• The TUGBBS forums are completely free and open to the public and exist as the absolute best place for owners to get help and advice about their timeshares for more than 30 years!

    Join Tens of Thousands of other Owners just like you here to get any and all Timeshare questions answered 24 hours a day!
  • TUG started 30 years ago in October 1993 as a group of regular Timeshare owners just like you!

    Read about our 30th anniversary: Happy 30th Birthday TUG!
  • TUG has a YouTube Channel to produce weekly short informative videos on popular Timeshare topics!

    Free memberships for every 50 subscribers!

    Visit TUG on Youtube!
  • TUG has now saved timeshare owners more than $21,000,000 dollars just by finding us in time to rescind a new Timeshare purchase! A truly incredible milestone!

    Read more here: TUG saves owners more than $21 Million dollars
  • Sign up to get the TUG Newsletter for free!

    60,000+ subscribing owners! A weekly recap of the best Timeshare resort reviews and the most popular topics discussed by owners!
  • Our official "end my sales presentation early" T-shirts are available again! Also come with the option for a free membership extension with purchase to offset the cost!

    All T-shirt options here!
  • A few of the most common links here on the forums for newbies and guests!

Thinking ahead...Tenerife, Canary Islands

nerodog

TUG Review Crew: Expert
TUG Member
Joined
Jun 6, 2005
Messages
2,442
Reaction score
1,574
Points
523
Location
Portugal
Never been and it's a short flight. I trade through RCI weeks. Any suggestions on where to stay ? 1BR or 2BR . Prefer a quieter resort . This is for 2021. Hopefully .Thx!!:)
 
Last edited:

JeffC

TUG Member
Joined
Mar 4, 2011
Messages
321
Reaction score
239
Points
253
Location
Long Island
Resorts Owned
Wyndham Mauna Loa Village, Sweetwater at Kauai, Club La Costa
Try Club la Costa Monterey. They’re set up on top of a hill above the town. Small complex, I think they have 1, 2 and 3 BR units. There is also a newer section called Monterey Royale, but I’ve never stayed there. It trades thru RCI.
 

Laurie

TUG Review Crew
TUG Member
Joined
Jun 6, 2005
Messages
3,055
Reaction score
789
Points
498
Location
NC
Lucky you! We loved Tenerife, and spent 2 weeks there.

IMO the northern part of the island is the better place to be - stunning geography, and a sense of real place. Much of the southern and western (?) coasts are concrete-jungly, less interesting landscape, though reliably sunny, which is a big draw -- especially for Brits or anyone escaping cold or cloudy weather. Fancier resorts, beaches, lots of traffic and tourists. The north is cloudier so if your goal is to lay in the sun and relax, maybe not the best bet. But I loved the historic town of Puerto de la Cruz - restaurants, music, architecture, small but beautiful black sand beaches - daily view of Mt Teide often towering above clouds - and a gorgeous, huge pool complex designed by brilliant architect Cesar Manrique. There are 2 RCI resorts there to my knowledge.

We stayed at the low-key Club Tarahal, because ocean view. To my memory, all the 2-BR's face the ocean and cliffs, and only one of the 1-BR's does. We had a 1-BR and they gave us the view unit on request, but on return I'd trade into a 2-BR for better chance of view. There's a small pool on the roof. It's an easy walk downhill into the center of town, and more of a trek uphill back to the resort, but we walked everywhere and didn't mind. It's very close to a beautiful botanical garden. I'd go there again.

While there we stopped in at the larger gold-crown Club Casablanca resort, and looked at a unit and the complex. Closer down the hill, but I was underwhelmed and happier with our choice, though I wouldn't turn it down.

Our second week week we stayed at another RCI resort on the north coast, whose name escapes me and I don't see in the directory. It was lovely, but we ended up driving back into Puerto de la Cruz about half the days, so I wouldn't again.

My second choice for location would probably be near Los Gigantes which is a beautiful and dramatic beach, resorts technically in "Santiago del Teide" - but we didn't stay there so I can't speak to a whole week.

We drove all around the island, went to the national park and up the mountain El Teide (not the hike to the tippy top but cable car up - driving from sea level and then zipping up to about 11,500 feet gave me my first experience of extreme light-headedness and dizziness from altitude, be careful - though I managed to walk to all the overlooks) and went on a beautiful guided hike by a British ex-pat in the center. We'd planned to ferry over to La Gomera, but ran out of time.

