10 Things to do in Santa Cruz de Tenerife

By Luke Durden in gastronomic hotels

The island of Santa Cruz de Tenerife is renown for its climate, beaches and warm seas tourist, making it one of the most popular destinations in Europe. However, its historical and cultural heritage is in many cases forgotten by the tourists visiting the island.

Here is our list of the 10 most interesting things to do in Santa Cruz de Tenerife

1. Visit the Port of Santa Cruz de Tenerife

The port of Santa Cruz shelters some unique and magical places, from which to contemplate the city of Santa Cruz.

2. Auditorium in Santa Cruz de Tenerife

The Auditorium of Santa Cruz has been designed by renowned Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava and was inaugurated in 2003. It has two independent spaces that houses the symphony orchestra and chamber orchestra.

3. Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife.

Known as one of the most important carnivals in the world, the Carnival of Santa Cruz lasts two weeks and begins with the election of the Carnival Queen.

4. García Sanabria Park

This park is located in the city centre of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, and is a true oasis for both locals and tourists. Take a walk through the park and disconnect from the chaos of the city.

5. Visit the old town of Santa Cruz de Tenerife.

The city of Santa Cruz was founded in 1499 and to this date, some historical monuments have been preserved. It does not cover a very large area, making it a comfortable walk from Plaza de España. There are organized tours that will guide you through all the secrets of the old town.

6. Walking route to Mount Teide

The ascent to Mount Teide is not too complicated, but the route takes about 5 hours at a medium slow pace. But, you will definitely enjoy the unique views while walking to the top of the mountain.

7. Tenerife Espacio de las Artes (TEA)

This building, located in the renovated old town area, has over 20,000 m2 distributed among a library, exhibition centre and Tenerife’s Photographic Centre. The TEA will not leave you indifferent.

8. Visit the Castle of San Cristobal

For many locals, it was a surprise to discover that under the Plaza de España lay the ruins of the ancient Castle of San Cristobal. In 2006, the local council decided to conserve and exhibit the castle’s remains in an unApartmaederground museum.

9. IBEROSTAR Grand Hotel Mencey

This iconic luxury hotel in Santa Cruz de Tenerife is a reference on the island, where many personalities from the fields of art, film, politics and culture have stayed and enjoyed the comforts of this unique hotel. The hotel has 3 gourmet restaurants and a cocktail bar.

10. Cooking classes at the Mencey’s Cookery Classroom

Mencey’s Cookery Classroom is a space designed to taste and enjoy the best cuisine in a unique atmosphere. Enjoy the perfect cooking class in Tenerife.

 

 

You can find more information at the tourist office in the Plaza de España.

Immerse yourself in Costa Brava

By Clementine Robine in Destination

Immersed in the heart of the Costa Brava. There we go, exploring the secrets of one of the most visited and admired coasts in Catalonia, a place where you can easily enjoy the beautiful scenery of sea and nature, where you might even run out of time to see and experiment it all. Blanes, Tossa de Mar (yes, the locations where one of the most famous Estrella Damm commercials was recorded), S’Agaró, Palamós, Playa d’Aro… Magical places in spite of the pressure of tourism invading the coasts every summer.

Among the must-see places there is Blanes botanical garden, where you can find samples of the unique autochtone species and exotical flowers. An indescribable experience of so many colours and smells followed by a visit of the highest point of the cliff where it is located and from where you can savour stunning sea views.

Another garden you should visit is the Santa Clotilde garden. If you are staying in a hotel in Lloret de Mar, it will only be a stone’s throw away. It is a huge garden inspired on the famous gardens in Paris, but with wonderful views over the Mediterranean sea. Luxuriant vegetation with its infinite green tones, stairways, fountains, charming little squares… All of it only a few metres from the beach.

The municipal library of Lloret is a great centre of incessant activities. It offers interesting plans everyday of the year, from exhibitions to reading workshops and book presentations. Next to it, the Casal de l’Obrera offers theatres for all tastes, the Plaza de la Vila invites you to its festivals and local street markets, and Lloret beach will please any sporty person with its large variety of watersports, even traditional fishing demonstrations.

If you book a room in Lloret de Mar you will have the comfort to walk all around the city, without needing any transport. Although it is recommended to rent a bike and visit the surroundings: a perfect way to keep fit enjoying a beautiful scenery.

