2017 TENERIFE HOLIDAY IN SIGHT

It's that time again and we are thinking of our sun filled summer in Tenerife! The buzz of excitement, once we have pressed the button and the holiday is finally all booked up. The countdown to the days of getting on the plane and the thrill of landing in Tenerife Sur airport. The best part is when you walk off the plane and the heat just hits your whole body. Suddenly, England is a passing thought and your holiday is about to start.

So how do you select the best place for you to stay? It is all about what you like, what you want and your own personal taste. What you might like, others may hate so researching and getting recommendations from people you can trust is important. Tripadvisor is a great tool to refer back too but it can blow your mind a bit if the ratings are up and down for the hotel of your choice. Lets be honest, you cannot please people all the time and sometimes I think holiday-makers can only put the negative things on here.

Quick guide to location and what to expect!

Playa De Las Americas

It has everything you need for bars, English type restaurants, hotels and water-sport hire. This has always been a favourite but people are moving more to Costa Adeje and Los Cristianos. It is good for all ages but it tends to attract the young party people as it is close to Veronicas which is known for the parties and nightlife. You can stay away from this part and there is nice hotels nearer the beach but it's not my favourite area but thats a personal choice.

My opinion: It is not for me and I feel you get much more quality in the hotels, local area and food if you select the location in Fanabe, Adeje or Los Cristianos (would be my 3rd choice).

Warning: Like all places you visit, there are some things you need to take care about and one of the issues in Las Americas is groups of women standing in the streets outside the clubs. These will be women of a Cuban, African or similar nationality and then come up to men and take them around the back of the bars etc. Avoid this please as you will be robbed.

Also always keep your bags close by when sunbathing on the beach as this is a typical issue of stolen bags and wallets.

Ok, so I do not wish to put you off Tenerife but I base my blog reviews on trust and honesty so if you know what to look out for, you will have a safer holiday. 

Costa Adeje

This is now the most popular choice and I have seen over the years, more and more tourists heading to this part of the island. There is lots of pubs and restaurants to take your pick from and the standard of hotels are really great. You have some lovely little beach walks from Puerto Colon, right down to Fanabe and El Dulque or you can take the opposite route from Colon to Los Cristianos. You wont be short of a watering hole along the way too.

Fanabe Beach Walk, Costa Adeje

Fanabe Beach Walk, Costa Adeje

Fanabe Beach, Costa Adeje

Popular places to visit at night for bars is in the St Eugenes area and I would recommend for entertainment The Temple Bar which has great live Irish music and if you want a quieter bar, the Irish Fiddler next door (shared terrace) will offer you a great pint of Guinness or a super cocktail. Prices can be a little bit more than other bars but you get the live entertainment and atmosphere so hey, you are on holiday so treat yourself. The food is very good here so make sure you try it. Plenty of football on the screens to keep you up to date with lots of matches and it is a good central stopping point, with the large supermarket just across the road.

 Opposite here, you will get some good night life in San Eugenes Bar which has live tribute  acts on every night. Please beware if you have small children as the language can be a    little blue and they do have live cameras and photographs so if you are going on holiday  with someone you shouldn't be, stay clear of this bar. lol!!!

 My opinion:  I tend to stay away from the hotels up around by the Aqua Water Park area  and also down the stretch towards St Eugenes. The hotels do not have good reviews and  are a bit less quality. It can get noisy along this part with the bars which is great if this  doesn't bother you so if you get a good deal holiday offer in this area, make sure you have  checked out any reviews first.

 My sister Maureen recently stayed in the Hovima Santa Maria in Adeje and she liked it.  Food was good. Her opinion is that it wasn't as good as the Sunwing in Fanabe but she still  had a good time.

 Los Cristianos

Another popular choice of area for tourists and it is a little more quieter here but still lots to do and see. You will see the Cruise Liner boats from here and you will also be able to book a ferry to the neighbouring island La Gomera, which is a quieter island.

Plenty of little cafes to take a coffee or try an ice-cream as they really do offer super flavours and its simply a nice way to feel cooler in the blazing heat.

The hotel I stayed in twice, was really friendly, clean and very much a people's hotel. Paradise Park hotel focus on their visitors and offer a shuttle bus into the short main area a few times a day. There is a little bank to walk up so if you struggle with your legs or breathing, you may want to rethink but it is not really steep. 

Taylors bar, which is close to the hotel, offers typical English food and drinks and the owner is really friendly and nice. Newspapers available while having your morning coffee. 

