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Holiday, Vacation & Tour
A Tourist Guide To
Tenerife
Tenerife is the largest of the seven Spanish Canary
Islands. The island is an extremely popular tourist
destination partly because of its year round high
temperatures and sunny weather. Tenerife has it all from
stunning beaches, historical buildings and small fishing
bays to impressive volcanoes and a perfect climate.
Resorts and Accommodation
There are a number of
popular resorts on the island, the most popular being
Santa Cruz, Puerto de la Cruz, Playa Paraiso, Los Gi...
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cars,budget hire cars
Tenerife is the largest of
the seven Spanish Canary Islands. The island is an
extremely popular tourist destination partly because of
its year round high temperatures and sunny weather.
Tenerife has it all from stunning beaches, historical
buildings and small fishing bays to impressive volcanoes
and a perfect climate.
Resorts and Accommodation
There are a number of popular resorts on the island, the
most popular being Santa Cruz, Puerto de la Cruz, Playa
Paraiso, Los Gigantes, Los Cristianos, Las Américas,
Golf del Sur, El Médano, Callao Salvaje and Amarilla
Golf. The accommodation within these resorts is
typically hotels, lodgings, self-catering apartments,
holiday homes, villas and bungalows. All the
accommodation is star rated and prices vary accordingly.
Traveling There
Flying is the easiest and
possibly only realistic option of travelling directly to
the Canaries. There are two airports on Tenerife, Los
Rodeos International Airport in the north and Reina
Sofia International Airport in the south. If you are
already in the Canaries or Spain you can reach the
island by boat but it is time consuming and costly. Once
o the island it is easy to get around. There are
numerous vehicle rental operators, frequent taxis and
the bus service is excellent.
A Brief History
People have been living on Tenerife since ancient times
although it wasn’t until years later that the western
world became interested in the island. It was eventually
conquered by the Spanish in 1495 and thus became part of
Europe. Tenerife is still to this day governed by Spain
and enjoys an ever growing economy from tourism.
Sights and Attraction
The best sightseeing on
Tenerife comes from the natural scenery despite many
amazing manmade attractions. Take a drive through The
Anaga mountain range wonderful views and stunning
scenery. Visit the deepest ravine in the Canaries at
Barranco del Infierno and the landscapes around Vilaflor
that make you feel like you are on the moon. Tenerife
has a beautiful national park at Las Cañadas del Teide
that is also a must see for any sightseeing enthusiast.
Shopping
The resort of Santa Cruz is the most
popular shopping area with both designer labels and
standard high street shops. There is also a market every
Sunday that is great for bargains. Los Cristianos on the
south of the island is a great place to go if you are
looking to shop for souvenirs.
Dining on the
Island
There are plenty of restaurants scattered
around every resort on the island. The majority of
dining establishments serve traditional Canarian cuisine
as well as standard restaurant dishes. If international
cuisine is more your fancy then you will not be
disappointed as Tenerife has everything from French
restaurants to Indian takeaways, fast-food outlets and
Greek tavernas. There is also a variety of cafés and
bars to choose from and a great nightlife with some
resorts boasting lively nightclubs.
Discover Tenerife -
The Holidaymakers’ Dream Island
Have you discovered Tenerife yet? Many UK
holidaymakers describe Tenerife as their dream holiday
island. So, what is it about this island which makes it
so popular with the UK holidaymakers?
The island
of Tenerife is the largest of the Canary Islands, and
probably the most popular with visitors. In fact,
studies suggest that over the last one hundred years
holidaymakers have risen from one hundred a year to a
staggering 11 million. For an island of only 778,000
inhabitants...
travel, tenerife
Have you
discovered Tenerife yet? Many UK holidaymakers describe
Tenerife as their dream holiday island. So, what is it
about this island which makes it so popular with the UK
holidaymakers?
The island of Tenerife is the
largest of the Canary Islands, and probably the most
popular with visitors. In fact, studies suggest that
over the last one hundred years holidaymakers have risen
from one hundred a year to a staggering 11 million. For
an island of only 778,000 inhabitants, this is an
impressive level of tourism and suggests that Tenerife
really does have quite a lot to write home about!
So why do so many people come here? Unsurprisingly
it would seem that the British come for the sun. A quick
peak at the average temperature in summer and in winter,
which generally only varies by about 10 degrees, will
confirm that Tenerife is the perfect destination for
those fed up with the British weather. Even in the
height of summer, Tenerife usually has a prevailing
westerly wind which helps to keep it at a moderate
temperature.
Although Tenerife is probably
best-known for its southern beaches and golf resorts,
the island is actually one of stark contrasts – from
golden sands to black volcanic beaches; from mountain
peaks to green valleys. It is this dramatic scenery
which not only draws in those wanting to enjoy the sunny
beaches but also appeals to those wanting a more active,
walking or nature-based holiday.
However, it is
definitely possible to discover the “real Tenerife”
without having to set off hiking. The island is
surprisingly car-friendly and car hire couldn’t be
easier than in Tenerife. It’s all there for you when you
step off the plane. Hiring a car is the perfect way to
explore the island – simply pack up a picnic and venture
out.
Tenerife has become the holidaymaker’s dream
island because it has something for everyone, from the
scenery and the beaches to the weather and the climate.
Discovering Tenerife is definitely something that
everyone should do.
Making A Cheap
Holiday To Tenerife Even Cheaper – A Guide To The Fine
Art Of Haggling
Tenerife is famous for its markets, and of course
there is nothing quite as satisfying as haggling
yourself to a bargain. The trouble is that many Brits
abroad are too afraid to try their hand at bartering,
fearing that bargaining their way to cheaper prices will
make them seem cheap or break the traditional British
reserve. In this guide, I shall explain the cut and
thrust of the wonderfully addictive game of market
bargaining, but first a few tips on where to find the
best ...
