Tenerife has topped Cosmos Holidays sales chart with a 60% increase year-on-year, report traveldailyco.uk

Majorca, last year’s number one, is now fourth in the sales list with Florida and Turkey before it.

Other Canary Islands have seen bigger rises in sales, particularly Fuerteventura (250%), Gran Canaria (100%) and Lanzarote (40%).

Menorca

The Algarve, Menorca, Shaem el Sheikh, Zakynthos and Mexico are also within the top ten.

“Whilst early booking trends indicated that this summer was all about the Eastern Mediterranean, the improved strength of the Pound against the Euro has resulted in a last minute surge of bookings to destinations throughout the Western Mediterranean and the Canary Islands,” said Monarch Travel Group Tour Operations Managing Director Hugh Morgan.

“After the challenges of the past 12 months, confidence has clearly been restored in the market and it’s great to see holiday durations lengthening from last year’s seven and 10 night durations to the traditional 14 night breaks.”

http://www.trivago have recently revealed the top island holiday destinations so far for this summer, and Tenerife is one of them. Trivago is worth visiting to check out hotel prices.

Tenerife, Spain
Tenerife, the number one destination for British travellers, is the largest of the seven Canary Islands, and also Spain’s busiest resort – the island receives 10 million visitors each year. The island’s crowning glory is the Pico del Teide, the third largest volcano in the world, which rises 3718 metres from the base of the island. From its peak, travellers have a remarkable view of the island’s 350km of coastline, tropical vegetation, volcanic craters and lava formations. Tenerife’s wild nature is undoubtedly the island’s best feature, but the island is also well known for its beautiful beaches. The island has a rich birdlife, and many travellers consider the bird park ”Loro Parque“ a mandatory stop. The Carnival of Santa Cruz – one of the world’s largest carnivals – takes place every year in February.

Cyprus
Cyprus is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, and while many associate its name with historical and political divisiveness, millions of tourists visit the island each year for its spectacular sights and attractions. As a result of its turbulent history, Cyprus has evolved into an intriguing and alluring blend of Greek and Turkish identities.  The Tomb of the Kings, a network of underground tombs dating back to the 4th Century BC, are one of the island’s most prominent attractions, and the island’s many medieval forts and citrus groves are beautiful to behold. The Karpas Peninsula is also renowned for its breathtaking beaches.

Majorca, Spain
Majorca is part of the Balearic Islands archipelago and is one of Europe’s most popular island destinations. The island is well known for its nightlife and numerous clubs and bars, particularly in the town centre of Playa de Palma and El Arenal. Visitors are drawn to the island’s turquoise blue bays, pristine sandy beaches, antique ruins and historical buildings, such as the Cathedral La Seu and the Palacio Real de la Almudaina in Palma. It pays to escape the island’s touristic heart and venture out into the wild, however;  those who do will discover the true essence of Majorca, in the form of idyllic villages, local markets and the traditional Majorcan way of life.

Gran Canaria, Spain
Located 125 miles off the coast of West Africa, the Spanish island of Gran Canaria is often referred to as a mini continent, due to its many different climates. In the south, the climate is tropical and dry; in the north, it is subtropical and dry. The result is a glorious diversity of plant and animal life, giving nature enthusiasts plenty to explore during their stay. Hikers will also appreciate the 2,000 metre high Pozo de las Nieves mountain in the centre of Gran Canaria, which attracts climbers from around the world.  Another of the island’s main attractions is the dune beach, located near Maspalomas, a town in the south of the island. Culture lovers should visit the capital Las Palmas in the north of Gran Canaria which has magnificent buildings, such as the Cathedral Santa Ana. Another highlight is the old fortress Castillo de la Luz that is currently used as a museum.

Lanzarote
Lanzarote is the fourth largest island in the Canary Island chain, and was the first of the islands to be settled in 1100 BC. At first glance, Lanzarote’s sparse, volcanic landscape may seem bleak, but for those willing to look a little closer, many amazing attractions are to be found. Lanzarote’s beaches are particularly well noted, and visitors to the Timanfaya National Park can witness the otherworldly beauty of the island’s volcanic craters and lava fields. Unique experiences abound; guests will certainly enjoy the park’s El Diablo restaurant, where food is cooked directly over a volcanic vent, or a trek through the ‘Tunnel of Atlantis’ – the world’s largest submerged volcanic tunnel.

