Tenerife has topped Cosmos Holidays sales chart with a 60% increase year-on-year, report traveldailyco.uk

Majorca, last year’s number one, is now fourth in the sales list with Florida and Turkey before it.

Other Canary Islands have seen bigger rises in sales, particularly Fuerteventura (250%), Gran Canaria (100%) and Lanzarote (40%).

Menorca

The Algarve, Menorca, Shaem el Sheikh, Zakynthos and Mexico are also within the top ten.

“Whilst early booking trends indicated that this summer was all about the Eastern Mediterranean, the improved strength of the Pound against the Euro has resulted in a last minute surge of bookings to destinations throughout the Western Mediterranean and the Canary Islands,” said Monarch Travel Group Tour Operations Managing Director Hugh Morgan.

“After the challenges of the past 12 months, confidence has clearly been restored in the market and it’s great to see holiday durations lengthening from last year’s seven and 10 night durations to the traditional 14 night breaks.”

Good news for those considering a Gran Canaria for September- leading tour operators Thomas Cook and Thomson have some great deals available - visit yourgrancanaria.net to access both of them plus First Choice.

As the Daily Express report:

HOLIDAY firms are set to slash the price of package deals by hundreds of pounds after a slump in bookings over the summer, experts said yesterday.

A focus on the World Cup and fears over travel disruption have left tour operators with leftover stock.

Discounts on brochure prices are expected to reach up to 70 per cent.

Even families hoping for a break before school starts in September could save as much as 50 per cent on a week in a European destination such as Tenerife.

TUI Travel, owner of Thomson Holidays and First Choice, yesterday revealed a two per cent drop in UK sales over the past three months, normally its busiest time of year.

And it announced the volcanic ash cloud disruption had hit its last-quarter profit by £105million.

Chief executive Peter Long added: “It remains difficult to predict how the later-booking pattern will change over the next 12 to 18 months in the light of the current economic environment.”

A spokeswoman for TUI confirmed there would be “great value deals” during autumn. Among its best was a week on the Greek island of Rhodes in October, starting at £189 per person.

Thomas Cook was also expected to record a drop in sales today.

Long-haul holiday firm Hayes and Jarvis said the downturn in summer sales would mean a “glut” of heavily discounted deals, bringing down the cost of travelling to exotic countries in the Far East to under £500.

Viva Espana! Struggling Spain is bouncing back with increased bookings, according to a report in the Daily Mirror.

After reports that Brits were still shunning the Costas to save money, online travel and leisure retailer lastminute.com this week revealed that destinations in Spain and the Canary Islands are among its biggest-growing breaks year on year.

Gran Canaria has seen the largest boost, with bookings up 479%. Fuerteventura has also seen many more visitors in 2010, bookings were up 340% compared with July 2009.

The other Canary Islands have also seen visitor numbers rise – Lanzarote is up 132% and Tenerife by 92%. Mainland Spain has also attracted more visitors than in 2009, with bookings to the coastal region of Costa Blanca up by 160% this year.

Spain has historically been popular with UK holidaymakers but bookings were hit last year due to the strong euro.

Lastminute.com’s Mark Bower says: “We’re thrilled to see Spain and the Canary Islands back in our best sellers.”

Tenerife Blog

Around the world holiday destinations often need something new to give it the appearance of keeping up with the times and having the travel press write about it, and Tenerife is no different from any other destination in that respect.

A new hotel will make waves as does a refurbished one, and a hotel that’s under new ownership.

All are cause for travel journalists to start booking their flights to Tenerife ready for a few days special treatment in exchange for a review in their respective media.

And so it is with Tenerife as new owners take over the 5 star San Blas Reserva Ambiental in the south of the island.

A spokesman for the new owners commented:

“The purchase of San Blas Reserva Ambiental Hotel is a wonderful addition to the Sandos Hotels & Resorts product line and offers and innovative holiday resort with a variety of spaces, facilities and activities designed to live up to all the expectations for vacation fun and relaxation as well as a unique experience for group and incentive travel.”

