Canaries or Madeira?

[char1ie]

Madeira:

http://www.travelphoto.net/photos/pictures/madeira/Bild43.jpg

http://www.storensay.com/images/medium/Madeira2.jpg

Tenerife:

http://www.sunshinepropertyworld.com/uploads/images/tenerife_1.jpg

http://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/00/14/f2/9d/teide-volcano-in-tenerife.jpg

It's raining. I'm ill at home with the man flu. I have some airmiles. December doesn't seem so far away. It's time to book a holiday for some December sun. Any opinions? Madeira? Portugeuse. Rugged. Hot. Tenerife/Gran Canaria/Lanzarote. Spanish. Hot. Tourist infested. Any thoughts?

Charlie

[Annasfield]

I personally would avoid the Canaries at all costs. Its a shame Greece isn't "hot" at that time of the year.

[Narnia]

December in Miami Beach is hot and the South Beach is great, though if you want somewhere nearer but not quite as hot in December look at my 'advert' for Cannes in the Wanted............section.

[char1ie]

Trouble is Cannes is 12 degrees in December where the Canaries are 21 degrees.

I have a house in Kalamata in Greece (which just survived a near burning in the forest fires) and it gets near to freezing in December and January.

And Florida is lovely but there's no airmiles availability at short notice, so southern Europe's where it's at.

Charlie

[Narnia]

Try Miami then........it's off season and bound to be 30+ in December if I remember correctly.

[Alan Dale]

Playa de las Americas with the BOTPs.

Karaoke every night.

[Michael Palaeologus]

You cannot generalise about the Canaries. Tenerife and Gran Canaria are over-developed.

Lanzarote is nice. Its not been spoiled and has some very impressive geological things to look at (old and new vulcanicity at either end of the island). Fuertaventura is possitively under-developed and barren in a magnificent sort of way.

[Asset]

In re. the Canaries. There is an amazing island just off Tenergrief called La Gomera. Very dramatic, fantastic scenery, black sand, still fairly un-touristy. Recommend it as somewhere slightly different and off the beaten track. Only downside is you have to get the ferry from Playa de los Americanos, but you get a fabulous view of the volcano as you sail away. Looks like Fiji.

[Ondine]

I love Tenerife. North side much greener and quieter. We had a lovely holiday in Porta de la Cruz at easter - nice little town with beautiful black beach.

[Narnia]

char1ie Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Trouble is Cannes is 12 degrees in December where

> the Canaries are 21 degrees.

>

> I have a house in Kalamata in Greece (which just

> survived a near burning in the forest fires) and

> it gets near to freezing in December and January.

>

> And Florida is lovely but there's no airmiles

> availability at short notice, so southern Europe's

> where it's at.

>

> Charlie

Sorry Charlie........didn't notice your last sentence about Airmiles before I made my last comment.

[Thequietone]

Don't go to Fuerterventura. (Canaries) Longest week of my life.

Alcohol could not stem the pain.

Paul

[TillieTrotter]

I went to Puerto de la Cruz a few times, I rather liked it. Very hot, was sunbathing on Christmas Day. That was a few years back mind. Lucky you to have such a heavy decision.;-)

[ChavWivaLawDegree]

I loved Fuerterventura and Lanzarote when I went, 2 weeks each time, although FV was a bit on the windy side.

I did loads of swimming, kickboxing, running and other sports (before I got fat and lazy!) plus spent most of my time hanging around with seedy locals and ex-pat Brits selling timeshare. Brilliant!

[char1ie]

Thanks all for the responses. Nobody's been to Madeira? I guess not. I'm looking at flights now. And staring out of the window at the bloody rain! This country is a nightmare weather-wise!

Charlie

[lozzyloz]

Stayed here in Tenerife New Year 2006 for the same reasons finca paraiso. Very comfortable and very secluded (tucked away in a small valley in a remote village). Not sure if still owned by Brian as he wanted to sell up and move back to the UK. Beaches aren't great but if you don't mind paying a bit more then Playa del Duque, where Castro used to hang out, has good sand, amenities and Thai massage. Nightlife is as you'd expect seedy with lots of Eastern European entertainment. Trip to the Volcano is like nostalgia trip through the set of the magnificent seven and it is a few degrees below zero at the top. Red tops here have gone on about the waves of African boat people besieging the Islands. It is a problem but no worse than negotiating a gentle stroll across the Ponte Vechio in Florence.

[Michael Palaeologus]

I have just re-read my first post on this thread:

"You cannot generalise about the Canaries. Tenerife and Gran Canaria are over-developed"

LOL! What a pillock.

[SeanMacGabhann]

Am I alone in quite liking the weather lately? I know I'll regret such a short summer come January but the air is really.... alive at the moment. And I get to wear more dark layers so.. bonus

[Keef]

Alan Dale Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Playa de las Americas with the BOTPs.

>

> Karaoke every night.

Hey don't knock it, tacky as it may be, I met a lovely Scottish lass who couldn't resist my Bon Jovi when I was there! ;-)

[Asset]

hmmm, says it all.

ps - Fuerteventura = strong wind. Not named that for nothing.

La Gomera rocks.....

Madeira, rock in middle of Atlantic with not much going on except cake.

[SimonM]

>>Madeira, rock in middle of Atlantic with not much going on except cake.<<

And fortified wine of course. Not been myself but know someone who adores it and has been going annually for 30 years or so.

[Keef]

Asset Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> hmmm, says it all.

Quoi? :-S

[Asset]

joke

[Keef]

I know

[Narnia]

This should help you make a decision......................

http://www.independent.ie/travel/travel-advice/the-rudest-travel-book-ever-written-1091634.html

There's a summary at the end of it!

[Marmora Man]

Why head for sun? Go for Great Britain - I'm walking some of Hadrian's Wall next week. Forecast is for mostly sunny & dry, if not warm. The walking will keep me warm, get me fitter (lomg way to go, the fresh air blows away cobwebs (and man flu), every evening there's an excuse to sit in a pub, beside a fire, drink pints and talk. Plus it's a very low carbon footprint, if you're into eco stuff.