Cheap holidays Tenerife, Bartering,
Tenerife, Tenerife holiday, Haggling, Bargaining
Tenerife is famous for its markets, and of course there
is nothing quite as satisfying as haggling yourself to a
bargain. The trouble is that many Brits abroad are too
afraid to try their hand at bartering, fearing that
bargaining their way to cheaper prices will make them
seem cheap or break the traditional British reserve. In
this guide, I shall explain the cut and thrust of the
wonderfully addictive game of market bargaining, but
first a few tips on where to find the best markets in
Tenerife…
Torviscas Market and Los Cristianos are
perhaps the biggest markets in Tenerife, and a great
opportunity to brush up on your haggling skills. It also
boasts the biggest range of products to get your teeth
stuck into (figuratively speaking) – clothing, fashion,
books, electricals, jewellery and even property!
Obviously, you don’t want to get too wrapped up in the
haggling and end up buying the latter, but in terms of
range of goods to buy, these two cannot be beaten.
On Friday mornings, the Golf Del Sur market is a
good choice for those staying nearby. It’s quite new,
but is already picking up in terms of popularity with a
varied number of stalls offering an interesting mix of
goods. The night market at Los Abrigos offers a unique
atmosphere, and despite a smaller selection of stalls
offers a nice range of beautiful jewelery. Finally the
African market at Santa Cruz is a site to behold: made
up of over 300 stalls of fresh produce, this is the
perfect place to practice your bartering – just don’t
take too long, because the tastiest fruit and vegetables
tend to go very quickly!
So now you know the best
places to try haggling in Tenerife, the question becomes
how it is done. Here’s the best advice I’ve got to
ensuring you bag the best deal…
1)Know the market
Whilst it can be tempting to throw yourself in at
the deep end and start haggling over every item that
catches your interest on the first day of your Tenerife
holiday, it actually pays to spend a little time getting
to know the general prices of the island. Spend a few
hours making a wish list of items you’d like to pick up,
and assessing how much they tend to go for – work out
what is and isn’t a reasonable price before you start
your first haggle.
2)Be polite and keep your
sense of humor
Haggling at a market is supposed
to be fun, and you won’t improve your chances by being
surly and rude. Keep it slightly playful and you’ll be
more likely to avoid offense and score the bargain
you’re looking for.
3)Be ready to walk away
Walking away is actually a very important part of
the haggling dance. If the bartering has reached an
impasse and the merchant is refusing to drop the price
any lower, don’t be afraid to walk away. If it looks
like the merchant is going to lose the sale, he may well
follow you with ‘one last offer’.
4)Convert the
price into your own currency
This sounds obvious
but you need a good handle on the currency before you
begin. Tenerife uses the Euro, so get your head around a
rough conversion rate before you begin – loosely, £1 is
equivalent to 1.5 Euros, so bear this in mind – you
don’t want to haggle for ages only to eventually work
out you were arguing over pennies!
5)Hesitation
is your friend
Your best friend in the exciting
world of haggling isn’t actually your words, it’s the
absence of them. Show some hesitation in responding to
an offer, and your merchant may quickly produce a better
offer for fear of failing to close a sale. Don’t overuse
the tactic or it will be seen through quite easily, but
hesitation is perfect because it implies you’re tempted,
and will make the seller think he’s nearly there. This
is best used when approaching a price you’re willing to
pay.
6)Bargaining isn’t just about price
The price is the main thing naturally, but extra value
doesn’t need to simply come from a few quid knocked off!
Extras items and services can be used to barter – agree
to pay the price suggested, if your seller agrees to
throw in another item you’re interested. If the
bargaining has become stale, this is a good way to
reignite the discussion and bring you closer to a
bargain to brag about!
7)Dress down
Appearance shouldn’t come into the haggling experience,
but it really does! Put yourself in the sellers shoes:
If someone comes to you saying they can’t afford to
spend more than £8 on the vase, are you more or less
likely to believe them if they’re wearing an Armani suit
and Rolex wrist watch? Dress down, and don’t give the
impression that you have the money to pay their top
price if you want to secure the best bargain.
8)Point out imperfections before you begin
It’s a
standard rule that you play down the item you’re
interested in purchasing before a price is first named.
If you mention the uneven paintwork on a vase before
asking the price, the seller is just more likely to name
a more reasonable cost in the first place, which makes
bartering them down that little bit easier…
9)Set
a maximum price you’re willing to pay
Before you
start the process, think of what you’re actually willing
to pay, and what you’d like to part with. By setting a
maximum and ideal value, you can have clear boundaries
to work in, and can accurately assess whether you’re
likely to reach a price point you’re happy with. It will
also ensure you don’t feel disgusted at how much you’ve
paid later, thinking you got a bargain at the time.
10) A facial expression is worth a thousand words
I mentioned earlier the power of silence in
producing a swift drop in price, but that only tells the
aural side – visuals also play a huge part in the
bartering process, and while keeping your poker face
when a superbly low offer is handed your way is
important, looking skeptical, horrified or even laughing
at a bad offer can be just as powerful. Sometimes such a
reaction can prompt a price drop without you even having
to open your mouth (though obviously it helps with the
laughter) so bear this in mind if an opportunity arises.
Haggling is a great way of making a cheap holiday to
Tenerife even cheaper! The most important thing about
all this is to have fun though. I wouldn’t recommend you
try haggling too much on items you really want, because
it will seriously limit your ability to ‘play the game’
effectively with that all important bargaining method:
walking away and looking elsewhere.