Don’t forget to save a day during your visit to go for a tour of the town’s Indiano and modernist legacy, eat at one of the traditional restaurants close to the beach, get closer to the Sant Romá church, stroll about the so-called Ronda roads which are the perfect way to discover the cost of the village, go up the hill next to the beach and climb to the Sant Joan castle…

Immerse yourself in Costa Brava and tell us about it: there are a thousand and one experiences you will be willing to share!

Family trips: ready for anything!

By Loren in Family holidays

One of the images that comes to mind when we talk about family trips is the car with the boot full of stuff, from the air mattress for the kids to the surfboard of the eldest son, the hammock of Grandma… A chaos.  Anything but the holidays we all hope during all the year.

However, that image is now somewhat obsolete or, rather, reduced to only one part of the population: those enjoying the whole summer holiday with all the members of the family on the beach, by car and with all the equipment. But besides these travelers that often choose apartments in eastern and southern areas of Spain, there are many who decide to travel with family and they not only travel in any season but also to any destination.

The only requirement to organizing a different family holiday is being patient and always planning the trip in advance.  Look for a friendly destination, with good transport connections, cheap flights and family holiday accommodation close to the areas where you can enjoy the main reasons that led us to choose this destination: beach, water park or children entertainment, museums and cultural centres, the city centre, a natural park, a sailing, diving or golf school…

Family holidays in Fuerteventura

Family holidays in Fuerteventura

Most of the times, choosing the right accommodation is the first step towards enjoying your holiday.  For example, in the area of hotels in Playa de Jandia, Fuerteventura, we can find several family resorts next to Playa Gaviotas offering diver level beginners courses near to one of the liveliest towns in the area, offering a complete range of food for all ages and tastes and some of them even with Adults Only areas, such as Fuerteventura Palace Hotel.

To make decisions, you must first be clear about who travel with you and the type of trip you want to do. And be prepared for everything. If you travel with your partner and the child or children, it is an easy decision because most of holiday destinations and accommodations are created to enjoy as a couple with kids. Hotels with miniclub in tourist areas such as Majorca, Minorca, the coast of Almería and Andalusia often outstand for its great atmosphere and great possibilities for outdoor leisure: from the quiet turquoise waters of the Mediterranean Sea to the wonderful natural environment of Cabo de Gata or the marshes of Huelva.

If we planned the trip for Easter, an interesting option is giving up the beach and the mountains and exploring a city. In Spain we find beautiful places to enjoy and, in most of them, accommodations are mainly targeted at families. Many hotels in the centre of Madrid, for example, have worked hard in the recent years to offer new services more focused on those who travel with children or elderly: adapted spaces, spacious rooms with different environments, special furniture and details to ensure the whole family enjoy the stay, from the youngest to the oldest.

Family hotel in Barcelona Family hotel in Barcelona

Like in Madrid, it is more and more common to find hotels with family rooms in the centre of Barcelona, Seville or even in smaller cities like Salamanca. Although urban hotels have their limitations (not only space but services designed for kids), many are those that offer cots, truckle beds and even babysitting service so that parents can enjoy a night at their leisure.

For those who want a trip with a large family (3 children or more, with cousins or grandparents), the most recommended option is to opt for family beach resorts: a week sunbathing and enjoying the comforts that offer this type of accommodations could be affordable and please everyone. For example, the area of hotels in Alcudia is an ideal place to find this trip alternative: it is a destination with many outdoor activities thanks to good weather, and the hotels offer facilities for all tastes: mini club, mini disco, sports, spa areas, restaurants of all kinds…

Another important aspect, besides the destination and accommodation, is to reconcile hobbies and leisure activities, since it is not the same traveling with children that with grandparents. Planning an active trip can be a good option as everyone can travel at their own pace. A couple of good locations are Lleida, with a spectacular mountain area, or Almería. In the latter case, it is advisable to book a family hotel close to Cabo de Gata, since the park is full of hiking options, beaches, water sports and landscapes that you can only enjoy by walking.

The safety and health services the destination offers are also something to consider. But in any case, it is essential to decide and book as soon as possible in order to choose without limitations. From March, many of the best rooms and hotel family packages are sold out or more expensive. Planning a trip in advance means having always an ace up your sleeve.