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Three-generation holiday in the Canaries - any recommendations, please?

(22 Posts)
Witzend Mon 21-Mar-22 12:10:46

With a Big birthday coming up, we are thinking of the October half term, for me and dh, dd and Sil (possibly more adults) and Gdcs who will then be 7, 6, and 2.5.

We are all pretty clueless about the Canaries, hence the question.

Essentials would be heated swimming pools (elder Gdcs are keen water babies) and close to a sandy beach, preferably with calm-ish sea.

Self catering facilities would probably be best, as long as there were shops nearby.

Or anywhere else no further away, where we could reasonably expect good weather? Dh and I love Greece, esp. the Peloponnese (sp?) but have had days of rain even in mid September.

Would be v grateful for suggestions.

tanith Mon 21-Mar-22 12:56:01

I haven’t been to the Canaries for a long time so can’t advise places but one thing we missed and worth checking is that the hotel pools are fresh not salt water. We and the children spent a lot of time in the pool but suffered terribly with sore and chapped lips/mouths the littlest didn’t want to go in the end.
Hope you find something nice it sounds lovely.

H1954 Mon 21-Mar-22 13:02:18

We went to Tenerife in 2018 and it was dreadful. Ok, so the weather was lovely but it was so run down, loads of shops out of business, cheap tat sold on the market and the beaches were filthy.
Save your money and go elsewhere, Madeira is beautiful by the way.

Honnah Mon 21-Mar-22 13:18:55

You will struggle to find nice proper beaches for the children in The Canaries. We weren't impressed with the cleanliness or the friendliness.

Zoejory Mon 21-Mar-22 13:27:37

The beach in Jandia, Fuerteventura, is one of the best we've ever been to. Miles and miles of golden sand. Fabulous ocean. Just gorgeous. Been lucky enough to go to beaches in the Maldives, Hawaii, Australia, Thailand but Jandia is up there with them.

We stay in Maspalomas. Not too commercialised. Mainly German tourists.

Las Ameircias and Los Cristianos in Tenerife but there are still beautiful places there.

Zoejory Mon 21-Mar-22 13:29:09

We don't stay in Maspalomas at all. That's in Gran Canaria. Also a lovely beach there.

PS .. I must read before I send.

Been to all the Canaries. Even Hierro and La Gomera. Lots of fabulous places to stay for all type of holiday maker

Hithere Mon 21-Mar-22 13:31:19

Lanzarote is gorgeous

Zoejory Mon 21-Mar-22 13:32:51

Honnah

You will struggle to find nice proper beaches for the children in The Canaries. We weren't impressed with the cleanliness or the friendliness.

Have you been to Papagayo in Lanzarote? Jandia? Beautiful quiet beaches with amazing sand dunes in Maspalomas?

www.hellocanaryislands.com/nature-spaces/gran-canaria/maspalomas-dunes-nature-reserve/

We've always found the people to be extremely friendly as well.

Zoejory Mon 21-Mar-22 13:34:16

www.hellocanaryislands.com/beaches/lanzarote/papagayo-beach/

Honnah Mon 21-Mar-22 14:23:33

My poor TripAdvisor rating should probably have said Tenerife and not The Canaries in general. I think we were unlucky because the hotel was sloppy (didn't clear away plates left on our balcony, grotty bathroom) and twice taxi drivers were rude and tried to extract more from us than they had quoted. Friends had booked it, we wouldn't repeat!
I will certainly take a look at your other recommendations Zoejory.

V3ra Mon 21-Mar-22 14:54:14

Another vote for Lanzarote here: we had a four generation holiday in the town of Playa Blanca which is just to the west of the Papagayo beaches Zoejory mentions.
The beach we were nearest to was the Playa Flamingo where the sea is sheltered by a curved breakwater each side, but there are sandy beaches in the town as well.
There are various self-catering options in the area.
The town of Playa Blanca has a nice pedestrianised promenade with lots of shops and restaurants, and leads to the Marina Rubicon.

Blondiescot Mon 21-Mar-22 15:24:10

Honnah

You will struggle to find nice proper beaches for the children in The Canaries. We weren't impressed with the cleanliness or the friendliness.

Really? That's a very sweeping generalisation - we've found some lovely beaches in Tenerife, Lanzarote and, in particular, Fuerteventura.

Honnah Mon 21-Mar-22 15:29:25

Im not sure how this site operates but I corrected myself earlier. IS there an edit button for ones mistake?

trisher Mon 21-Mar-22 15:40:05

I'd go for Fuerteventurer but be careful The Canaries are very hot in the summer. You also get a lot of wind. We did a lovely 3 generation holiday in Majorca but it was early in the year and only very adventurous GD used the pool. We were just outside Puerto Pollensa. There were loads of places to visit and GS loved the little train. My DS grumbled when driving because there were heaps of cyclists.

Oopsadaisy1 Mon 21-Mar-22 15:54:58

We go to Lanzarote and hire a villa, collect the car at the airport.

Puerto del Carmen is the place for us, walk to the huge beach from a nearby villa, plenty of shops, supermarkets and restaurants. Plus it’s only 25 minutes from the airport.

We usually book independently, but sometimes through James Villas, you can book flights, Villa and car through them.

Hope you have a lovely time.

ElaineI Mon 21-Mar-22 17:03:01

We had a 3 generation holiday in Lanzarote before the pandemic with DGS1 age 3 ½ and DGD age 8 months . It was warm - no need for heated pool - October and beaches were lovely. We did a tour to the volcanic area which DGS1 loved and DD and the boys went down in a submarine to see the marine life. Myself, other Granma and DGD went for a wander round posh shops and a posh coffee in the harbour area as babies weren't allowed on the sub. Was a brilliant holiday.

ElaineI Mon 21-Mar-22 17:06:31

Also been to Tenerife - Los Cristianos - and beaches were lovely. DD and family going to Playa del Americas in Tenerife over Easter. Self catering apartments with a shared pool, great price and 10 mins to beach.

silverlining48 Mon 21-Mar-22 17:28:04

Cyprus is lovely and warm is in october / November, and the sea is very pleasant. English is spoken and they even drive on the same side as we do....smile. We always go November time for the sunshine.

silverlining48 Mon 21-Mar-22 17:30:07

Errata...we always used to go ....sad

Urmstongran Mon 21-Mar-22 17:50:19

Another fan of Playa Blanca in Lanzarote V3ra! We stayed at the playa Flamingo beach area too. Very calm, warm waters to enjoy, little tiddler sardines in the shallows, darting away as you shuffle in.

We are about to enjoy a four-generation holiday in Ibiza in June to celebrate an ‘0’ birthday. We’ve been before - not Pacha! The horseshoe bay of family friendly Es Cana. Would highly recommend to all.

silverlining48 Mon 21-Mar-22 18:24:59

I liked playa blanca too, especially the excellent market on 3x Pw at the marina. Nice to wander round.
The hotel pool was bitter cold, i went in just once.

Witzend Sat 02-Apr-22 11:41:27

silverlining48

Cyprus is lovely and warm is in october / November, and the sea is very pleasant. English is spoken and they even drive on the same side as we do....smile. We always go November time for the sunshine.

Many thanks for all replies.

Yes, we did think of Cyprus - have been before in October. BiL and SiL had a flat there but sadly it’s on a hillside in Pissouri where a massive landslip has meant that so many properties are now condemned, if not actually broken up and falling down. ?
Luckily they bought it decades ago for relative peanuts, but we all still miss it. It’s the retirees who were actually living there we feel so sorry for.