Why
Tenerife is one of the most popular destinations for family friendly sun and beach family holidays especially during the winter and spring for some winter sun and a great family holiday. Tenerife enjoys year round sunshine and warm temperatures making it one of the UK and Ireland's favourite holiday destinations. Beaches and the sun the main attractions. The beaches are spectacular and the sand is clean and soft. Some beaches are made of black sand while others have gold coloured sand that is imported from the sahara. Watch your resort in winter though as the North of the Island which is much less developed can be much cooler in winter and receives more rain.
The main geographical feature is Mount Teide, the largest mountain in Spain which is a dormant volcano which fascinates kids. Other highlights include the terrific Loro Parque and getting away from the crowds to explore the scenery and atmospheric old towns in the North.
Parts of Tenerife are very developed and we would suggest Costa Adeje as the best option for families. It is a quiet and sophisticated resort where the majority of new five star hotels are located. Playa de las Americas and Los Cristianos are more developed although they do have good facilities for families.
When and how
Tenerife can be very busy and hot in high summer and if it is possible to travel on your family holiday out of high season you should try to do that. It is a good option for some winter sun. May and September are good options and you will get good winter sun and mild climates most of the year. The north of the island is significantly less developed however the weather is not as predictable as in the south where you are likely to get consistently better weather during the spring and winter months.
There are several flights a day from most Irish and UK airports with options ranging from the budget airlines through to scheduled flights and tour operator packages with companies including Sunway, Directholidays.ie and Panorama. There are two airports in Tenerife one in the north and one in the south. Most flights land in the south. You can check flights here special offers and deals. Tour Operators may also sell charter flights.
If you have booked with a tour operator your holiday is likely to include transfers to and from your accommodation. Even if it does we would recommend you rent a car so that you can explore the numerous beaches and the beautiful mountains. The island is very manageable and you are generally no more than two hours from anywhere on the island. For the best deals and special offers for your car hire. Book car hire here
Family friendly accommodation
Families will generally gravitate to the South West of the Island. This is heavily developed which has both advantages and disadvantages. The weather is better in the north and children's attractions are closer. We would recommend Costa Adeje which is an upmarket resort containing most of the new five-star hotels which have very family friendly accommodation. You can book accommodation here with booking.com.
If you are looking to book an upmarket independent family holiday you could consider the Roca Nivaria Gran Hotel which is a new five-star hotel situated on the seafront with fantastic views and family facilities. There is a fully equipped mini club for children from 10 months old with lots of activities organised by the entertainment team, 10,000 square metres of sports facilities including tennis and paddle courts, beach volleyball, giant chess and a heated infinity pool are just some of the facilities. In addition there is an 1800 square metre spa. You can book special offers and deals here with booking.com.
Sheraton La Caleta Resort & Spa has five star luxurious accommodation surrounded by lush tropical gardens and is situated just a few steps from the sea. The hotel has a choice of 5 restaurants and 3 bars. There is a kids club to keep the children entertained and 2 outdoor heated swimming pools, as well as an outdoor salt water swimming and on-site spa. Expect five star prices though.You can book special offers and deals here with booking.com.
The Abama has been getting great reviews. It offers laid-back luxury and a fantastic range of facilities including 10 restaurants, a spectacular golf course, eight pools and a state-of-the-art spa. It is perfect for families with active teenagers and younger children are catered for in an extensive kids club. Despite the size (420 rooms) it still feels intimate and there is a fantastic beach club on ivory sand five minutes’ walk from the hotel or two minutes by buggy. This resort was listed as one of the top 10 beach resorts in Europe recently by Conde Nast.
If you are looking to book a tour operator holiday Sunway features the Gran Hotel Bahia Del Duque in Costa Adeje which is an exclusive resort with fantastic children's facilities. It has six adults and two children's pools, a children's club for children aged between three and 12, 7 bars and cafes, nine restaurants, a fitness centre and numerous sports facilities Families are accommodated in either double rooms or suites and it has sea views and good access to the beach.
If you prefer to rent a family villa have a number of family friendly villas in great locations many of which have private pools and good access to beaches. If you have a baby or a toddler you might like to consider having your supplies such as nappies sent to your destination by tinytotsaway.
What to see and do with the kids
If you are looking for family friendly things to do and see in Tenerife have a look at the experiences offered by isango and book before you go online. This helps you plan and saves you time and hassle on holidays. They include a catamaran cruise, a medieval knight show, a trip to Aqualand and a trek up Mount Teide as well as the Tenerife Submarine Safari.
Warmth in the winter and the beaches all year round are the most compelling reasons for visiting Tenerife with the kids. You'll find dramatic black sand beaches throughout the island, except where it’s been imported from the Sahara. Some of the most family friendly are Playa de las Teresitas, El Medano and Playa Fanabe.
Loro Parque is Tenerife’s impressive wildlife park located in Puerto de la Cruz in the Orotava valley. It has a large dolphinarium, aquarium, sharks and a range of other exotic animals.
Parque Nacional del Teide has Spain’s highest mountain at 3718m. The park itself is mostly above 2000m.The kids will probably love the cable car which takes you to within 200 metres of the summit, where you'll enjoy outstanding views. It can be very cloudy up there and cold even when the sun is shining down on the beaches so pack accordingly. Go early in the day to avoid crowds.
Have a Knight out! Take a step back in time as you enter the castle of San Miguel in Tenerife. Cross the drawbridge and you will be ushered by the king and his loyal knights to your seat in the grand medieval arena. A spellbinding display of horsemanship and heroic acts by the medieval knights will keep you riveted to your seat. Best for older children.
Take a catamaran cruise along the coast of Tenerife and enjoy views of the sparkling blue waters of the Atlantic. Keep your binoculars handy as you could spot pilot whales and dolphins splashing around in the waters.
Siam Park is one of Europe's largest waterparks with thrilling rides and a superb range of aquariums, restaurants and a floating market.
An excursion to Aqualand in Tenerife is a great way to enjoy water activities with the kids and take a closer look at dolphins in its dolphinarium. Home to 10 bottlenose dolphins, the park hosts some incredible dolphin shows in Tenerife. Try out the kamikaze and a variety of thrilling waterslides such as Anaconda, Crazy Race and Twister to name a few. Aqualand has a separate section for kids called Mini Park with exciting water sports such as Pirate Galleon and Castle.
Take an excursion to the town of Taganana and explore some of the most beautiful and unexplored areas of Tenerife. Stroll down the streets of La Laguna, Tenerife’s cultural and religious capital and you will come across architectural marvels, traditional houses of the 17th and 18th century and stately palaces.
Other day trips include a visit to the Botanical Gardens in Puerto de la Cruz, the Camel Centre in El Tanque or the Eagle Park in Adeje.
You will find lots of family friendly travel tips and advice in our research and advice section to help you book the right family holiday. Check out also the experiences of other parents and travellers in our parents forum and add your own experiences as we are a great believer in real parent's experiences as the best measure of whether somewhere will suit you for your family holiday.
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