Tag: Canary Islands

Why spend Christmas in the cold? 3 Unique Xmas Travel Ideas

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Of all the Xmas travel ideas you can get, Lanzarote is a marvelous one!

Yes we know … summer isn’t officially over for another month and a half, but with booking season for winter holidays just around the corner, we just wanted to give you a gentle nudge so that you can get your plans set before the rush begins. If you spent last Christmas at home, you might not need much convincing to spend the merriest season of all in the tropics this year.

After all, with the memory of the brutal polar vortex fresh in your head, wouldn’t you feel more joyous with sand between your toes on December 25th instead of having snow in your shoes? I think we can all agree that a silky smooth tropical breeze feels much more relaxing than the sharp bite of a northern gale, so if you are seriously considering a tropical escape this year, we have compiled three Xmas travel ideas for tropical destinations around the world that will allow you to escape the bitter cold of a Christmas in the north.

1) Lanzarote

If you don’t wish to subject yourself to a long-haul flight in order to get somewhere warmer this holiday season, then checking out cheap Christmas breaks to Lanzarote will get you out of the dour weather of the continent, and on to an island that rarely ever sees day time highs fall below 21 degrees Celsius in the winter time. Weather here is the polar opposite of the dampness witnessed further north, with the arid climate virtually assuring rain-free skies for most (if not all) of your visit.

When you’re not unwinding on Lanzarote’s diversely coloured beaches (ranges from white to golden brown to volcanic black), the active can try their hand at some of the best diving and/or surfing in the European Union, while those more artistically inclined can check out Jameos del Agua, a concert hall, restaurant, bar and swimming pool built inside a former lava tunnel.

2) Barbados

If the baby blue waters of the Caribbean are calling out to you subconsciously, then Barbados stands out as one of your best options as a place where one can relax in tropical surroundings, do many enriching activities, and celebrate Christmas in style. Submarine tours and catamaran cruises are both excellent ways to get to know the marine environment of this former British outpost, while those that enjoy a tipple or two will love the Mount Gay distillery, where Barbados’ most famous beverage, dark rum, is conjured up from the sugarcane that grows in abundance in the island’s interior.

3) Goa

If you’re looking for a little Asian flavour this Xmas, but want a place where you can still attend mass on Christmas morning, then Goa will satisfy both of these requirements admirably. While most of India identify with Hinduism or Islam as their primary faith, Goa is an enclave of Christianity, as it was a colony of the Portuguese more than a half milennia ago.

A sizable chunk of the population still identifies as Christian, worshiping God in one of several gorgeous cathedrals in the area. After celebrating in this fashion, or if you are just here for the amazing food and beaches, take advantage of Goa’s other attractions. Flea markets filled with hippie garb can be found everywhere, clubs, bars and pubs are chock full of cheap drink, and the old town of Goa has plenty of centuries old Christian art, much of which has an Indian twist.

For those looking for a piece of authentic India, the cuisine, Hindu temples and volunteer opportunities can be examined just as readily as in other places in India, so don’t be scared off by proclamations that dub Goa a tourist trap.

5 Fun Things to Do in Tenerife

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If you are an active person, hiking up Mount Teide will certainly be one of the fun things to do in Tenerife!

If you are an active person, hiking up Mount Teide will certainly be one of the fun things to do in Tenerife!

For generations, the Canary Islands have been a getaway for those fleeing from the stressors in their lives, if only for a week or two. Some have managed to settle here permanently, but for those of us who haven’t the resources to live in permanent exile from bosses, bad weather, and irritating in-laws, we need to make the most of the time that we have in this idyllic sub-tropical islands.

Fortunately for you, time to get away from these inconvenient but necessary burdens is close at hand, so you have been researching Tenerife flights in order to make your (temporary) escape official. While some time on beaches like Playa de Las Teresitas is definitely in order, you don’t want your holiday to go by in a blur while you bake away on a sun lounger.

Indeed, the best breaks are defined by moments of discovery and excitement, and so you wonder: what fun things to do in Tenerife will achieve this goal? It offers plenty, and the list of potential adventures below is but the tip of the iceberg.

1) Go on a trek up Mount Teide

Did you know the highest mountain in Spain is not on the Iberian peninsula, where 99.9% of its territory is situated, but is instead on Tenerife? Before we got into the travel business, neither did we. Being of volcanic origin, Tenerife was built up in dramatic fashion by a hotspot in the Earth’s crust, resulting in Mount Teide, the dizzyingly high peak that has shot up from the placid Atlantic Ocean, to the alpine elevation that its summit is at today.

You could take the gondola up, but what fun would that be? Don’t forget winter coats and sweaters for the climb, as the peak tops out at 3,700 metres above sea level, putting the temperature at the summit at about 5-7 degrees Celsius in the summer, and below zero in the winter. The beach below will feel extra warm when you get back from this adventure.

2) Cool off and find thrills at Siam Park

If you’d rather thrill seek by slipping down steep water slides rather than freezing your buns off, then spending a day at Siam Park will help you fulfill this desire. A water park that was designed based on the exotic architecture of Thailand (and was even opened by one of the princesses of its Royal Family), Siam Park has the largest collection of Thai architecture in one spot in the world outside the Southeast Asian country, has slides that include racers, plunge slides, bowls, and rapid rides. The food concession even serves Thai food in a full-fledged dedication to its theme!

3) Play a solid 18 holes at Golf del Sur

Tenerife has plenty of raw beauty to gawk at everywhere you look, which must have made the first duffer to grace its shores dream about opening a course here. Well, golf has certainly found its way here in the present day, with Golf del Sur, one of the best courses on the island, standing ready to challenge your ball control skills.

4) Learn how to kitesurf at El Medano

Are you the time that likes to try and pick up new sports in your free time? If this describes you, then why not give the uber exciting adrenaline sport of kitesurfing a try while on Tenerife? El Medano is one of the world’s best places to practice this relatively new discipline, as strong and consistent winds combine with sheltered waters to create the perfect environment for a kite rookie to learn the sport in.

5) Catch a show at the ultra modern Auditorio de Tenerife

If all this physical activity has you worn out at this point, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you’ll have to resign yourself to the beach for the rest of your holiday. In 2003, the Auditorio de Tenerife, with its daring late modernist design, opened its doors to lovers of the performing arts, hosting musical festivals, stage shows, galas, award shows, and much more.

There is a consistent schedule of performers/groups putting on shows and productions, so check when you arrive to see if there is an offering that might appeal to you.