Tenerife Holidays - It's Not Just The Great Beaches...

Canary Island Tenerife has prospered along with much of Europe in the last twenty years, and has built itself a reputation as a great place for a holiday.

So successful has Tenerife’s promotions been as a holidays destination that a significant part of the island’s economy and employment is based upon tourism - and any drop in visitor numbers hits the local population in the number of people employed and the amount of money available to locals to spend.

So the news that tourist numbers have dropped so far in 2009 by over ten per cent compared to last year is not just bad for Tenerife - it’s appalling.

But even with a drop of over ten per cent in the number of people taking holidays in Tenerife this year, the numbers do look impressive and give rise for future hope - nearly 300,000 tourists chose Tenerife for a holiday in January for example.

What can holidaymakers expect when they choose the island, apart from the great weather in Tenerife?

You can find anything in Tenerife that you would expect to find in a European tourist location. There are water parks, theaters, golf courses, restaurants, shopping and much more. Tenerife does have its own particular flavour, though, and even with all of the European influence on the island it is unmistakably Tenerife.

Tenerife’s capital city is Santa Cruz, which boasts a population of over 220,000. It is titled the island of the ‘Eternal Spring’ because of its agreeable climate.

The variety of activities and excursions on this island is impressive. Hot air balloon tours are available, as are Jeep tours. Tenerife offers countless animal attractions and a lush botanical garden.

Tenerife hosts the celebrated Loro Parque - an impressive zoo with animals from around the world in natural settings.

Tenerife also features large water parks for families. The available swimming groups and scuba diving schools can provide a wonderful session of training for those who long to swim in the clear waters.

The volcanic activity has created a unique sea floor that scuba divers enjoy year round. Mount Teide offers visitors a glimpse from the highest elevation in the region. This towering mountain rises over 3,700 meters above sea level. You can quickly go from the comfortably warm temperatures on the sandy beaches to throwing snowballs atop this peak.

The island features two predominant areas for visitors to enjoy. The southern part of the island offers the warm temperatures and tropical settings. The northern part of the island is smaller and less populated with milder temperatures. Visitors can find high quality man-made beaches around many of the large resorts.

Tenerife features a dozen Blue Flag beaches. These serene stretches have been analysed and evaluated for cleanliness and environment friendly operation. Tenerife offers visitors five national parks for hiking, bicycling and walking. The scenery is unique and gorgeous.

There’s so many reasons to visit Tenerife for a holiday, and if you’re considering your family holidays at the moment, it could be a great summer to visit as there are less holidaymakers than normal on the island.

Tenerife is one of the most popular areas of Spain for people to move to on a full time basis, according to a report in the Tenerife News. To read more click here

And it’s not just people who want to move to Spain full time who love Tenerife - A leading German travel company has chosen the island for it’s 2009 conference. This will help Tenerife as those travel agents who haven’t visited before will be able to help inform potential tourists about holidays in Tenerife

British people, as elsewhere, are facing a recession but also dealing with the declining value of the pound. Banks have lent out too much money. Unemployment is up and manufacturing is down. The current recession is likely due to the credit crunch, combined with the falling price of houses. Britain hasn’t experienced this kind of economic situation since the recession of 1991.

Despite trying times, they aren’t willing to give up their holidays. Instead, British consumers are using the recession to get cheap deals on holidays.

Cheap Holidays for British Tourists

Spending the holidays taking in the sand and sun of beaches on the Mediterranean or taking in the history of a distant country has become second nature to British consumers. In the past, trips to Spain, Turkey, New York and Florida have been pricey. The Internet has helped holidaymakers create less expensive travel plans though. Holidays that used to break the bank are now becoming more affordable. 76 percent of Brits who travelled overseas got a great deal on their last holiday.

Here are a few ways to ensure a good deal on your next trip:

* Check out package deals and all-inclusive plans. Booking your flight, hotel and meals together can usually save holidaymakers time and money.

* Check for cheaper flights at odd times. Catching the red eye isn’t part of an ideal holiday, but it is more affordable and allows holidaymakers to save money and still be able to travel.

* Out of season destinations can be great value and the weather in Tenerife for example is good all year round.

* Compare currency from one country to another to see which destinations are most economical to visit.

* Travel during off-peak months. June and July are peak travel months. Plan a holiday in the off-peak times to get a better deal.

* Look for special offers. Many travel websites offer a deal of the day with cheap fares. For holidays in Tenerife for example visit yourtenerife.net

* Book last minute deals on flights and hotels. If airlines and resorts aren’t booked already, they offer better deals at the last minute to fill their empty spots.

* Locate discount tickets to area attractions before you go. Theme parks and other attractions frequently offer discount coupons and tickets online. A quick search for these can make an otherwise expensive family excursion more affordable.

Using the Internet to Find Cheaper Holidays

Things have changed in the travel industry since holidaymakers have access to the Internet. It relieves the need for a travel agent. You can save money by cutting out the middle man and searching for your own good deal. Now you can book holidays right from the comfort of your own home. You can compare prices of hotels, villas and flights from one site to another. Gaining access to pictures, reviews, prices, hours, maps and more allows consumers to make informed decision about where to book their next holiday.

Now British holidaymakers can compare prices on various travel expenses, decide where their money is best spent and figure out ways to save money. A quick search on the Internet provides a list of travel options that fit in a tight budget. The economic downturn that Britain is experiencing isn’t expected to be long term. Next year is expected to be a year of recovery. Until then, Brits continue to find cheap deals for their holidays in Europe, including holidays in Tenerife

Never heard of Los Abrigos? If you’re wondering where to stay during holidays in Tenerife the village might be worth considering, and the ever excellent Tenerife internet site http://www.tenerifenews.com has just done an article about it.

Here’s an extract:

One of the prettiest and most natural fishing villages in the south of Tenerife just has to be Los Abrigos. When you are walking along the promenade or eating a delicious fish dish in one of the harbour-front restaurants, it’s hard to believe it is just five minutes’ drive from the TF-1.

The main part is quite urbanised with a very wide road flanked by tall properties and a selection of shops and banks. There are not a lot of souvenir or tourist shops but there is plenty of variety to keep you occupied and it’s fun exploring the side streets.

To read more click through to the aricle at tenerifenews here

The number of people taking holidays in Tenerife this January has dropped by more than ten per cent compared to January 2008.

More details can be seen by clicking here