Crete
The island of Crete is probably best known for its legends ties to Greek legends such as the Minotaur and the tragic tale of Icarus and Daedalus. The ruins of the Minoan palace of Knossos, of Venetian fortresses and former trading ports all point to the island’s rich history and cultural legacy. Yet this ancient island has much to offer the modern world as well: Cretan art, literature and music styles (typically performed with a lyre) are very distinct, and have contributed greatly to the diversity and evolution of Greek culture. Visitors to Crete would be remiss if they did not explore the island’s many ruins and heritage sites, and  the island’s fresh produce and Mediterranean cuisine will provide a tantalizing treat for the senses.

Gran Canaria Blog

There’s a part of Gran Canaria that has become known by holidaymakers visiting the island as ‘Little Venice’ – the village of Puerto de Mogan.

Away from the bigger resorts it’s a haven of tranquility and still has the air of a traditional village, but with the advantage of good modern accommodation with both a hotel and self catering accommodation available.

Puerto de Mogan’s similarity to the Italian city of canals is no accident. The vision of the designers of the beachfront part of the city was to re-create the quaintness of Venice in a Spanish environment.

It’s located on the southwestern coast of Gran Canaria. The island is the second largest most populous in the Canary Island chain. Visitors from Europe, the UK and further afield for its sunshine, beaches, charm and rich culture.

The island is home to over 800,000 residents. It sees well over twice that many annual visitors. Tourism is an important part of the economy.

A majority of tourist activity takes place along the eastern coast of the island. Much of it is centered around the capital city of Las Palmas.

The western side is less populated and concentrated. This is one reason that Puerto de Mogan’s developers decided to adopt an Italian theme. Created by an Italian designer, it’s one that is unique to the island.

Visitors to the beachside downtown area will be hard pressed to find a motor vehicle of any kind. Instead, Puerto de Mogan caters to the pedestrian.

Designers created arched walkways reminiscent of many Italian cities. Visitors can stroll the bricked walkways which link the town’s shops, restaurants and quaint residences and hotels.

The real nod to Venice, though, is the town’s canals. They run through the village and out into the marina area which opens into the Atlantic Ocean.

While many of Gran Canaria’s popular resort towns feature modern high-rise buildings. This was another deliberate design choice by town visionaries.

The main hotel sits comfortably in the surroundings, and for those considering a week or two’s holiday it can be booked in the UK via Thomson Holidays or independently.

No buildings exceed two stories tall except for a small handful of older ones. Any modern construction is limited by law to two stories or less. This feature adds to the unique charm of the beach town.

Locals survived for centuries on fishing. The city is still home to many native fishermen. However, most of the economic activity comes from tourism in today’s world.

Daytrippers tend to stick to the waterfront area of the city. Tourists who want to stay for a spell and spend a little bit less money can venture further inland. Away from the pricey, tourist driven restaurants and boutiques, visitors can find more authentic cuisine and homier accommodation.

The village is family friendly, with activities for people of all ages. For swimming and sunbathing it’s fairly sheltered, so the water is warm and currents are gentle, helped by the good Gran Canaria weather.

Other popular water activities include snorkelling, boating and jet skiing, as well as surfing if you venture a bit further out.

Puerto de Mogan is widely well known for her Friday market. The open air market draws hundreds of locals as well as tourists every week. Shoppers can find just about anything, from hand made clothing to native produce, fresh fish, and locally made craft and gift items.

A visit to to see Puerto de Mogan is well worthwhile if you’re not staying there during Gran Canaria holidays - most of the coastal towns are connected by a highway.

Some of the eastern towns are even connected by ferry for ease of travel. It’s time well-spent, whether it’s a day trip or a longer stay.