Commenting on the benefits of booking a stay at what could be one of the best Tenerife hotels they add:

”The San Blas Reserva Ambiental Hotel is situated in front of the magnificent Atlantic Ocean, just ten minutes from the Tenerife South Airport, and located on a natural Environmental Reserve. Unique on-site facilities include a multi-media center with an interactive museum to discover mysterious species and a historical experience tunnel that recreates the history of San Blas from prehistoric times to the modern day, a sailing lake and a 27-hole Biosphere Golf Course, and a boutique Spa facility with an extensive list of body treatments.”

So with a location close to the airport from where guests take their flights to Tenerife, what are the opinions of those who have stayed there recently and added their views to popular review sites? A typical response has been:

‘We had a perfect vacation at this wonderful planned hotel. Every detail has been thought through. Our room were large with a very nice seperate shower room (yes, it was that big!) and jacuzzi. The staff is very friendly and their personality always shines through. The breakfast buffet was soooo good. One evening we tried the buffet too. Usually I’m not to fond of hotel buffets, but the San Blas really surprised me here too. In the nearby fishing village there are a lot of lovely restaurants too. Overall I can only recommend San Blas, and will absolutely stay here when travelling to Tenerife again. This is a peaceful way to vacation away from usual the tourist traps.’

Other reviews from those staying there for their Tenerife holidays are also generous in their praise, with most commenting that the facilities, cleanliness and staff make it for them 4 or 5 star standard.

For more Tenerife information including a 5 day forecast with today’s Tenerife weather visit yourtenerife.net

They also have a map, villas and the latest news and articles to read.

There’s a part of Gran Canaria that has become known by holidaymakers visiting the island as ‘Little Venice’ – the village of Puerto de Mogan.

Away from the bigger resorts it’s a haven of tranquility and still has the air of a traditional village, but with the advantage of good modern accommodation with both a hotel and self catering accommodation available.

Puerto de Mogan’s similarity to the Italian city of canals is no accident. The vision of the designers of the beachfront part of the city was to re-create the quaintness of Venice in a Spanish environment.

It’s located on the southwestern coast of Gran Canaria. The island is the second largest most populous in the Canary Island chain. Visitors from Europe, the UK and further afield for its sunshine, beaches, charm and rich culture.

The island is home to over 800,000 residents. It sees well over twice that many annual visitors. Tourism is an important part of the economy.

A majority of tourist activity takes place along the eastern coast of the island. Much of it is centered around the capital city of Las Palmas.

The western side is less populated and concentrated. This is one reason that Puerto de Mogan’s developers decided to adopt an Italian theme. Created by an Italian designer, it’s one that is unique to the island.

Visitors to the beachside downtown area will be hard pressed to find a motor vehicle of any kind. Instead, Puerto de Mogan caters to the pedestrian.

Designers created arched walkways reminiscent of many Italian cities. Visitors can stroll the bricked walkways which link the town’s shops, restaurants and quaint residences and hotels.

The real nod to Venice, though, is the town’s canals. They run through the village and out into the marina area which opens into the Atlantic Ocean.

While many of Gran Canaria’s popular resort towns feature modern high-rise buildings. This was another deliberate design choice by town visionaries.

The main hotel sits comfortably in the surroundings, and for those considering a week or two’s holiday it can be booked in the UK via Thomson Holidays or independently.

No buildings exceed two stories tall except for a small handful of older ones. Any modern construction is limited by law to two stories or less. This feature adds to the unique charm of the beach town.

Locals survived for centuries on fishing. The city is still home to many native fishermen. However, most of the economic activity comes from tourism in today’s world.

Daytrippers tend to stick to the waterfront area of the city. Tourists who want to stay for a spell and spend a little bit less money can venture further inland. Away from the pricey, tourist driven restaurants and boutiques, visitors can find more authentic cuisine and homier accommodation.

The village is family friendly, with activities for people of all ages. For swimming and sunbathing it’s fairly sheltered, so the water is warm and currents are gentle, helped by the good Gran Canaria weather.

Other popular water activities include snorkelling, boating and jet skiing, as well as surfing if you venture a bit further out.

