Canary Islands one week in November this year
Discussion
Appreciate there is a couple of similar other threads but I cant get from them the help I need .
Wife and I both 60 missed a few holidays this year with me falling off a ladder and her having a Knee replacement . We do now need a quick sun and relax break and by November the knee should be fixed enough to make a trip . We have not been to the Canary Islands for 30 years and don't know where to start . Live near Gatwick don't really want more than 3 hours on a plane .
The ideal would be . Hotel in a resort/town with shops and bars within a flat easy walking distance . Hotel would have pools etc and a real ideal we would have a room with balcony and a kitchenet to give us options when we don't want a big meal.
Easy transfers nice Hotel and just a chance to put behind some bad bits of this year . We are not rich but will will spend a bit for a nice place .
We both like a stroll to a bar for a drink and a meal. Wife likes to read and will sit by a pool happily. When she does this I often go off and explore a port or something ,
Any recommendations would be appreciated .
Wife and I both 60 missed a few holidays this year with me falling off a ladder and her having a Knee replacement . We do now need a quick sun and relax break and by November the knee should be fixed enough to make a trip . We have not been to the Canary Islands for 30 years and don't know where to start . Live near Gatwick don't really want more than 3 hours on a plane .
The ideal would be . Hotel in a resort/town with shops and bars within a flat easy walking distance . Hotel would have pools etc and a real ideal we would have a room with balcony and a kitchenet to give us options when we don't want a big meal.
Easy transfers nice Hotel and just a chance to put behind some bad bits of this year . We are not rich but will will spend a bit for a nice place .
We both like a stroll to a bar for a drink and a meal. Wife likes to read and will sit by a pool happily. When she does this I often go off and explore a port or something ,
Any recommendations would be appreciated .
I cannot recommend Puerto del Carmen in Lanzarote highly enough and have been going since childhood. It’s generally very flat on the strip with plenty of bars and restaurants.
The flight from Manchester takes 4 and a quarter hours, so I would imagine from Gatwick it would be half an hour or so less. The transfer time when there to PDC is approximately 15 minutes. We always stay in an apartment so I can’t really recommend a hotel. I would just look at a number of hotels on line within your price range.
The flight from Manchester takes 4 and a quarter hours, so I would imagine from Gatwick it would be half an hour or so less. The transfer time when there to PDC is approximately 15 minutes. We always stay in an apartment so I can’t really recommend a hotel. I would just look at a number of hotels on line within your price range.
I have been to the Canaries about 40 times plus, since 2014.
Personally, I book flights on the easyJet website, monitoring flights for the lowest prices ( around 200 quid for two returns). Flights take 4 hours from Bristol with up to 15 minutes less if they get a tailwind.
Easiest is Fuerteventura, Caleta de Fuste as once you land, you can jump on the bus for 1.40 Euros and it's 10 minutes. Rent an apartment in the lower, flat part of the resort on booking dot com or similar for around 400 quid a week and eat out every night. Avoid anything up the hill or over in Costa Antigua.
Puerto del Carmen in Lanzarote is also nice and similarly close but many apartments are up short, steep hills and are more expensive. It has a one way traffic system so you need to know where to get off the bus.
Maspalomas and Playa del Ingles in Gran Canaria is full of hills and many resorts are very steep.
Tenerife is a bit commercial, can be expensive although La Tejita and El Medano are not far from the airport.
If you can drive, a hire car from Autoreisen or Payless.es are trouble free and very reasonable.
Personally, I book flights on the easyJet website, monitoring flights for the lowest prices ( around 200 quid for two returns). Flights take 4 hours from Bristol with up to 15 minutes less if they get a tailwind.
Easiest is Fuerteventura, Caleta de Fuste as once you land, you can jump on the bus for 1.40 Euros and it's 10 minutes. Rent an apartment in the lower, flat part of the resort on booking dot com or similar for around 400 quid a week and eat out every night. Avoid anything up the hill or over in Costa Antigua.
Puerto del Carmen in Lanzarote is also nice and similarly close but many apartments are up short, steep hills and are more expensive. It has a one way traffic system so you need to know where to get off the bus.
Maspalomas and Playa del Ingles in Gran Canaria is full of hills and many resorts are very steep.
Tenerife is a bit commercial, can be expensive although La Tejita and El Medano are not far from the airport.
If you can drive, a hire car from Autoreisen or Payless.es are trouble free and very reasonable.
