Once upon a time, if you said you were off to Lanzarote or Tenerife, people would assume that you would be staying in a cramped, soulless resort complex on a bargain basement package holiday, drinking beer in an English pub, shoulder to shoulder with fellow sunburnt Brits. Cheap holidays are still plentiful and great value for money, but standards have risen and there’s now also a wide range of upmarket accommodation, away from the crowds.
With their arid, volcanic landscape, Tenerife, Lanzarote and Gran Canaria have an unusual natural beauty as well as a sunny climate. Although the well-known resorts are very busy with tourists, these big islands still have nature reserves, fishing ports and banana plantations. If you venture further afield than the imported sands of Tenerife’s Playa de las Americas and Los Cristianos, or Lanzarote’s Puerto del Carmen, you’ll find peaceful holiday villas away from the crowds. The smaller islands of La Gomera and La Palma have forested mountain interiors which are perfect for exploring.
The appeal of these islands continues because there is something for everyone, from resort apartments to secluded villas and rural cabins. All tastes are catered for, with lively bars and clubs and idyllic unspoilt countryside, plus a whole range of activities. Also, Fuerteventura is a mecca for windsurfers with its strong prevailing winds. At about 4 ½ hours flying time from the UK, and with a choice of budget airlines offering deals, the Canary Islands are very easily reached.