Area around Paradise Park Hotel, Los Cristianos

View of Los Cristianos from Paradise Park Hotel Roof Top

Wherever you decide to stay, I am sure you will have a great holiday. The island is now one of the favourite with tourist figures, steadily on the rise. 

So, happy holiday and I hope you continue to read my blog, follow me on Twitter @dawnmcintyre04, Facebook @tapasintenerife or Instagram dittomac

Please feel free to leave any comments.

THE SPANISH LANGUAGE

Why is it good to learn the Spanish language when living in Tenerife? especially when there are so many ex-pat's residing on this island and a lot of the local people speak English. 

Ok, this is correct and English is the most commonly spoken language in the world, (music has influenced our language, to be a leader), so it seems ideal to just carry on using this one language. Well let us look into it a bit further from a different perspective and see why learning the Spanish language can bring so many other opportunities to your door.

Why has the Spanish language overtaken French and German and now the popular choice?

The language is currently a favourite choice for students and professionals (especially in the United States). A report by the British Council has identified this language is the most important language to learn for the future for the people of the UK.

There are over 400 million native Spanish speakers in the world; making it the second most widely spoken language (21 different countries). In addition to this, it is estimated 60 million people use it as their second language.

So now that we know the facts to support that Spanish is a fast growing language of the future, how can we adapt our way of thinking, change and embrace the new opportunities that sit at the open door!

If you have made the brave and bold decision to live in Tenerife or Spain, well done! it must be an exciting opportunity to learn new ways of life, culture, food and above all, the art of mastering the language. Accents play a part on how you will pronounce words, for example a person in mainland Spain will pronounce Spanish words in a different dialect from those from the Canary Islands. You will be noticed by what part of Spain you have 'picked up' the language or have studied, by the way you speak it.

Cultural, historical and geographical areas can result in grammatical and linguistic differences for the Spanish language. Some will make a difference but some may not be noticeable. With so many Spanish speakers, world wide, determining the proper dialect for interpreting, can be seen as very difficult.

Castilian Spanish

Developed and spoken in Madrid and Northern Spain and its name comes from the former kingdom of Castile. Letters pronounced with 'ci' or 'ce' as a th sound when they are together. There is other forms of Spanish types of pronouncement such as Latin American and Caribbean which will be immediately noticeable when in the company of mainland Spain or the Canary Islands.

Traditional Tenerife Style Costume

Opportunity Knocks...

So if we know that the Spanish language has rapidly increased amongst the young students and business people, it is in your best interest to study hard and add this new skill to your list of qualifications. If you decide to work in Tenerife, do not fall into the trap like many English ex-pats, where they are limited to work in the tourist areas only. There are well paid employment in large hotels, marketing, advertising and sales if you have the ability to interpret both Spanish and English language. 

Take the plunge, especially if your children go into a local Spanish school, there are classes available for the parents to learn the language too (usually free). This way, you open so many doors for more job opportunities, widen your scope of new friends and you can even participate in helping your children with their homework.

Now you know the facts, have some fun and add learning Spanish to your 'to do list'. Even if you do not intend using it everyday, take yourself out of the 'traditional English mode' or whatever nationality and add some 'change' into your life.

Happy studying!

10 FACTS ABOUT HERMANO PEDRO OF TENERIFE

My latest visit to Tenerife included a journey to a little place in which I have wanted to see but never quite got around to doing it. It is a place which is visited by thousands of tourists and visitors each year, who want to pay their respects to this saint. So, after some persuasion with my good friends Nita and Chelo, we decided to take a trip out, one sunny afternoon so they could show me this holy place. I wanted to get a feel for the place and put some pictures behind the historical story which is attached to this man.

The shrine which is dedicated to Peter of Saint Joseph Betancur (Canary First Saint) is located in Granadilla de Abona near El Medano which is on the South of the Island. It is close to Tenerife Sur Airport and you will hear and see the aeroplanes arriving and leaving the Island from this spot. When this is not happening, the place is quiet, still and extremely peaceful. 

The small cave is an unusual place for visitors but this is originally where Hermano Pedro (Brother Peter) would come and rest. 

Cave of Hermano Pedro

What's so interesting about this much loved saint?

1.  One of 5 children and as a small child, worked as a Shepherd. He spent several years working to pay moneylenders who had seized his father's estate due to unpaid debt.