Puerto de Mogan is widely well known for her Friday market. The open air market draws hundreds of locals as well as tourists every week. Shoppers can find just about anything, from hand made clothing to native produce, fresh fish, and locally made craft and gift items.

A visit to to see Puerto de Mogan is well worthwhile if you’re not staying there during Gran Canaria holidays - most of the coastal towns are connected by a highway.

Some of the eastern towns are even connected by ferry for ease of travel. It’s time well-spent, whether it’s a day trip or a longer stay.

For a Gran Canaria map visit yourgrancanaria.net

Comments from people who have been to the island are often posted on social network sites such as mixx

ttglive.com ran a report recently saying that the Canary Islands look set to have an increase in holidaymakers this year, and had this to say about the islands:

The Canary Islands The big two are increasingly branding major resort hotels for particular client types. The Gran Melia Palacio de Isora in Tenerife will be part of Thomson’s flagship Sensatori resorts brand from May, offering luxury for adults with an emphasis on spa treatments.

This is a bright spot for tour operators and accommodation-only providers, with a lot of new-build accommodation over the past decade and more all-inclusive than in other areas. 

First Choice is adding a new Holiday Village in Lanzarote at the Flamingo Beach hotel, offering families all-inclusive holidays in apartment-style accommodation.Youtravel sales and marketing director Paul Riches says: “We’re seeing significant growth for Tenerife, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura, mainly due to increased flight capacity. “The dynamic packaging model is popular. We have more four-star all-inclusive hotels, which include a selection of  ‘allocation on arrival’ properties in Tenerife.” 

Ian Hailes, head of product and commercial for Cosmos and Somewhere2Stay, says it is expanding on the back of increased Monarch flights to the Canaries. “We offer a wide choice of departure days and durations, and have good offers from hotels,” he adds.

Bedbank has late availability of four-star all-inclusive from £36. Traditional half-board hotels now offering all-inclusive include the Paradise Park at Los Cristianos in Tenerife, and the Timanfaya Palace in Playa Blanca, Lanzarote. Up-market operators such as Prestige are also doing well in the Canaries. Chairman John Dixon says: “Tenerife has some fantastic quality hotels, and is really fighting back. But we need more family-friendly luxury hotels in Gran Canaria.”

The Daily Telegraph in the UK had an interesting article lately about the history and traditions of the island, which make for an interesting read:

Browse through old photos of Gran Canaria’s venerable capital, Las Palmas, as I did during my recent visit, and the significance of the island in the history of travel is immediately apparent.

My hotel, the Santa Catalina, with its grand facade and tropical gardens, has played host to many famous guests; everyone from Agatha Christie to Buzz Aldrin.

Along with the Metropole and the British Club, it’s an elegant landmark of one of Europe’s most exotic watering holes.

But while Gran Canaria has experienced huge changes, the culture and traditions that underpin island life are still very much alive – if only one is prepared to look.

The centre of Las Palmas, Vegueta, is one of the oldest Spanish colonial towns in the world, among the first of hundreds that later sprang up all over South and Central America during the 16th century.

The city is also a thriving cultural centre with an opera house and a modern art museum which, when it was opened in 1989, sparked a revival in modern architecture that spread throughout mainland Spain.

On Sundays, the cobbled streets are alive with one of the best street markets on the island, with folk bands that are no mere tourist attraction but a living tradition enjoyed by many hundreds of locals.

By night, it’s easy to imagine Columbus pacing the deserted cobbled streets under wooden balconies and gothic archways to reach the house, now a museum, where he is said to have stayed before embarking on his voyage of discovery.

It was the famous trade winds that blew Columbus west, and in late November these same winds send a small armada of yachts across the Atlantic to St Lucia in the Caribbean. Next year will be the 25th anniversary of the ARC race, with large crowds lining the marina for the start of the transatlantic crossing which usually takes between two and three weeks.

Being less than 100 miles from the coast of Africa, Gran Canaria is both a geographical and a cultural melting pot, known by the ancient Greeks. Aboriginal tribes called the Guanches arrived here from the mainland, perhaps more than 2,000 years ago.

