We liked Lanzarote as we find it interesting but it wasn't so commercialised the first time we went. Parts were very windy but the Costa Blanca area seemed more sheltered and I think is more developed now but I wouldnt think it's commercial.
Tenerife is more varied and interesting; be careful to choose somewhere away from the more commercialised areas.

We visited La Gomera from there, but just for the day.

Not been to Fuerteventura but our relatives thought it was rather boring, they like sightseeing - fine if you just want to relax.

Callistemon21

Grandma70s

eazybee

Silly me; my response was to think surely no-one keeps caged birds now!

I was expecting a thread about little singing yellow birds.

And in fact the name is nothing to do with little singing yellow birds - it means Islands of the Dogs.

I know!

Grandma70s

eazybee

Silly me; my response was to think surely no-one keeps caged birds now!

I was expecting a thread about little singing yellow birds.

And in fact the name is nothing to do with little singing yellow birds - it means Islands of the Dogs.

For older people Lanzarote is best for several reason . We have been frequent visitors over the years and always felt safe there no matter the time of day . Contrast this with Teneriffe where we saw a dead body on the beach and our hotel had armed guards. In Lanzarote Playa Blanca and Costa Teguise are lovely and flat and walking in great . They ban hotel over 3 stories high so it is all very civilised . You do get a bit more wind there but it has always been like a lovely summer in the UK in Nov/Dec and March\April . Check the hotels you might like are not too far from town but even if they are taxis are cheap . Sadly my DH got covid on our last visit in March 2022 and we have not been able to return because of lingering effects of the virus but when we did we went twice a year. I want some of my ashes scattered on the beach .

SuzieHi

Have visited most of the Canaries over the years…….. many apartment holidays and hotel holidays.
South Tenerife- Adeje area would be best in Dec. due to best climate(usually). You can walk for miles along the coast on good footpaths. Lots to look at, beaches & scenery, and many restaurants and bars to enjoy. Weather usually warm & sunny during the day- jacket or jumper eve.
Look at the hotel Colon Guanahani- adults only (4*) quiet hotel with great food & 5 mins from beach and coastal path & shops ( Tui offer it)
We tend to book flights ourselves, then choose 2 hotels we fancy & do 4 nights in each! (Packing is easy when there, & a short taxi ride is all it takes? ). Rui Arecas also nice for a few nights in Adeje. If you want 5* luxury go for the GF victoria or the Riu Palace or Jardines de Nivaria- all in Adeje.
Fuerteventura- Corralajo best seaside town(in my opinion). Might be windy/not so warm in Dec.
Lanzarote- Playa Blanca best resort but cloudier and cooler than Tenerife in Dec
( usually)
Gran Canaria- Puerto Morgan warmest sunniest spot with most character. Rest of Gran Canaria- disappointing/ overbuilt/run down in my opinion. Haven’t been to Melonores the newest area yet- may be ok?
La Palma- nice island but cool in Dec!

I second Colon Guanahani, stayed here in March went with Jet2. Lovely hotel, adults only, very low key not much entertainment but you can go over to the sister hotel Jardines de Nivaria for a change.

Have visited most of the Canaries over the years…….. many apartment holidays and hotel holidays.
South Tenerife- Adeje area would be best in Dec. due to best climate(usually). You can walk for miles along the coast on good footpaths. Lots to look at, beaches & scenery, and many restaurants and bars to enjoy. Weather usually warm & sunny during the day- jacket or jumper eve.
Look at the hotel Colon Guanahani- adults only (4*) quiet hotel with great food & 5 mins from beach and coastal path & shops ( Tui offer it)
We tend to book flights ourselves, then choose 2 hotels we fancy & do 4 nights in each! (Packing is easy when there, & a short taxi ride is all it takes? ). Rui Arecas also nice for a few nights in Adeje. If you want 5* luxury go for the GF victoria or the Riu Palace or Jardines de Nivaria- all in Adeje.
Fuerteventura- Corralajo best seaside town(in my opinion). Might be windy/not so warm in Dec.
Lanzarote- Playa Blanca best resort but cloudier and cooler than Tenerife in Dec
( usually)
Gran Canaria- Puerto Morgan warmest sunniest spot with most character. Rest of Gran Canaria- disappointing/ overbuilt/run down in my opinion. Haven’t been to Melonores the newest area yet- may be ok?
La Palma- nice island but cool in Dec!

Another vote for Puerto de Mogan , we were there in April last year . It’s a very pretty town with waterways and a small beach . It flat and has lots of restaurants, bars and shops, plus a marina . We did self catering in an apartment. So I can’t recommend a hotel . There’s also a bus service to get around, although we had a car which we rented at the airport.
Playa Blanca in Lanzarote is fairly flat and plenty to do .
I have been to Fuerteventura and Tenerife but it was many years ago .