So, I was invited by the Department of Tourism for Tenerife (aka Turismo de Tenerife) to visit for a week. Tenerife is in the Canary Islands and is part of the country of Spain. Thus, Spanish is the primary language spoken here and the local currency is the Euro.In the past, this has been an extremely popular vacation destination amongst Europeans (since it's only about a two hour plane trip from Madrid, Spain). However, in recent months, Air Europa has begun flying to Tenerife from JFK Airport in NYC (with a connection in Madrid), and directly to/from Miami (non-stop), which has made it a lot more convenient for Americans to also enjoy this tropical vacation destination. (Because the flight is a long one, I recommend flying Business Class, if you can afford it. You'll be much more comfortable.)
There is a lot that this island has to offer - much more than tropical beaches. In fact, you'll find more five-star hotels here than in Barcelona.
While much of the architecture, for example, is old (and predates anything you'd find in America), from a technological standpoint, Tenerife is as modern as any U.S. or European city - plus it's absolutely gorgeous. Being part of Spain, Tenerife has a strong Spanish influence and culture, which makes it that much more interesting for tourists to experience.
For several nights during my trip, I stayed at the Hotel Botanico in Puerto de la Cruz. It's an extremely luxurious five-star resort with an amazing spa and excellent restaurants. On the opposite side of the island, I also stayed for several nights at the equally impressive Gran Melia Resort (in Palacio de Isora), plus I've visited a handful of other resorts that are also well worth staying at, including the lovely and prestigious Abama Golf & Spa Resort (a Ritz-Carlton property).
Overall, the quality of the food everywhere I've dined has been top-notch, and the island is known around the world for its fine wines.
I would recommend Tenerife as a unique and exotic vacation or honeymoon destination for anyone traveling from the East Coast (especially New York City or Miami). While more than five million tourists travel to this island every year, less than six thousand of them are Americans, which makes Tenerife a unique tourist destination for people looking to experience something new, exciting, exotic and beautiful.
You'll find top-notch resorts, restaurants, shopping, golf courses located along the ocean, stunning beaches, day spas, boating, fishing, scuba diving, hiking, plus countless other activities, including Loro Parque (a massive, SeaWorld-like theme park - complete with whales and dolphins, shows, rides and attractions, that I can't wait to visit firsthand). There's also Siam Park, a fun-filled water park for kids and teens, which is one of many family-friendly activities to be experienced here.
Don't Forget About Travel Insurance Before You Leave (Regardless of Where You're Going Overseas)
In terms of travel advice, I have written extensively about the need for travelers to purchase travel insurance when going abroad. For this trip, I am very happy to say that I have practiced what I've been preaching.
I acquired insurance through Travel Guard before departing. As luck would have it, my baggage was delayed for more than 48 hours. However, when I discovered one of my bags "missed my flight," I simply called Travel Guard's toll-free number and they had someone from their luggage recovery team deal directly with the airline to locate my bag and arrange to have it delivered to my hotel. Because the bag was more than 12 hours late, I was given an allowance of $500.00 to purchase clothing, toiletries and other items I've needed.
If I didn't have the insurance, the airline delaying my luggage would have been a huge inconvenience. Thanks to Travel Guard, my trip has gone that much more smoothly. I did not have to deal directly with the airline (sitting on hold from my cell phone while paying $.99 per minute), and I was able to purchase clean clothing to wear.
So, once again, I urge anyone traveling abroad for business or pleasure to acquire travel insurance prior to their departure. In addition to covering lost or delayed luggage, the insurance also protects travelers if they get injured or encounter some other type of emergency.
Obtaining travel insurance for a trip takes under five minutes. It can be done online, and the cost is typically less than five percent of the overall trip cost. For this trip to Tenerife, the Travel Guard insurance cost $97.00, and it was money well spent!
I urge you to learn more about Tenerife by visiting www.webtenerife.com. In the meantime, below are some photos from my trip.
All images (c)2009 Jason R. Rich. All rights reserved.
Posts