2. He would often walk many miles and the cave was used by him to rest and pray

3. With his brother Mateo eventually moving to New Spain. All debts paid in full, he decided to seek new pastures and took a journey by ship to Havana Cuba in the hope to meet family and start a new life. After landing in the port, he was out of money but he found a priest from Tenerife and worked for him for one year. He had to pay for the journey to Guatemala City by working on a ship and by the time he arrive, he was destitute and he had to join the bread line for the poor.

4. His luck would change when he found his uncle who then got him work in a local textile company.

6. Enrolling in a college and studying priesthood for 3 years, he failed to master the profession. This lead him to rent a house called the Calvary where he taught reading and catechism to the poor children.

7. Adopting the name Peter of Saint Joseph, his work continued and included visiting hospitals, jails and the unemployment. This led to a donation of a hut to him, which he made into a hospital for the poor (who had been discharged from hospital but required convalesce care). He had the support of the Bishop and governor who provided him with items he required.

8. Three years later and supported by some individuals, he was provided with 3 houses which were fully equipped for what he needed and he turned the buildings into a hospital for the poor. Soon after this, there was a shelter for the homeless, school for the poor and an inn for priests.

9. Passionate about praying for the prisons and helping them, he resorted to walking the streets at night to ring bells for people to pray. He encouraged masses to help pray for prisoners and spent his time visiting them in their cells.

10. He died 25th April 1667, aged 41 and exhausted from the labour of work he completed. He dedicated his life to helping the poor, lepers, prisoners, slaves and indians. 

What a remarkable and humble person and his legend is celebrated each year in Tenerife in the village of Vilaflor on 25th April.

Surprisingly, inside the cave was a lot larger than I expected and it was amazing to see that it was full of holy pictures, shrines, rosary beads and flowers. The light from outside, shone in through the doors and it was cool and peaceful. 

The first part of the cave, consisted of a very small room with a wooden shrine. Flowers and chairs set around the room for people to sit, take time to think or say a little prayer. It felt nice in this room, small and pretty but it made you feel that silence was dominated and you were not suppose to speak. I loved this room and I could see why thousands of visitors would flock here each year to pay their respect to this humble man.

Entrance to the small wooden shrine area

The white pretty entrance, surrounded by plants and flowers, created a country cottage feel; a sense of welcome and comforting for visitors. I wondered how the plants and foliage survived the blazing heat which dominated the front of the cave, yet the place was immaculate and blooming.

Walking through the white wash entrance, I immediately caught sight of the large wooden shrine which dominated the room. Nothing intimidating or offensive, no it was tasteful and fitting for this setting. Only a few wooden chairs were set at each side of the room but it was enough to take a seat for a rest, time to collect some thoughts and reflect on life. It was nice in this room, peaceful and silent. 

Inside the small cave: Me with my Tenerife sisters Nita and Chelo

Walking out of the cave and into the second part of the holy place of worship, this part of the cave was larger and full of items to look at and to inspect. There was so much to see that you did not know where to look first. Different holy pictures, shrines, crosses and candles. I have not even seen this many holy items in our local church so it was certainly different but very much respected. Lots of wooden chairs, once again an opportunity to sit and rest from the blazing sunshine outside. The cave was very cool and I could understand why Hermano Pedro would come inside here to possibly sleep, eat and pray. It was a place of shelter, protection from the heat and the troubled life he lead during these times.

It was clear that this cave or place of worship was very much a personal space, religious and carefully loved. It was spotlessly clean and maintained for visitors. 

One of the interesting parts that was explained to me was the fact that people would come here and write notes, personal messages or prayers/blessings. The messages would be put inside the cave walls or up in the ceiling of the cave. It gave me a little bit of a puzzle as to why this was done but then Chelo explained that the area was use to keep goats and the animals would come into the cave and take the personal messages and eat them. It made me laugh but when I looked at the huge amount of messages in the walls and ceiling, it gave me a bit of a chilling feeling. Do not know why but maybe I thought about all the sick people who were desperate for an answer, some hope.

Messages hidden in the walls and ceiling of the cave

I would like to say a special 'thank you' to my sister Maureen McIntyre for providing me with some photographs to add to my collection. I would also like to say a 'big thank you' to my Tenerife sisters Nita and Chelo for taking me to this wonderful historical place.

Nita, Me and Chelo

The information is based on research and all the photographs (with the exception of Maureen McIntyre) are my own material.

Thank you for reading my post and I hope you will join me soon for another journey through Tenerife.