For a Gran Canaria map visit yourgrancanaria.net

Comments from people who have been to the island are often posted on social network sites such as mixx

The best advertising is recommendations from previous users, and to win an award that comes about as a direct result of your guests saying you provide great service is one worth winning - and that’s what’s happened for twenty of Tenerife’s hotels.

Organised by Thomas Cook Holidays, the awards recognise excellence, and it’s judged by actual guests at hotels who share their experience with the company via a Customer Satisfaction Questionnaire.

As well as awarding the best hotels it allows the company to keep on top of which hotels they use are perhaps not performing as well as others, and being able to make sure the hotels in Tenerife they offer are the best in the travel industry.

Some of the hotels that won awards are already well known to tourists, and in Playa de las Americas for example include the Bitacora and the Hotel Sol.

Los Cristianos is another well known resort popular for Tenerife holidays, and winners include the Paradise Park, Arona Gran and the Los Alisios apartments, while the Barcelo Santiago picked up honours from their hotel in Puerto de Santiago.

The Iberostar’s two hotels in Tenerife’s Costa Adeje both were among the winners, along with the Gran, ensuring all the popular areas for tourists from the UK and further afield were well represented and showing that the island is capable of providing great accommodation in different locations and it’s not just the Tenerife weather that attracts tourists.

Thomas Cook Holidays whose clients made the nominations are one of the UK’s best known travel companies, along with First Choice and Thomson.

For those who haven’t been before, the Tenerife weather is often near perfect on the southern half of the island for a holiday, while the northern half offers lush greenery and beautiful vistas. The cities are always full of life, and the glorious view of Mount Tiede, Spain’s highest point, is one many tourists remember from past visits.

For specific areas, Thomas Cook Holidays offer good information on their travel site about each one, but some of the less known areas are:

Icod de los Vinos (just Icod to the locals) is Tenerife’s premier wine-growing region. Daily life in Icod moves at a more relaxed pace than some other places on the island. If you visit Icod, be sure to visit the Dragon Tree that the locals say is thousands of years old. The beautiful Playa San Marcos with its inviting black sand can be found nearby.

La Laguna is a good place to stay if you enjoy art and architecture, and is more suited for adults than family holidays. The Cathedral dates back to 1515, and there are many interesting churches to explore. The city was once the capital of the island and still bears the regal air of an important place.

Los Gigantes is a city at the foot of massive cliffs which bears the same name. The picturesque marina offers boat trips for dolphin and whale watching, while the town has a good choice of bars, restaurants and shops while out and about.

For more information including press releases visit yourtenerife.net

Lanzarote Blog

Lanzarote

There are three main towns In Lanzarote where the majority of people who visit stay:

Playa Blanca, Puerto Del Carmen and Costa Teguise.

Each is different and offers new and exciting things to do.

Accommodation in Lanzarote

The three primary accommodation types are apartments, villas and hotels. Shopping, restaurants and bars are easily accessible. Most restaurants stay open very late to accommodate those who enjoy their night life.

Playa Blanca is popular with those who take Lanzarote villa holidays but they are also available in the other areas.

Relaxation

Beaches are not in short supply - it is an island after all. Snorkeling, swimming and other water sports are readily available. Many sunbathers enjoy watching others enjoy the surf while they take in the Lanzarote weather and incredible scenery.

Nothing beats the total relaxation of a spa day. Local spas cater to seasonal visitors and provide a good way to relax and get away from it all. Sea water treatment centres are in high demand. Sea water is very soothing and therapeutic with a naturally calming effect.

Cafes, restaurants and bars are good places to catch some shade and relaxation. A cool drink helps keep the body hydrated while you enjoy the surrounding sights and sounds.

Sightseeing

Aside from waking up to the horizon outside the window, away from the beaches other locations are deserving of a tourist’s time. Playa Blanca’s new golf course and marina are two examples of the attractions in the southern part of Lanzarote.

Timanfaya National Park is a must see. Plan to spend at least a few hours and enjoy the restaurant if possible. Please keep in mind that you will be treading the top of a volcano and dress accordingly. It will likely be cooler than the rest of the island and rocky ground requires adequate footwear.