Among Gran Canaria’s most fascinating archaeological sites are the hundreds of Guanche caves, including the celebrated Painted Cave at Gáldar.

But it is Gran Canaria’s 128 beaches, including the famed Maspalomas dunes on the southern tip and the Las Canteras city beach, that attract the British to this island.

Indeed, it was us Brits who kick-started winter tourism here in the 19th century, when the street signs in those old sepia photographs were written in both Spanish and English.

However, for many the true glory of this island is the mountainous interior and the verdant north-west, where ravines, waterfalls and pine forests make for cooler temperatures and sublime walking. Nothing quite beats the sound of the breeze sighing in the trees, blowing the pine needles around your feet, as you gaze towards the coast thousands of feet below.

Some of the best walking is to be found in the Parque Natural de Tamadaba in the central caldera, but also in the green ravines to be found around Moya, Firgas and Valleseco.

To read the rest of the article click here

Today’s Gran Canaria weather plus holiday companies who include Gran Canaria holidays and hotels are available by visiting http://www.yourgrancanaria.net/hotels 

Gran Canaria

Hopeful reports for the Gran Canaria holidays market has come from the same source that has seen the number of UK visitors slip to the island in the last couple of years - the Foreign Exchange and currency rates.

The British Pound - Sterling - has rallied on the foreign exchanges in the last few weeks, and there are signs that it could go higher against the Euro in the months to come.

Driving down the value of the Euro is the fragile state of the Greek economy, with a high debt ratio to GDP. Other Eurozone countries have rallied around to try and get the Greek debt problem solved, but other memebrs aren’t far behind in being just as vulnerable, Ireland and Cyprus for example.

The Spanish economy is also vulnerable, but if the Euro does fall in value it could mean good news for the Spanish economy overall as a large part of its GDP is from tourism, and Gran Canaria could see the return of British tourists who love the island but have been tempted by cheaper destinations in the last couple of years.

Turkey and Egypt have benefitted at Spain’s expense, as tour operators not only promote good value deals for holidays there, but both are outside the Eurozone where the British Pound still buys a good amount of the local currency.

A British General Election is just weeks away, and opinion polls could send the pound higher or lower, depending upon what they indicate.

The currency markets favour a strong government with a majority in the House of Commons big enough to vote through difficult decisions - if opinion polls show the possibility of a hung parliament where no one party has overall control, it will send sterling down again.

But indications of a comfortable Conservative or Labour victory will help settle the markets over the future of the UK currency.

The election has to be held by early June, with most commentators speculating that Gordon Brown will plump for May 6, when local elections are due too, which would mean more Labour voters turning up to vote, and even if they lost nationally they could hold power in more local authority areas.

And with the election likely to be held in May, if Sterling does increase in value in the weeks after, the timing couldn’t be better for those taking holidays in Gran Canaria who will be able to buy more Euros for their spending money.

It would be good news too for tourists who visit for holidays later in the year - the Gran Canaria weather allows the island to be an all year vacation destination, along with the other Canary Islands, who see holidaymakers escape the Northern Europe chill for a break in the sun.

An increasingly attractive option for those wintering on the island is to have their own home without the cost of buying, through renting with specialist companies who do Gran Canaria villa holidays. Many have their own heated pool for the winter months.

For more photographs of Gran Canaria visit flickr

The Sunday Mirror ran a good article at the weekend about Gran Canaria:

We’d been a bit worried when we heard that the Gran Hotel Lopesan Costa Meloneras Resort Spa & Casino had more than 1,000 rooms, fearing this would mean it would be about as relaxing as the average airport terminal.

We needn’t have worried. It was busy but - with the grounds including a tropical garden of 76,000 square metres, four swimming pools and the sandy Maspalomas beach just 200 metres away - the crowds we’d seen at check-in melted away. We stayed half-board in a Junior Suite. The rooms were lovely and spacious, immaculately clean and had a breathtaking view out to sea.

Breakfast and dinner were served buffet-style in two huge restaurants, though there were also two other fancier restaurants in the hotel if you were willing to pay extra.