Love

Dawn x

HOW TO PICK OUT THE BEST HOTELS IN TENERIFE

So, you are going to Tenerife for your next holiday adventure but you are not sure where to stay! Where do you start to look for a good hotel and place to stay. There are so many great hotels to choose from but then there are some hotels, you need to think twice about. It all depends on what you want to get out of your holiday and the standards you expect!

If your taste is similar to mine and you like high standards and quality in a hotel, then you have to expect to pay for those standard. Having said this, you can grab a bargain if you keep your eyes peeled, sign up to newsletters and keep track of the latest news from tour operators such as Thomas Cook, Jet2 & Thomsons. Plan around school holiday times and think about other dates such as the last week in November or first week in December, as this is usually a cheaper time to travel. 

Here are my tips to consider when booking your hotel.

• Tripadvisor is a great source of information but it can make you indecisive with mixed reviews. Do not let this be your only decision making tool.
• A good hotel is situated in a nice location, plenty of facilities inside and places to visit nearby. Have freedom to walk and explore or close by for local bus routes.
• Decor is a must and presentation is everything. If the Manager and Staff are proud to work there, you know it has to be good.
• Food is what we enjoy on holiday and a hotel with great chefs are a winner. Find reviews and photographs of the hotel restaurant. Look for newsletters and hotel information so you get more knowledge

Why settle for less?

Fantastic food, friendly family fun at Hotel Isabel, Fanabe Costa Adeje

Atmosphere and friendly staff are an important point of your holiday. Why stay in a dull hotel when there is so much excitement and fun happening. Getting involved with activities and experiencing a part of the life at the hotel is an added bonus. Make new friends and keep track of what is happening all year round. Sign up to their Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages, share your stories and photos. The hotel will love this!

Amigos in Paradise (Paradise Park Hotel, Los Cristianos) - Fun packed activities all year round

Relax in a more sophisticated style, calm and chilled out. A hotel with a good all rounder of choice of quality, food and location. Not everyone wants lots of noise, activities and loud entertainment. Look for a hotel that has a good rooftop with nice views. Sunbathing with a cold drink and looking at some spectacular views will remind you of why you booked the holiday in the first place.  It is not just the rooftop, make sure you get a hotel with a few pool areas so you are not limited to just one!

Consider what hotel will fit with your personality and needs. Don't forget location!

Selection of pools, large roof terrace and stunning views Hotel Fanabe Costa Sur, Adeje

Getting the most of your holiday is an important item on your list and it may be that you simply want the WOW factor. If you can afford it, why not. Spend a little more or look harder for that extra bargain to get what you want. Consider a hotel which is not in the normal location as where the crowds flow, be different and venture a little further afield. If you want a tranquil and more private holiday, head in a different direction of Tenerife and travel North. There is wonderful parts of the island to be explored and some fantastic hotels, restaurants and towns to visit. Life is not all about lying on a beach and clock watching until 'Happy Hour'.  Dig deep and do your research on options of hotels to stay and location. Better still, follow me on Twitter and Facebook where I will keep you updated with places I have been invited to look around and to eat. You will have first-hand information on some great choices.

Tropic features and award winning Hotel Botanico & Oriental Spa, Puerto De La Cruz (North Tenerife)

Lastly, no matter where you stay, customer service and a friendly face should be top of the list. What I will leave you with is that if there is a little room for improvement within the hotel that you stay, take a moment to leave feedback to the hotel. Offer the hotel any opportunity to put things right or review what happened from 'lessons learned' Don't fall foul to emergency Tripadvisor .

Thank you for reading my post and please feel free to follow me on Twitter or Facebook, share my posts and leave comments if you wish. 

From Dawn x

A CANARIAN CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION

Christmas time in Spain is simple but wonderful. The magical Three Wise Men will be a regular occurrence for visiting hotels or festivals which are widely celebrated in Tenerife. It is a time when families come together and welcome each other with food, music and wine. 

Let me take you on a little tour to show you how a typical Spanish traditional Christmas would be spent and some important dates of celebration.

December 24th - Christmas Eve, where you will find families gather to attend Midnight Mass "La Misa Del Gallo' which means Mass of the Rooster. The history behind this is that the Rooster was supposed to have crowed the night that Jesus was born.

This day is one of the main days of celebration where families will have a main meal or Christmas dinner (Turkey stuffed with mushrooms). In Northern Spain, traditional Christmas lunch will be seafood as the area is surrounded by water.

Meat, Fish and good wine (mainly meat). Liqueurs and typical sweets such as Touron (almond, marzipan and various other flavours). Dry fruits and cheeses and the famous Serrano ham. Some families will celebrate with a glass of champagne as this date is a very special celebration day.

