January is a dull month. As a sufferer of SAD, I find the Winter months in the UK tough. So it seemed only appropriate that on Blue Monday I headed to London Stansted in search of sunnier climates.
This time I would be taking a Winter sun break with Jet2holidays to Tenerife in the Canary Islands for 4 nights. I would like to firstly say, an all-inclusive package holiday is not our normal travel style (I will forever be the curator of expertly planned 2 week itineraries) but with a big year ahead of us – Hello Wedding! – and a tiring year behind us, it seemed like the perfect option.
Disclaimer: This post is in collaboration with Jet2Holidays. I have partnered with Jet2 to showcase the their wide range of Winter Sun Holidays. However this has not impacted my thoughts on the airline or hotel and all opinions, as always, are my own.
Tenerife is the perfect winter sun destination
Tenerife, while part of Spain, is located roughly 60 miles away from the African mainland and is one of eight Islands which make up The Canary Islands. Due to its location, it makes them the ideal European destination for January and February sun holidays, as the Canary Islands stay warm while the rest of Europe stays a lot colder.
Average temperatures in the Canary Islands during the Winter months are 22C and most importantly for me – sunny with blue skies. You can see why many people from the UK flock to the Canaries during the Winter months.
Aside, from the temperature, Tenerife – the largest Canary Island, in particular offers a wide range of activities across the Island, making it a destination for families, couples and even solo travellers – but I will get into that more later on.
How to travel from the UK to Tenerife
Tenerife, depending on which area you are flying from, is a roughly 4 hour 20 minute flight from the UK. Therefore, not the closest European location, but if you are chasing Winter Sun, this is the average length of flight you will be looking at.
This was my second time flying with Jet2 and I am pretty sure, it will not be my last. Offering flights from London Stansted, as well as 11 other UK airports, Jet2 have become one the UK’s leading companies for European package holidays. I can see why, they make everything incredibly simple – which is what I want from this type of holiday. From the use of their app, to text message reminders and updates, everything is just efficient.
Oh, and the staff are friendly and helpful, which, I say as a frequent flyer, is not always the case with other airlines and holiday providers.
There are plenty of Jet2 flight deals to Tenerife on their website as well over 65 European destinations.
Package holiday vs DIY
As we know, a package holiday is not my normal travel style, but I can now see the benefits of booking this way.
Jet2’s package holidays include flights, transfers and hotel, as well as support and assistance throughout your holiday. As previously mentioned, they make everything simple. Throughout our trip we received various relevant text messages, transfer times, check-in times, etc – meaning I could sit back and relax, knowing everything was taken care of.
The downsides of the package holiday? The main thing I would point out would be the coach transfer to the hotel and on return to the airport. The journey and transport itself was completely fine, you just lose a bit of time dropping and collecting people from various hotels along the route. In the case of where we stayed in Tenerife, this was roughly a 1 hour 20 minute complete journey versus a 25 minute taxi ride.
Which in the grand scheme, is not too much, but if you are on a short winter sun holiday, this can eat into your time away.
Where to stay in Tenerife during the Winter months
As mentioned, the average temperature in Tenerife during the Winter months (December-February) is 22C. However, Mount Teide (a dormant volcano) is in the middle of the Island, seperating it into two halves – this does mean the North of Tenerife has a cooler and wetter climate. Therefore, many opt to stay on the South coast.
The most popular ‘tourist’ resorts in the South of Tenerife are Playa De Las Americas (Not personally a fan), Los Cristainos, Costa Adeje, La Caleta and Los Gigantes. If you are looking for more information on this, you can read my post on where to stay in Tenerife (coming soon).
For this trip I booked to stay at the Gran Melia Palacio de Isora through Jet2Holidays where we stayed for 4 nights. A 5 Star All Inclusive Resort located in Guia De Isora. Guia De Isora is located between the resort towns of Los Gigantes and Adeje.
