Getting Your Pound's Worth of Tenerife

Last month's continuing growth of the Euro is very good news for anyone who has a holiday home here, but to the millions of Brits who are planning to travel to Tenerife on holiday this year it means higher prices and tighter belts.

That's particularly bad news for those who want to spend all their days around their hotel or in their resort.

A survey of 2,053 Brits on behalf of Halifax Travel Insurance last month revealed that, when they get to their exotic holiday location, Brits spend on average less than 7 hours in total away from the 'bubble' of their resort.

The report went on to find that almost three quarters of package holiday Brits never visit modern tourist attractions such as water or theme parks. All they want is a long day at the same pool followed by a long evening in the comforts of the same bar and they even prefer eating in the resort rather than sampling local cuisine. All of which may prove to be bad news for a wallet full of currency that's struggling to carry its suitcase.

So, how do you make your weak sterling go further when you come to Tenerife? It's easy; take it by the hand, buck the survey results, and give it some exercise.

Firstly, avoid the places where prices are at their highest, that is, the Brit resorts of the south coast. You'll pay substantially higher prices for meals, drinks and snacks in Playa de las Américas, Costa Adeje and Los Cristianos than you will virtually anywhere else on the island. Opt instead for locations such as Puerto de la Cruz, Playa San Juan and El Médano where Canarios and Spanish mainlanders also holiday; you won't find them paying the sorts of prices being charged on the south coast, they're notoriously canny when it comes to value for money and you'll do well to follow in their footsteps.

Regular contributors to the popular on-line holiday planning resource of TripAdvisor are complaining about the prices of drinks in the southern resorts where many of the bars are charging €6 (£4.80) for a spirit and mixer. Prices are even higher in hotel bars. Although prices vary hugely, the TripAdvisor regulars are quoting an average of €25 (£ 20) per person just for standard restaurant meals, many of which are of the micro-waved 'chips with everything' variety, and as much as €50 (£40) for up-market French restaurants such as El Roque and Bistro D'Alain.

Last time I was in Playa del Duque, I was amazed to see that restaurants were charging €16 (£13) for 'Cherne', a white, meaty Grouper commonly caught in these seas and very popular on traditional Canarian menus. In Puerto de la Cruz you'll pay €7 (£5.60) for Cherne.

Move away from the resort areas of the south and you'll pay €2 (£1.61) for a pint of Dorada, €3.50 (£2.82) for a 'combinado' (spirit and mixer) and €4.50 (£3.62) for a cocktail. For top notch dining in Puerto de la Cruz you can expect to pay around €30 (£24) per person including wine, and in most of its 300 or more restaurants you're more likely to be faced with a bill of under €18 (£14.50) and an average of €9 (£7) for the menu del dia. You'll also find that chips are almost always passed over for 'papas arrugadas con mojo' (small, salty boiled potatoes with spicy sauces).

Secondly, even if you can't possibly consider staying anywhere other than Costa Adeje or Playa de la Américas, get out of the hotel or resort and explore. You can pick up a BONO bus card for either €12 (£9.67) or €30 (£24) at kiosks, shops and bus stations displaying the green 'BONO Bus' sign which will get you half price travel on the extensive network of buses that will take you all over the island.

The Titsa bus service is clean, efficient and (mostly) reliable and it's a great way to see the island as you travel. Lunches, drinks, ice cream and snacks will all cost you a fraction of the price outside of your resort or hotel and you'll gather a stock of experiences and memories to take back home with your suntan.

It's ironic that most of the trips offered by travel reps, (Loro Parque, Masca, La Orotava, Garachico) are in fact in the north, centre or west of the island which means those staying in the south are travelling further and paying more for the privilege of visiting the less expensive locations.

If you prefer to have complete independence over your travel arrangements, you can hire a car on Tenerife for very reasonable prices with a one week rental falling mainly in the €150 (£121) to €200 (£161) range but can be for as little as €102 (£82). Petrol is also cheaper here than in the UK.

Finally, if you really can't be crow-barred away from a day by the pool, discover some of the island's wonderful swimming pool complexes. Some, like the ones in Puerto de la Cruz and Santa Cruz, have been designed by the Lanzarote born architect and designer César Manrique and offer tropical landscaping, comfort and beautiful design alongside aqua waters, restaurants and bars for just €3.80 (£3) for the price of your sun lounger and mattress for the day and you'll still be saving money on your drinks, snacks and Piz Buin.

If there's to be a silver lining to the strength of the Euro for holidaying Brits, it's the opportunity to get out and experience some of the real Tenerife and to go home feeling like they've actually been abroad; you never know, it may just catch on!


Copyright © 2008 Real Tenerife Island Drives. All rights reserved. No part of this article may be copied or reproduced without the written permission of Real Tenerife Island Drives.

Lying on a beach all day every day might make for a relaxing holiday, but memories of it fade as quickly as your sun tan. Island Drives is aimed at travellers who want to experience the real essence of Tenerife, not just its pools and beaches. If you want an unforgettable holiday as opposed to a good one, Real Tenerife Island Drives will make the difference.

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