Destination Review - Terrific Tenerife

Two babies ago, my husband and I were searching for an island to visit on our trip to Europe. The festive period of December was the time we had chosen to travel and we were seeking a destination to visit where we could escape the Parisian snow and London chill but which was still not too far off from Barcelona which was to be one of our stop-over destinations. After searching and reviewing various travel-related websites, we decided that we would visit Tenerife of The Canary Islands, located in the South of Spain.

What you need to know

Tenerife is located aproximately 3 and a half hours from Barcelona and a return flight should cost around 300 Euros (R4200.) There are two airports in Tenerife - North and South. The holiday resorts, tourist area as well as one of the best water parks in the world, Siam Water Park are located in Adeje, Tenerife South. Should you book a flight into Tenerife North, there is easy access to the South of the island via taxi or bus services. The journey from the North of the island to the South is dependent on traffic but should take roughly around an hour and a half. Minor airport delays such as baggage claim delays can be expected. You require a Schengen visa to travel to the Canary Islands. The weather in December, although a major concern for us, was pretty great. Sunny skies during the day with a light breeze at night, a lightweight jacket is required at night but far from the usual Europe Winter chill.

Attractions and Things to do

Siam Water Park

The most amazing water park I have ever been to is located on this bustling little island. With its amazing Chinese-themed design to the magnificent attractions including mini sound and light shows located in tunnels WITHIN the water slides; Siam Water Park is truly a breathtaking experience. Each slide has a "difficulty level" which is stated on a board just before you quite literally take the plunge, so you can decide just how brave you are feeling prior to jumping aboard. In my experience, the most amazing attraction was "The Volcano" - a thrilling ride which requires you to board a raft and are transported to the mouth of a volcano, where you are surrounded in darkness and then are treated with the most spectacular light and special effects show before plunging out of the volcano at an incredible speed. Another attraction (which my husband enjoyed immensely but I watched from the bottom mouth-agape,) was the Tower of Power - which is an almost vertical free fall slide! After plunging down, you are transported through a transparent tube overlooking an aquarium (with the sharks casually swimming around next to your tunnel!) Siam Water Park also boasts a relaxing Mai Thai river cruise ride and a wave pool amongst many many other attractions - definitely a must do when in Tenerife!

Tower of Power

The Dragon, The Giant & Mai Thai River

Beaches

The beaches that I had visited are called Playa de Las Americas and Los Christianos. These stunning black sand beaches look like something out of a dream - experiencing the sun set with the iconic black sand twinkling below you is truly phenomenal. The beaches have kiosks with eats, drinks as well as little stores leading up to the beach with souveniers as well as standard beach wear. In addition to this, some of the beaches offer a variety of water sports including jet skiing and parasailing, and are also perfect for lounging about.


Other Attractions

There are some adventure-packed activities in Tenerife, you are sure to never be bored! In addition to beach-bumming and water-parking, you could also visit Lago Martianez Swimming Pools, take a submarine safari, visit Mount Teide or even go scuba diving. 

Where to stay, What to Eat and Where to Shop

Tenerife South is the place to stay either in the Adeje or Playa de Las Americas regions. These are located closest to the attractions and easiest for taxi drivers to find. A tip is to BOOK WELL IN ADVANCE - the hotel options are limited as the island is not very large and especially during the festive season the hotels get fully booked very quickly. You should stay a minimum of 3 nights.

Safari Centre is the largest shopping centre in Tenerife and besides the fabulous fountain with an array of lights as you enter, it also has luxury stores including Hugo Boss and Emporio Armani. If you can resist the pull, I would steer clear of the shopping as their ranges aren't as large as major cities such as Barcelona or Madrid.

Safari Centre also has the best dining options in Tenerife. Bombay Blues is a beautiful Indian restaurant with the most delicious Indian seafood dishes. A must-try experience when in Tenerife is a Teppenyaki restaurant - you are assigned a personal chef who prepares your meal on a large hot plate in front of you and entertains you at the same time. These restaurants get booked out really quickly, so it's a good idea to make a reservation in advance.

With crystal clear, sparkling water and the most unique black sand beaches as well as amazing attractions and unique culinary experiences, Tenerife is one of the most breathtaking destinations that I have ever visited. It is most definitely worth the flight distance and a must-see location.

Until next time...

Positive vibes & The Mandatory xoxo

Hali