Hope that helps. If your priority is resort over location, you have way more choices!

btw my favorite Canary island was Lanzarote and I absolutely plan to return - Tenerife was my #2, we visited all 4 main islands on 2 separate trips.
 

nerodog

TUG Review Crew: Expert
TUG Member
Joined
Jun 6, 2005
Messages
2,442
Reaction score
1,574
Points
523
Location
Portugal
Lucky you! We loved Tenerife, and spent 2 weeks there.

IMO the northern part of the island is the better place to be - stunning geography, and a sense of real place. Much of the southern and western (?) coasts are concrete-jungly, less interesting landscape, though reliably sunny, which is a big draw -- especially for Brits or anyone escaping cold or cloudy weather. Fancier resorts, beaches, lots of traffic and tourists. The north is cloudier so if your goal is to lay in the sun and relax, maybe not the best bet. But I loved the historic town of Puerto de la Cruz - restaurants, music, architecture, small but beautiful black sand beaches - daily view of Mt Teide often towering above clouds - and a gorgeous, huge pool complex designed by brilliant architect Cesar Manrique. There are 2 RCI resorts there to my knowledge.

We stayed at the low-key Club Tarahal, because ocean view. To my memory, all the 2-BR's face the ocean and cliffs, and only one of the 1-BR's does. We had a 1-BR and they gave us the view unit on request, but on return I'd trade into a 2-BR for better chance of view. There's a small pool on the roof. It's an easy walk downhill into the center of town, and more of a trek uphill back to the resort, but we walked everywhere and didn't mind. It's very close to a beautiful botanical garden. I'd go there again.

While there we stopped in at the larger gold-crown Club Casablanca resort, and looked at a unit and the complex. Closer down the hill, but I was underwhelmed and happier with our choice, though I wouldn't turn it down.

Our second week week we stayed at another RCI resort on the north coast, whose name escapes me and I don't see in the directory. It was lovely, but we ended up driving back into Puerto de la Cruz about half the days, so I wouldn't again.

My second choice for location would probably be near Los Gigantes which is a beautiful and dramatic beach, resorts technically in "Santiago del Teide" - but we didn't stay there so I can't speak to a whole week.

We drove all around the island, went to the national park and up the mountain El Teide (not the hike to the tippy top but cable car up - driving from sea level and then zipping up to about 11,500 feet gave me my first experience of extreme light-headedness and dizziness from altitude, be careful - though I managed to walk to all the overlooks) and went on a beautiful guided hike by a British ex-pat in the center. We'd planned to ferry over to La Gomera, but ran out of time.

Hope that helps. If your priority is resort over location, you have way more choices!

btw my favorite Canary island was Lanzarote and I absolutely plan to return - Tenerife was my #2, we visited all 4 main islands on 2 separate trips.
Hi Laurie...thank you for all your suggestions. Sounds good and gives me a place to start since it will be a first time trip. I am interested in an updated resort and will have friends joining so definitely need the 2 BR. I love historic towns, architecture, national parks and scenery. We love the beach but no plans to sit out ..prefer a nice balcony with a view of something either gardens, ocean, pool. I've been reading up on a bunch of resorts and areas so I'm taking notes. And ...continue to dream. We really love Madeira and go back whenever possible as now the flights are short. Thanks again. I was viewing old threads and was reading some of your older ones too. A
 
Last edited:

Laurie

TUG Review Crew
TUG Member
Joined
Jun 6, 2005
Messages
3,055
Reaction score
789
Points
498
Location
NC
nerodog, I looked at a map to assist my memory. Our second timeshare week was in Tacaronte, to the east of Puerto de la Cruz.

Our guided hike ended up in the village of Masca - google for some images - since you like Madeira (as we did), you'd probably find this beautiful.
 

nerodog

TUG Review Crew: Expert
TUG Member
Joined
Jun 6, 2005
Messages
2,442
Reaction score
1,574
Points
523
Location
Portugal
nerodog, I looked at a map to assist my memory. Our second timeshare week was in Tacaronte, to the east of Puerto de la Cruz.

Our guided hike ended up in the village of Masca - google for some images - since you like Madeira (as we did), you'd probably find this beautiful.
Thank you Laurie!! You always have great tips and insight.
 
Top