Canary Islands – The February half term is always a difficult one. By that time of the year, you feel like you’d do anything for a bit of warmth and sunshine – or anyone who lives in northern Europe does at least.
But as most schools only give children one week off in February, it can be a difficult decision where to go to get that winter sun, without the children (and their parents) being wiped out for half the holiday by a long flight and jet lag.
Of course, if you can afford a week in the Caribbean, it’s a great choice for a sun holiday in the winter, and the longer you can go for, the more worthwhile the flight and travel expense seems, but it’s not for everyone.
For a start, the budget may be a bit too high, and there’s the added difficulty in giving kids extra days off from school.
For those who can’t afford the time or money to warrant a trip to the Caribbean for a week, then there is an alternative. Only a few hours’
flight from the UK are the Canary Islands, just off the north west coast of Africa.
You may not get quite the same high temperatures as you get in Aruba or St Martin, and the beaches aren’t quite so breathtakingly gorgeous as you’ll find in the Caribbean. But Tenerife, Lanzarote and Gran Canaria have warm and sunny weather year round, and in February, you’ll find the Canarian climate lovely and warm after British winter temperatures.
Tenerife holidays can be as busy or as relaxing as you choose them to be.
The Canary Islands are a great draw for tourists all year round, but you can always find some quieter resorts if that suits you better. As well as the beautiful beaches, there are lush forested areas to explore, and there’s also the fascinating Mount Teide national park, where you can ascend to the mouth of Mount Teide’s crater by cable car.
If you’ve never been, then the Canaries are definitely worth trying out for a sunshine break in the depths of winter.
