Family holiday in the Canaries

Holidaying with your family can be real fun no matter what time of the year you choose. And these holidays are the most memorable of all. Most families in search of relaxation and quality family time settle for simple pleasant weather, blue skies and sandy beaches.

The Canary Islands, located just off Spain, make a lovely family getaway as it affords sunny pleasant weather throughout the year. The beaches are great, the water makes the perfect waves for surfing, and the islands are very family friendly. And guess what, you can even try a special family cruise to explore all the islands.

Getting there is easy. All islands feature airports and there are international flights connecting you to Tenerife, Gran Canaria and Lanzarote. You can even fly to these islands from mainland Spain. From most European countries there are direct flights to the Canary Islands whereas if it's a Trans-Atlantic flight you might have to fly to Madrid to get a connecting flight to the Canaries.

Apart from the lovely beaches the islands also feature some of the best golf courses in the region; especially Tenerife, with its unique picturesque landscape of volcano, green mountains and sea side cliffs, feature a superb selection of the most challenging courses. The unique landscape of the islands also makes them ideal for biking, hiking and camping.

Tenerife also features one of the biggest family attractions in the Canary Islands - The Teide National Park. The park features the Teide-Pico Viejo strato-volcano which also happens to be the highest peak in Spain. The park lies at about 2000m above sea level and during the summer months it features the most breathtaking views of Gran Canaria, La Palma, La Gomera and El Hierro. The extinct volcano is well worth exploring and is easily accessible by foot or by cable car.

For the best beach and great windsurfing, along with some deep sea fishing and sailing, try the Bahia de Pozo Izquierdo - the best beach on Gran Canaria. The tropical fish, grouper, turtles, rays, barracuda and the occasional shark will definitely be an attraction for the whole family.

Lanzarote, also of volcano origin, offer some of the best attractions in the region. Those interested in adventure can explore the Fire Mountains, locally known as the Mantanas del Fuego. For relaxation try Playa Blanca or Papagayo, the beautiful white beaches of Lanzarote. With plenty of live music and disco bars Lanzarote is also popular as the busiest night scene in the Canaries.

The Canary Islands definitely cater to the whole family and feature accommodation to suit any type of family holiday; Lanzarote featuring mainly hotels, villas and apartments, and hotels in Tenerife consisting of hotels, hostels, cottages and apartments. Most of the Canaries feature camp sites, making it ideal for a budget vacation for the whole family.

To find the best type of lodging for your family, go with the interests. If your family loves the beach you can easily find good family resorts closer to the beach. But if you wish to explore the Canaries even renting out a small cottage in one of the islands would be a smart idea. Either way a family holiday in the Canaries is bound to be a success.



Larry Austin is a freelance journalist who writes on travel related topics such as Tenerife hotels and Tenerife destination reviews etc. He is currently working for roomsnet.com which offers visitors the option of world wide hotel bookings. roomsnet.com offers many last minute Tenerife hotel deals for holidaymakers.