Castillo de las Coloradas gets its name from the colourful rocks on the coastline of Playa Blanca. The ruins of an historic castle that was built to help defend the island and its inhabitants from pirate attacks in the mid 1700s are just to the east of the Playa Blanca area.

One of the primary landmarks in the southern part of Lanzarote is the lighthouse, Faro de Pechiguera. Built in 1986, the lighthouse is of fairly recent construction and not that spectacular in itself.

The walk from Playa Blanca to the lighthouse however is absolutely amazing. The trek takes approximately half an hour, depending on pace and offers views of neighbouring islands Los Lobos and Fuerteventura.

Don’t Forget Sunscreen and Comfortable Shoes

The sun’s rays are well known to cause aesthetically pleasing tans as well as types of skin cancer. Take proper care of your skin while visiting the Canary Islands and take sunscreen. Drink a lot of fluids to prevent dehydration and take comfortable shoes.

Sandals and flip-flops are preferred summer wear for most people on their Lanzarote holidays. Some people even prefer to simply go barefoot.

Take more caution and be a little more practical when visiting all of the natural wonders. Hot sand can blister, slippery rocks may cause falls, and volcanic rock may cut your feet. You don’t have to wear them all the time, but you definitely need proper footwear while out sightseeing and exploring the delight that is Lanzarote.

Visit yourlanzarote.net for more information and social media like twitter for thoughts from those on their trip right now.

Good news for the island comes from UK regional newspaper The Birmingham Mail who reported recently on Thomson Holidays new hotels for the island:

The stars will be shining bright in Tenerife this summer – and I’m not talking heavenly bodies here.

From next month stars from West End productions will be jetting out on a fortnightly basis to entertain UK holidaymakers enjoying a totally new holiday concept in the Canary Islands.

It’s all part of a multi-million pound gamble by holiday giant Thomson, called Sensatori.

But companies like Thomson are not really in the business of gambling unless the odds are stacked in their favour.

And as Sensatori proved to be a winning formula in Crete and in Mexico when it was launched there just two years ago, it’s odds on it will work in Tenerife.

In fact it’s already working judging by the number of advanced booking.

From early May, the stunningly beautiful 609 bedroom Gran Melia Palacio hotel, on Tenerife’s south west coast will take on the mantle of Thomson’s third Sensatori hotel – and more than 700 guests will arrive to experience it.

So what is it and what makes it so special? I visited the Gran Melia ahead of the crowds to find out.

Sensatori translates as ‘enlighten the senses’ and those senses are certainly in for some enlightenment in a very unspoiled, low rise part of a traditionally high rise island.

The Sensatori formula is made up of a number of essential parts. Part one is take a new five-star-plus hotel – in this case the two-year old Gran Melia with its vast Roman colannade-fringed central plaza, 14 spectacular fountains and myriad teracotta-roofed towers.

The cool – in every sense of the word – split level marble lobby area has a huge domed roof with a giant mobile of solid silver leaves hanging from it. This hotel is a real style sensation. It’s so eye-poppingly beautiful, waif-like models from the men’s magazine FHM were using it as a backdrop for a fashion shoot during my visit.

Part two is ensure it has a stunning location. The Gran Melia is a 26 acre, ocean-front property with the longest swimming pool – or rather lagoon – in Spain and one of the longest in Europe.

Part three, is sprinkle the Sensatori magic dust onto the property to transform it into something even more special.

That dust means that from Sunday, Thomson guests will get a whole new experience for all members of the family, in terms of dining, activities, attractions for children and entertainment.

I noticed it as soon as I walked into the entrance lobby and was hit by the distinctive Melia fragrance in the air – hitting the first of those senses.

The Sensatori programme means that there will be a sensational line-up of 49 activities to promote sport and wellbeing introduced, including tai chi and aqua tai chi, spinning, tennis, archery, rugby, soccer, walks, nutritional classes and much, much more. But all these will be away from the main public areas and Sensatori ‘flavour sheets’ will allow you to put your name down to opt in if you want to take part or you can just opt out and relax in the resort.