After Midnight Mass, in some towns, people walk the streets with lanterns/torches and play guitars and bang on drums. Family and friends continue with celebrations in the home with food, good wine and singing. 

December 25th - this day is not celebrated and is a normal day. It would be a day after the celebrations so I would imagine there will be sore heads from the fiesta and tired children.The day is spent snacking and eating (possibly cold food left over but still fresh and good). Continue with drinking to celebrate but this date is not Christmas day like it is in many other countries. The day will still be enjoyed by singing carols and family time.

December 28th - is similar to April Fools day in the UK where a little trick will be played (but not to the extent of the UK version). It is to celebrate el Día de los Santos Inocentes and a light humour joke will be played. This day is a remembrance of Kind Herod when he ordered to have all children killed under the age of 2 years but he was tricked as baby Jesus had already been taken away.

December 31st - New Year's Eve and a celebration of music, wine and fireworks. The tradition at the stroke of midnight, on each chime of the bell, you must eat one grape for every chime. It is believed that if you eat the 12 grapes on each chime, you will have 12 months of good luck.

January 5th - is a time for children to be excited and a hope that tomorrow will bring some gifts from the Three Kings (Melchior, Caspar and Balthazar) arriving on their camels. Slippers or shoes are put outside of front doors or balconies, cognac and goodies for the Kings and water and hay (grass) for the camels. Presents would be put in the slippers/shoes for the children to open the next day. The theory behind this story is this is the date in the bible when the Three Kings visited Bethlehem to see baby Jesus and brought gifts of Gold, incense and myrrh. 

A wonderful tale and I will never forget the experience of the year my two children Katie & Peter spent Reyes Day in Tenerife, putting their shoes out and hay for the camels. They both did not quite believe this story, until the next day when presents arrived and we suddenly seen the Three Kings and camels walking the streets of Tenerife in parades and visiting hotels. What magical times, fun and memories to treasure and I often have a chuckle of remembering their little faces in disbelief!

I hope you have enjoyed the little write up of Christmas in Tenerife and it would be lovely to have some feedback from anyone who feels they would like to leave a comment or share this story.

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Feliz Navidad y Feliz Ano Nuevo!

God Bless x

Your Airline and Package Deal To Sunny Tenerife

Winter Sun? Yes please. 

There is nothing more stressful than the cold winter days, nights and long hours of darkness. The thought of this, just makes me want to hybernate for the full winter months and pop my head out of the house at Springtime. Some people love the winter but me, no thanks,  I would rather have the splendid sunshine, chilling out by the pool or taking long lazy walks.

The Canary Islands is a place where you will find sunshine all year round and Tenerife is one of my favourite places. Over the years, it has become a popular choice with tourists and what better way to experience Tenerife, is at the festive time. Navidad! The hotels are packed with seasonal decorations, lights and Papa Noel at Christmas. Celebrating Christmas in the sun can seem a little odd from what we are used to in Europe but hey, don't knock it until you have tried it (so we say). Christmas is what you make it and what better way to do something different and join in some Navidad celebrations with the locals.

Happy festive times ! December 2015

Flying with the right airline? 

Choosing the package deal is usually based on the holiday destination, hotel and board basis but we forget the little attention to detail such as a good airline provider. Yes this can play a big part in making your holiday a good experience and airlines are the start and end to your perfect holiday. What may seem like a good deal at the time of booking, may turn out to be less of a deal, if you did not get the little extras or attention to detail which other holiday makers may have received. 

Giving the customer that little bit more!

Certainly over the years, I have seen a rise in costs for flight only basis and sometimes it is not that much cheaper than the package holidays that are offered. Price is out of our control, and much of the airlines are around the same for their pricing strategy. This then leads me to look at what else the airline provider can offer in addition to price, so that at least you can feel you are getting more 'value for money'.

1. How much extra are you paying for luggage allowance? You need to monitor this when booking as it can vary in price and make a big difference if there are a few people travelling on the trip. Don't be fooled by a cheaper price displayed before going to the online check out section, as you may often see this price be bumped up once you have added in the luggage allowance. It can be disappointing.

2. Additional charges and hidden extras! pay special attention to any hidden costs. My opinion is that I would not pay extra for seating together or insurance via a travel agent. It bumps up your overall costs. Having said this, I booked my travel insurance via Jet2.com on my last flight and it was very competitive with a good customer service. My flight only deal offered me competitive insurance rates so that I did not have to spend endless hours on the internet shopping around. This was my first time choosing insurance with my airline provider.

