Your family holiday is likely the highlight of your year. There’s nothing better than heading abroad with your loved ones and forgetting the stresses of your daily life while basking in the sun. However, this means you must ensure it is planned to perfection to avoid any mishaps.
The largest of the Canary Islands, Tenerife is the perfect destination for families both young and old. With a vast array of things to do, a year-round tropical climate, and incredible cuisine, you’re sure to make the best memories.
To help you organise your trip to Tenerife, we’ve come up with six important tips to take into consideration. By following each step, you’re guaranteed to have the ultimate family holiday.
What to Take With You On Your Family Holiday
Advertised as the island of the eternal spring, it can be confusing what to take with you on your family holiday to Tenerife. More than likely, you’re planning to go to Tenerife in the summer or during the school holidays. Since these are the hottest months, the most important things to pack are swimsuits, trunks, sun cream, sunglasses, and hats.
You probably won’t need to bring any coats or heavy outerwear. Apart from maybe the odd jumper, as temperatures are still high at nighttime. Sandals and flip-flops are great for the beach. You may want to take trainers in case you go exploring on a long walk.
In the winter months, you may need to bring some light coats or cardigans in case it’s slightly colder than normal, and an umbrella for if it rains. If you plan to take the family up Mount Teide to see the volcano, bring some hiking boots. It’s a bit of a trek to reach the summit – even from the cable car.
It’s worth asking what the dress code for dinner is if you are staying in an all-inclusive hotel. They may require you and your family to dress smart or elegant. Most restaurants on the island fortunately don’t have a strict dress code, and will even welcome visitors in shorts.
As always, make sure you have a passport for each member of the family and that these are all valid for travel. Alongside the passports, you must have your boarding passes on your phone or printed out. While you don’t need both, it can be useful to have a physical copy if something happens to your device while travelling.
Good travel insurance should also be a priority for everyone in your family. It can cover things like delays, stolen luggage, and medical emergencies.
The Best Time of Year To Go
Regardless of when you decide to go to Tenerife for your family holiday, you’ll find warm sub-tropical weather and a range of activities to keep you busy. In fact, the most appealing trait of the island is probably its climate.
Tenerife is divided into two climatic zones, the north and south. The north of the island is warm but you’ll find it is occasionally cloudy or rainy due to trade winds. Generally, the south is the sunniest and warmest, with little rainfall.
The hottest temperatures take place from July to September. You may wish to avoid extreme periods, especially with young children who are not used to the heat. The months of May and June are still very warm but are typically cooler, allowing you to still swim and enjoy the climate. It’s also less crowded and accommodation can be cheaper.
Choosing Your Accommodation
Tenerife has some great options for places to stay, ranging from luxury villas to family-friendly hotels and resorts. As you’re travelling with the family, you can make things easier and opt for all-inclusive, or save on money and go for self-catered. It’s entirely up to you and whatever suits your preference.
Popular resort towns like Los Cristianos, Playa de las Americas, and Costa Adeje are always great choices due to their impressive beaches, variety of eateries, shopping centres, and family-friendly attractions.
El Medano is another great place to stay for families. Often quieter than the other resort towns but still providing just as many opportunities for fun in the sun. The resort town is well known for its variety of water sports and shallow waters. It also has a bohemian feel with various independent seafood restaurants, cafés, and handmade jewellery vendors along its stunning beach promenade.
Getting to Tenerife
The island has two international airports, Tenerife South (TFS) and Tenerife North (TFN). The South Airport can be found to the east of Los Cristianos. Which is most likely the place you will arrive if you have chosen a package holiday. The majority of the luxury beach resorts can be found at the southern tip of the island.
The North Airport is mainly used for inter-island traffic. If you’re planning a road trip through Tenerife, it doesn’t really matter which airport you fly to.
Typically, flights from the UK to Tenerife will take around 3.5 to 4.5 hours. Which isn’t too long for a young family but be prepared for any outbursts. We recommend bringing some snacks with you. Pre-downloading some movies and games on electronics, and getting them to take a nap where possible.
Organising Travel From The Airport
You’ve managed to endure several hours at the airport and on your flight, and finally, you’re at your destination. This is meant to be the start of the adventure and so you’ll want to make sure the travelling element is as stress-free as possible.
To reach your accommodation with ease, consider booking a transfer or taxi from the airport. This will make travelling with a large family and lots of luggage much easier and will prevent the kids from becoming impatient.
It’s important to note that if any of your children are under 135cm, they must be in an approved and properly secured car seat or booster, which is typically most children under the age of 12. If you book a Tenerife Airport transfer in advance, they can provide these car seats for a fee, so you don’t need to take any with you.
What To Do In Tenerife
As you’re probably already aware, Tenerife is the perfect place to sit by the beach and relax all day in the sun. But what you may not know is that the island also offers plenty of other exciting activities for the family to get involved in.
Always a winner with the kids is Siam Park, the number one waterpark in the entire world (nine times consecutively to be exact). With the Tower of Power, the Mekong Rapids, and the Dragon, it is sure to set pulses racing. You can also find smaller slides and a lazy river for the younger members of the family.
Keeping with the award-winning theme, Tenerife’s Loro Parque is one of the best zoos in Europe, picking up accolades for its conservation and protection efforts. There are more than 350 species of parrot here alone, alongside a huge aquarium and a family of gorillas. And you can’t miss Planet Penguin, filled with over 200 penguins and an iceberg.
Another popular attraction in Tenerife is Teide National Park, home to the Mount Teide volcano, and Spain’s highest peak! While it is a great excursion for older children and teenagers, it may not be great for very young members of the family but it all depends on what are your and their interests.
DISCLOSURE – This is a collaborative post.