Thomson Holidays guests will get fullboard-plus, which means breakfast, lunch and dinner are all included in the price as is beer, wine and soft drinks with meals.

And in the Gran Melia the food in the main Pangea restaurant is exceptional, even by five star hotel standards. I have rarely seen such a magnificent dinner buffet, with something to suite everyone’s taste buds and chefs at your beck and call to cook to your individual desires.

The breakfast buffet too is just as splendid and extensive, more than satisfying yet another of those senses – taste.

But because the Sensatori formula dictates that a hotel has to have six different restaurants – in order to offer guests even more choice than a traditional hotel – there are an additional five speciality eateries. These include Galima, where Michelin star chef Dani Garcia conjures up some culinary masterpieces, and the Japanese restaurant Nami which you enter via a stone tunnel taking you into a different world. It offers an intriguing choice but I opted for tappanyaki – and ate it under the watchful eye of a mini army of life-sized Terracotta warriors, obviously deserters from Xian.

Sensatori is as much about experiences for children as their parents and a special wing of the hotel has been turned into the “Playhouse” for young children and a nursery for babies. And because Sensatori is about the senses, the programme in the Playhouse is all about enjoyable learning, with sessions in the “creative kitchen”, the “silly science lab” and the “story book corner”.

And as you can imagine one of the favourites in the Playhouse is the once a week sleep over, to give mum and dad the night off. Amazingly the creche is already solidly booked for the whole of May. The Gran Melia has a superb YSI spa, and under the Sensatori banner there will be one day per week where adults can take a child in too.

“The idea is to get people to re-connect,” Thomson’s Sensatori experience manager, Alison Ventura, told me.

“Rather than mum saying ‘I’m off to the hairdressers’ and leave the children with dad she can, for example, take her daughter along and they can have their hair done side by side.”

Next to the spa is a gym so well equipped it would have Arnold Swarzenegger salivating. It’s free to use so there is no excuse for not working off some of the pounds you are bound to put on given the culinary temptations of the Gran Melia.

If you are not so energetic you can stroll in the beautifully kept gardens or take the cliff walk to the totally uncommercialised little town of Alcala, about ten minutes away and then return to relax on one of the Bali beds around one of the many pools. To read the full article click here

For more details about hotels in Tenerife visit yourtenerife.net

Thomson holidays also do other Canary Island holidays, including Lanzarote holidays and holidays in Gran Canaria

Tenerife has a new official internet site, report traveldaily.co.uk, who comment:

The Tenerife Tourism Corporation has announced the launch of its new website.

Attracting more than two million visits per year, the newly revamped website (webtenerife.com) has been redesigned to provide better accessibility to information on the island as well as tools to help plan and book holidays to Tenerife.

The content, which is available in English as well as Spanish, German, French and Italian, is divided into five different categories:

Activities, Places of interest, Accommodation, About Tenerife and Useful Information.

Additional content includes a calendar of events, a Tenerife weather forecast, maps, downloadable brochures and further subcategories.

Jose Manuel Bermudez, Vice-president of the Tenerife Island Government and Councillor for Tourism said during the official launch of the website “This new design will allow easy access to tourist information on the island and aims to encourage people to explore the great diversity of Tenerife’s natural landscapes, to embrace its culture and to discover all the options available year round”.

Mr. Bermudez also highlighted the importance of online presence: “Seven out of 10 of our visitors use the internet to search information and plan their holiday. In addition, 12% of people who have stayed in Tenerife visited our website”.

The new website also features Spain’s only multi-product online booking system. The new tool which was developed by Segittur (Spain’s Innovation and Tourist Technologies National Management Society) can be accessed through webtenerife.com and allows visitors to purchase excursions, hotels, flights, car hire, tee times at golf courses and tickets to theme parks.

For more travel news visit www.traveldaily.co.uk and for holidays in Tenerife

Comments from people currently on holiday in tenerife can be accessed via twitter

Advertised costs for a holiday in Tenerife, like many other popular destinations, has come down in real terms in recent years.

A great deal of this is down to lower airfares, with low cost carriers flying to Tenerife and the other Canary Islands from the UK, Ireland and other parts of Europe, at a significantly lower cost than their competitors.

