Family holiday review: Self-catering in Tenerife
Sunshine guaranteed! Sandy beaches guaranteed! It must be Tenerife…
“Me and my husband Tim, 27, were after guaranteed sun without the strain of long haul, and the Canaries looked perfect. So with our three children, Amy, 4, Edward, 2, and Lucia, 6 months, we set off for the Costa Adeje in the south of Tenerife.
"The four-hour flight was the longest we’d tried with the two oldest, and our first flight with Lucia, but Thomson Airways was fabulous. The cabin crew were so helpful, even heating up Lucia’s milk for us, which meant I arrived in Tenerife feel0ing relaxed.
"We stayed at the El Veril Del Duque complex, just 20 minutes in a taxi from Tenerife South airport (there is a shuttle service but it takes about an hour-and-a-half so don’t trouble yourselves). The apartment was perfect. Firstly there was tonnes of space – two good-sized bedrooms, plus two bathrooms – the kids loved the novelty of having their own! The huge private terrace (twice the size of our lounge at home) had plenty of room for the kids to charge around while we sunbathed or cooked up lunch on the George Foreman barbie.
"Towels are all provided and the apartment is kitted out with games, DVDs (for the DVD player), books, magazines, sun parasols and beach accessories, so we needn’t have packed much at all.
"The pool on the complex – about a one-minute stroll from the apartment – was gently sloping from almost nothing to a deeper end, which meant even the youngest could paddle in safety. And when we were there (October and it was hot all week) we mostly had the water to ourselves.
"If you want to venture into the resort or further afield, the apartment’s equipped with a guide built up by the owners and former residents. The sandy beach is a five-minute dawdle away and the coastline has a paved promenade, so getting around with a buggy’s a breeze. Restaurants in the resort aren’t that cheap, but turning left at the beach and strolling for 10 minutes takes you towards Playa De Las Americas, with bargain-basement grub aplenty. Lovers of seafood should try the fishing village of La Caleta – go right at the beach and walk for 10 minutes.
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"We had a great time and we told the kids we’d take them on the boat trip to see whales and dolphins, so we’ll definitely be back."
Holiday highlight
“We had some really fun days out with the kids, including the sea lion show at Loro Parque for all three and Siam Park water park for our eldest.”
Essential info
Booking the apartment is £400 per week at www.homeaway.co.uk/p405202. Thomson Airways offers flights direct to Tenerife from 14 UK airports. A return flight from London Stansted starts from £229 including taxes, fuel supplements and charges. www.thomson.co.uk/flights or call 0871 231 4787.
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