This resort was huge and incredibly impressive. The most notable feature being the 400 metre infinity pool – the largest infinity pool in Europe. The downside? Being 400 metres in length, it is hard to keep it heated, meaning it was not the easiest swim during the Winter in Tenerife. For those who enjoy a bit more warmth, they also have 3 other outdoor heated pools – including adult only pools – bliss.
The hotel currently offers a half board or all-inclusive package. My aim for the this trip was solely to relax, therefore all-inclusive was certainly the best option. Alongside the extensive buffet, offered during breakfast and dinner service, there are 3 different on-site restaurants you can book into during your stay (included as part of your package). We ate at Nami (Asian fusion) and L’Olio (Italian) both of which we loved.
The downside – bookings for these restaurants are limited and are available through the hotel app. We were very lucky to get bookings at both restaurants – and I imagine this could be incredibly difficult during the busier summer months.
Aside from that, I honestly could not fault the hotel. We made good use of the gym and I even treated myself to a massage at the on-site Clarins Spa – which was ultimate relaxation.
Location wise, the hotel is located on the sea front and many of the rooms offer a full to partial sea view. Therefore you have quick access to the beach, spots which have been made safe for sea swimming and stunning coastal walks in the sun. The area of Guia De Isora is more of a ‘local village area’ therefore there are not the many bars and restaurants which you would see in the other regions of Tenerife – but with everything you need included within the all-inclusive package – this did not bother us at all.
There is also a local bus as well as taxis which can take you to other more ‘tourist resorts’. On a previous visit to Tenerife, we stayed at the Hard Rock Hotel in Costa Adeje, during this stay we had breakfast only and made use of the nearby restaurants and bars. However, Jet2 does also offer this hotel as one of their all-inclusive holidays to Tenerife.
If I had to pick between the Gran Melia Palacio De Isora or The Hard Rock Hotel in Tenerife, for location I would choose The Hard Rock Hotel but for pure relaxation and luxury it would be the Gran Melia Palacio De Isora.
Things to do in Tenerife in January and February
My soul intention for this holiday was something I do not normally do – relax. This meant sitting by the pool in the sun reading a book, eating great food and just enjoying quality time with my partner – which was was perfect for the length of time we stayed.
But for those staying longer, or who want a bit more activity, there are plenty of things to do in Tenerife during winter.
Hiking in Tenerife
Hiking and walking is a popular all-year round activity in Tenerife, but more popular things to do during the Winter months when the temperatures are slightly cooler. Alongside the obvious Mount Teide hike, there are plenty of scenic routes to take which are suitable for all abilities.
The most popular routes include Chinamada, Mirador Aguaide and Las Portelas but I would recommend using All Trails to plan your route safely.
Star Gazing
Star gazing is the perfect evening activity in Tenerife. The Gran Melia hotel, where we stayed, actually offer a weekly astronomy evening class but for those looking for something a bit more romantic need to book the Mount Teide Stargazing experience with dinner inside the Mount Teide National Park.
Siam Park
Voted the ‘Number 1 Water Park in the World’ over eight times now, Siam Park is a must do all thrill seekers visiting Tenerife – not just kids. Having previously visited, I can vouch for how much fun this water park is. While many wait for the summer months to visit Siam Park, it is in fact open all year round and it makes for a great day trip in Tenerife during the Winter. The weather is still warm, the water is mainly heated and the queues are a lot less than during the busy summer months.
Dolphin watching
The waters surrounding the Canary Islands are home to an abundance of wildlife, including Pilot Whales and Bottlenose Dolphins who swim the waters to the South of Tenerife all year round. I would always recommend booking a tour in advance, therefore you can read reviews and ensure it is an ethical trip. I would always recommend a ‘no chase’ dolphin trip.
Tenerife is an excellent destination for winter sun and while I am not yet fully converted to giving up my adventure holidays and city breaks for the all-inclusive package holiday – I can definitely see the appeal and may make it a staple for future Januarys to come.
January and February in the UK, for me, is not fun or easy, therefore, I am extremely grateful for Jet2Holidays for bringing blue skies into my life with ease and efficiency.