But are cheap flights to Tenerife because of some airlines ability to be more efficient than others - or is it because holiday destinations know that more airlines equals more flights, which in turn means more tourists arriving, and they are prepared to give preferential treatment over exisiting carriers, allowing flights to come down in price for some, but not all airlines?

For Tenerife it’s possible that it’s come to the stage where some tour operators feel that the playing field is so uneven it’s difficult for them to win in a fair fight - and could stop offering holidays at all.

The island would be the loser as the major tour operators don’t just offer flights - hotels, car hire and excursions are often offered, and any gain in more people currently taking low cost flights to Tenerife will be more than offset by the number of holidaymakers lost who take package holidays.

In recent years tour operators have found it harder to compete anyway as more people have been acting as their own travel agent via the internet, booking their hotels, car hire and flights seperately.

But if tour operators did pull out it could really hurt Tenerife as there is a swing back towards what tour operators do best at the moment - package holidays.

As the Euro - used by Spain as her currency - has increased in value against the British currency - Sterling - British holidaymakers have been discovering holiday destinations cheaper than Tenerife, notably Egypt and Turkey.

Package holidays offered by tour operators have been one way to fight against currency fluctuations, with many tourists taking all inclusive options and taking their meals at their Tenerife hotels - take away some of the tour operators and potentially tens of thousands of tourists will look elsewhere if the island isn’t given as an option.

But it’s not just because the tour operators are able to all inclusive holidays in Tenerife for those who want it - a recent event highlighted to many the benefit of booking with a company like Thomson or Thomas Cook Holidays:

The volcanic ash cloud that grounded flights for a week in Europe left tens of thousands of tourists stranded, and those who had booked their flights and accommodation independently were often left to organise their own way home.

But for those who had book with major tour operators like Thomas Cook and Thomson Holidays, they were in luck as the companies went the extra mile to provide accommodation and meals, along with organising their clients to be on flights home as soon as they could. Some even travelled back to Britain on a brand new cruise ship…quite a contrast to the independent travellers who made their way home at considerable expense overland.

Now is not the time for Tenerife to consider trading off the tour operators against the attraction of budget airlines.

More details about Tenerife are at http://www.yourtenerife.net and included is a map, news and information and a forecast for the next five days for the Tenerife weather

Wondering where on the island is the best beach? According to whiteocean.com:

Playa De Las Teresitas, Tenerife

This gorgeous sandy beach was improved in 1973, with lashings of sand from the Spanish province of Sahara and numerous coconut palms planted alongside the breakwater. Centuries later it is the most popular beach on the island and the perfect destination to visit whilst on a family holiday.

The beach always has plenty of activities taking place from beach volleyball and countless watersports options to impromptu aerobics lessons with Tenerife’s answer to Mr. Motivator.

For more details about holidays in Tenerife along with a Tenerife weather forecast visit yourtenerife.net

2 million Britons are heading abroad for the Easter holidays - with Tenerife one of the top destinations, according to internet site Opodo who say:

More than 2m British holidaymakers are set to take advantage of the Easter break by embarking on a trip between 1 and 6 April, according to Abta - The Travel Association.

The organisation revealed that Spain remains the ‘outright favourite’ for Britons, with Tenerife and other destinations in the Canary Islands proving particularly popular.

Looking further afield, travellers have showed strong interest in Egypt, Tunisia and Turkey, as well as the tropical hotspots of Florida and the Caribbean.

Abta pointed out that Easter is also a ‘peak time’ for city breaks, with Paris, Amsterdam, Dublin, Milan and New York leading the field in this sector.

Those planning to stay in the UK have shown strong interest in London, Edinburgh and Manchester, as well as rural areas such as Cornwall, East Anglia and northern England.

John McEwan, chairman of the industry association, said: ‘Easter is the traditional curtain raiser to the summer and I am delighted to see that hundreds of thousands of our customers are taking the opportunity to take a well-earned break both here in the UK and overseas.’

For more holidays in Tenerife information visit yourtenerife.net - including cheap Tenerife flights