Edited by LuS1fer on Saturday 12th September 12:49
The strip in PDC is very good and mostly flat but most of the hotels are up the hill from it and the roads leading up to them can be quite steep
Another good option is Playa Blanca which has a good number of hotels right on the front between the Rubicon marina and the old town including the new Barcello Playa Blanca which is supposed to be very nice
The path along is flat and both locations offer a good choice of food/drink
I've stayed in both numerous times and both are great but as I said just be mindful PDC is built on a hillside
Another good option is Playa Blanca which has a good number of hotels right on the front between the Rubicon marina and the old town including the new Barcello Playa Blanca which is supposed to be very nice
The path along is flat and both locations offer a good choice of food/drink
I've stayed in both numerous times and both are great but as I said just be mindful PDC is built on a hillside
Playa Blanca and PDC both have very different feels. We found PB much more about the food with a drink and PDC more about the drinks and eventually some food. We all want different things on holiday and im good with the odd Irish bar and a decent Guinness but not a whole strip of them.
scot_aln said:
Playa Blanca and PDC both have very different feels. We found PB much more about the food with a drink and PDC more about the drinks and eventually some food. We all want different things on holiday and im good with the odd Irish bar and a decent Guinness but not a whole strip of them.
Thanks for that reply, I am not being obtuse but I cant follow your message .The one with the whole strip of Irish bars doesn't sound good to me , but I cant follow which one that is ?
Thank you
Edited by cliffords on Sunday 13th September 09:07
scot_aln said:
Playa Blanca and PDC both have very different feels. We found PB much more about the food with a drink and PDC more about the drinks and eventually some food. We all want different things on holiday and im good with the odd Irish bar and a decent Guinness but not a whole strip of them.
Last time I was in PDC I said to my partner they have every kind of Irish Pub you could ever wish for 
Seriously though its a long strip/front with lots of bars and restaurants, and there are a few Irish Bars. Use Google Earth to do a virtual walk. Its what you would expect from a lively tourist resort catering to lots of British and European tourists.
As above PB has a different vibe, but its a lot further to travel.
I prefer PDC for what its worth.
98elise said:
scot_aln said:
Playa Blanca and PDC both have very different feels. We found PB much more about the food with a drink and PDC more about the drinks and eventually some food. We all want different things on holiday and im good with the odd Irish bar and a decent Guinness but not a whole strip of them.
Last time I was in PDC I said to my partner they have every kind of Irish Pub you could ever wish for Seriously though its a long strip/front with lots of bars and restaurants, and there are a few Irish Bars. Use Google Earth to do a virtual walk. Its what you would expect from a lively tourist resort catering to lots of British and European tourists.
As above PB has a different vibe, but its a lot further to travel.
I prefer PDC for what its worth.
Mrs 131 Sport (to put it politely) is a real pain when it comes to choosing restaurants and likes a number of restaurants in PDC. Particular favourites are an Indian down towards the Old Town, an Italian near the Casino, a Moroccan / Spanish place just off the strip also near the Casino and a number of predominantly fish based restaurants in the old town.
Edited by Rob 131 Sport on Sunday 13th September 10:07
https://www.hoteleselba.com/en/hotel/elba-premium-...
We have been here three times, no issues.. check it out.
We have been here three times, no issues.. check it out.
Rob 131 Sport said:
98elise said:
scot_aln said:
Playa Blanca and PDC both have very different feels. We found PB much more about the food with a drink and PDC more about the drinks and eventually some food. We all want different things on holiday and im good with the odd Irish bar and a decent Guinness but not a whole strip of them.
Last time I was in PDC I said to my partner they have every kind of Irish Pub you could ever wish for Seriously though its a long strip/front with lots of bars and restaurants, and there are a few Irish Bars. Use Google Earth to do a virtual walk. Its what you would expect from a lively tourist resort catering to lots of British and European tourists.
As above PB has a different vibe, but its a lot further to travel.
I prefer PDC for what its worth.
Mrs 131 Sport (to put it politely) is a real pain when it comes to choosing restaurants and likes a number of restaurants in PDC. Particular favourites are an Indian down towards the Old Town, an Italian near the Casino, a Moroccan / Spanish place just off the strip also near the Casino and a number of predominantly fish based restaurants in the old town.
Edited by Rob 131 Sport on Sunday 13th September 10:07
I think perhaps you are somewhat younger than the OP and PDC is much livelier with late bars/clubs than PB which is much more laid back and couples orientated than PDC
It's full of Irish bars because it's a huge destination for the Irish and full of Irish stag/hen groups right through the winter
Old Merc said:
https://www.hoteleselba.com/en/hotel/elba-premium-...
We have been here three times, no issues.. check it out.
That looks nice . How far is it to walk from the hotel to bars and restaurants.We have been here three times, no issues.. check it out.
Thank you for suggesting it .
Earthdweller said:
Rob 131 Sport said:
98elise said:
scot_aln said:
Playa Blanca and PDC both have very different feels. We found PB much more about the food with a drink and PDC more about the drinks and eventually some food. We all want different things on holiday and im good with the odd Irish bar and a decent Guinness but not a whole strip of them.
Last time I was in PDC I said to my partner they have every kind of Irish Pub you could ever wish for Seriously though its a long strip/front with lots of bars and restaurants, and there are a few Irish Bars. Use Google Earth to do a virtual walk. Its what you would expect from a lively tourist resort catering to lots of British and European tourists.
As above PB has a different vibe, but its a lot further to travel.