3. Flexibility of times and dates of flights is a nice option. I always look at the flight times as well as the price and I like a morning flight if possible so that I land in Tenerife mid afternoon. It is not always possible but it does make a difference to your first day arrival.

So if you are planning a Winter, Spring or Summer holiday, think about the whole package and make sure that you get the most out of your airline operator by finding out what they have to offer. Jet2.com will offer you a baggage collection and boarding card for your return flight home and this is before you leave the hotel. Less stress and better value. No queuing at the airport and no transporting heavy cases onto airport buses. Winner for me! (this service applies to package holidays and not flights only).

Jet 2 Staff - taking care of their customers

Join me on my next adventure to Tenerife where I will be writing about my full journey from start to finish. I will take you on my tour to tell you about my airline choice, hotel, restaurants and much more!!!!  I have some exciting invitations to show you about what the Island can offer from food, romance and botanical beauty. Lots booked up for my next trip so stay posted and enjoy the ride.

Adios mi Amigos!!!

Tapas Dawn x

5 Top Tips To Holiday In Tenerife

     

A taste of North & South Tenerife

 1.    Know the difference between North & South

To get the best out of your holiday, research and get to know the difference between North & South Tenerife. If you like a cooler and greener place to stay, the North is a better choice. It is filled full of history and character, less busy with tourists. It has plenty of enchanting little streets and buildings, especially in the old part of La Laguna. The South is a more popular choice with tourists and it has lots of golden sandy beaches, more livelier and an array of hotels to choose from. Depending on your taste, both North and South has plenty of places to offer you to stay, eat and visit so you will not be disappointed.

2.     What is the best board basis?

Choosing the best board basis, is all about personal choice and budgets. If  you are faced with taking your family on holiday, this can run expensive and be difficult for your budget. The 'All Inclusive' choice becomes popular and appealing, as it has the advantage of knowing you have all your drinks and food paid for, hence having to have less spending money. On the other hand, it has the disadvantages of making sure you stay at the hotel every day and so you are limited to eating out and getting more involved in the culture and local life. There is so much of the island to explore with fiestas to see, so get to know what is happening for the dates of your holiday and plan for something different. 

      3.   Exchanging your money

A common problem is to exchange all of our money into euros before we set off on holiday. This then creates an issue that if we have lots of euros left, we have to take it back to the travel agency to exchange it back and usually we end up losing out on the rate. So why do this? All you need to do is take enough euros for a few days and then exchange the rest when you are there. If you are staying in the South, there is lots of kiosks (especially on the beach front) where you can exchange your euros. Usually a slightly better rate is offered from what you will find in the UK. This way, you will not end up with excessive euros left over and it is totally FREE to exchange the currency via the kiosks in Tenerife.

      4.     Local Transport Service

Exploring the Island is easier than what you think and there is a very good bus service available to help you travel to some great places. If your hotel is in the popular resorts of the South, check out the bus station at Los Cristianos or Las Americas, where you will find great bus links to the North. You can change at Santa Cruz to catch a 20 minutes trip to Puerto Del La Cruz.

      5.     European Health Card & Passport

Be safe and sensible. Always have your European Health card available in case you need to get to hospital. You will be asked for this immediately, even if you have medical insurance. Do not depend on your insurance alone, as some hospitals will not even treat you unless you can show them your 'blue card'. Failure to do this, may cost you a heavy bill upfront. Your European card can be a lifesaver so keep it with you at all times.

If you want to purchase items in the Supermarket or to do a spot of shopping, remember to take your passport with you if you decide you want to use your Debit or Credit card. Failure to produce your passport identification to use your card, will result in your card NOT being accepted.

Find the European Card Link HERE.

If you would like to know more about places to visit, stay and eat, please review my full blog. I hope this will give you a full insight into some great ideas and places to visit. Join in with the locals and their celebrations . They are fantastic, friendly people who love to see you try and speak a little Spanish or try some of their wonderful Tapas!! 

Recommended hotels and places to stay:

South Tenerife

www.fanabecostasur.com/en/
www.isabelfamilyhotel.com/en/
www.costaadejegranhotel.com/en/
www.hotelparadisepark.com/en/

North Tenerife

www.hotelbotanico.com/en/

www.noeliaplaya.com/en

Thank you for taking the time to read my top tips and I would love you to leave any feedback or share with this post with your friends and family.

Bye for now! Adios x