I prefer PDC for what its worth.
Mrs 131 Sport (to put it politely) is a real pain when it comes to choosing restaurants and likes a number of restaurants in PDC. Particular favourites are an Indian down towards the Old Town, an Italian near the Casino, a Moroccan / Spanish place just off the strip also near the Casino and a number of predominantly fish based restaurants in the old town.
Edited by Rob 131 Sport on Sunday 13th September 10:07
I think perhaps you are somewhat younger than the OP and PDC is much livelier with late bars/clubs than PB which is much more laid back and couples orientated than PDC
It's full of Irish bars because it's a huge destination for the Irish and full of Irish stag/hen groups right through the winter
cliffords said:
Old Merc said:
https://www.hoteleselba.com/en/hotel/elba-premium-...
We have been here three times, no issues.. check it out.
That looks nice . How far is it to walk from the hotel to bars and restaurants.We have been here three times, no issues.. check it out.
Thank you for suggesting it .
The bungalows are nice
To the bars/restaurants in the town it's a gentle hill down and about a mile to walk it
To get to the Rubicon is about 2 miles
I rented a car each time and just drove down to the town ( i don't drink)
Another fan of playa Blanca, although if considering Gran Canaria we usually stay here and don’t go far.
https://www.lopesan.com/es/hoteles/espana/gran-can...
I wouldn’t discount mainland Spain or Mallorca in November either.
https://www.lopesan.com/es/hoteles/espana/gran-can...
I wouldn’t discount mainland Spain or Mallorca in November either.
Another Playa Blanca fan been a couple of times.
Bit of something for everyone nice beaches lovely flat walks on the seafront up Montana Roja for sunrise/sunset if able.
Plenty of food options around the marina shopping areas.
Only downside is the slightly longer transfer from the airport.
Bit of something for everyone nice beaches lovely flat walks on the seafront up Montana Roja for sunrise/sunset if able.
Plenty of food options around the marina shopping areas.
Only downside is the slightly longer transfer from the airport.
cliffords said:
Old Merc said:
https://www.hoteleselba.com/en/hotel/elba-premium-...
We have been here three times, no issues.. check it out.
That looks nice . How far is it to walk from the hotel to bars and restaurants.We have been here three times, no issues.. check it out.
Thank you for suggesting it .
It has its own pool with a bar and bistro. Then the premium adults have their own restaurant and bar upstairs in the main biulding. Evening entertainment etc.
You can of course use any of the other facilities.
We found no need to go into town. We did a couple of times y bus.
My favourite is Tenerife but away from the tourist areas in the South.
I normally stay in Puerto de la Cruz or Santa Cruz, the capital. Very Spanish, lots of nice places to eat and drink, plus it's cheap. I use AirBnBs.
If you stay in the capital there's a good tram service which takes you to La Laguna, the old capital. Lots of pedestrian areas and again a massive choice of eateries and bars.
Bus to the capital from the airport takes about 50 minutes, but I always hire a car from Cicar. Reasonable rates and no faffing with checking for damage when you pick it up or drop it off.
There's a big imported sand beach just north of the capital where all the locals go. About 15 mins drive by car and tons of parking.
The bus service all over the island is pretty good, but with a car you can explore at your own pace.
I've stayed Dec to Jan and have been blessed with warm sunny weather. I'll probably head there again this winter
I normally stay in Puerto de la Cruz or Santa Cruz, the capital. Very Spanish, lots of nice places to eat and drink, plus it's cheap. I use AirBnBs.
If you stay in the capital there's a good tram service which takes you to La Laguna, the old capital. Lots of pedestrian areas and again a massive choice of eateries and bars.
Bus to the capital from the airport takes about 50 minutes, but I always hire a car from Cicar. Reasonable rates and no faffing with checking for damage when you pick it up or drop it off.
There's a big imported sand beach just north of the capital where all the locals go. About 15 mins drive by car and tons of parking.
The bus service all over the island is pretty good, but with a car you can explore at your own pace.
I've stayed Dec to Jan and have been blessed with warm sunny weather. I'll probably head there again this winter
Having looked at all the suggestions on here and thank you to everyone who took the time to suggest.
I think our best plan for our needs may well be the Santa Cruz option. We are not going be on beaches, just a bit of looking about. Flat walks , plenty of eating options and bus , tram or taxi as we need it . A kind of city break but in the canaries. We often do city breaks and like the whole set up . I will look at some Airbnb options and hotels in the city too .
Thanks again for all the options.
You can blame YouTube for discounting some of the options that are not really what we are after for this break .
I think our best plan for our needs may well be the Santa Cruz option. We are not going be on beaches, just a bit of looking about. Flat walks , plenty of eating options and bus , tram or taxi as we need it . A kind of city break but in the canaries. We often do city breaks and like the whole set up . I will look at some Airbnb options and hotels in the city too .
Thanks again for all the options.
You can blame YouTube for discounting some of the options that are not really what we are after for this break .
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