Most of our days were spent lounging by the infinity pool, with the most strenuous thing we had to do all day being a walk to the bar to buy cold drinks and sandwiches, although we had to be careful, as payment works on a far too simple swipe card system which you settle on check-out.

With a Diet Coke costing an eyewatering four euros (£3.50) a pop, it soon started to mount up. After a while, we noticed most families with kids used to stock up with daily supplies at the local supermarket because it was much cheaper. We realised we would be doing the same thing after the baby arrived - and for the next 30 years.

Had I been feeling more adventurous, the famous Dunes of Maspalomas were only a short distance away, but what with my swollen ankles and aching pregnancy body, the trek didn’t quite appeal.

Instead I headed the few steps down to the hotel spa, which costs 45 euros (£40) per person for the day 52 euros (£46) for non-residents). The fee covers use of all the facilities, although actual treatments cost extra.

Wow! Never mind a day, I could have spent the week cocooned in here. It was like entering nirvana and felt like a global exercise in indulgence.

A carefully thought-out circuit takes you from the heat of the Arabian world to the extreme cold of the North Pole. Pregnancy ruled out the African Sauna and Hamam Turkish Bath (too hot). Nor did I fancy Ice World (4C) and the igloo, although in manly fashion Mike seemed to enjoy panhandling freezing water over himself.

Instead I went and lay in The Lagoon (a lovely 35C), then shifted to exfoliating my feet in the Himalayan Salt Grotto (where my negative ions were supposedly banished), before heading to the Lava Flotation Pool for a touch of Hawaii, rounding off the experience by sipping sweet mint tea in the evening sun in the spa’s garden. I didn’t think the experience could be bettered until we went to a nearby hotel, the Lopesan Villa del Conde Resort and Corallium Thalasso also in Maspalomas. Here, Mike and I had a joint aromatherapy massage. It was very expensive, at 135 euros (£119) each, but took place by the Atlantic and included a private hot tub.

Spa holidays are big in Gran Canaria and have been since the 19th Century. But fashions are changing. While I was seeking some light relief from the rigours of pregnancy, some of my fellow guests appeared to have sought an altogether different kind of life-changing holiday. Looking closely, fading bruises and wide-brimmed hats hinted that some guests had come here for an ego-boosting facelift.

To read the rest of the article click here

For Gran Canaria hotels visit http://www.yourgrancanaria.net

Spa holidays are becoming more popular, and good news for those who like the idea of a spa holiday in Gran Canaria - the International Medical Travel Journal report:

The Spanish Island of Gran Canaria, just off the coast of Morocco, is fast establishing itself as a wellness and health tourism destination, offering facilities and technology at an affordable cost. The doctors and nurses in all hospitals and clinics are well qualified as well as speaking fluent English. The cost of treatment is up to 40% less than other UK and European medical tourism destinations even with the current exchange rate.

Famed for its healthy microclimate averaging 24 degrees all year round and its purifying natural mineral waters and Aloe Vera, Gran Canaria offers perfect conditions in which to recuperate and rejuvenate. It has long attracted holidaymakers in search of blue skies and beaches. Being just a short flight from many EU countries and with some of Europe’s best spa and thalassotherpy facilities makes it an ideal destination to combine surgery, post operative recuperation and holiday relaxation.

Gran Canaria boasts some of the best-rated spa and thalasso facilities in Europe including the Lopesan Costa Meloneras Resort Spa & Casino which has a spa set in an area reminiscent of a volcanic cave, The Lopesan Villa del Conde Resort & Corallium Thalasso with private seawater pools, jacuzzis, sun terraces and treatment rooms, and The Gloria Palace San Agustín Thalasso and Hotel with its four high tech sea water pools.

The Gran Canaria Spa, Wellness & Health Association (GCSW&H Association) has persuaded several of the top spas, medical and recuperation facilities on the island to offer bespoke wellness and medical holiday packages to suit individual needs of medical tourists, particularly from France, Germany, Spain and the UK.It has also persuaded fourteen of the top spa hotels to offer packages. These all provide guests with a choice of three to five star accommodation offering outstanding spa facilities and comfort, and close to: Hospital San Roque Maspalomas, Clinica San Roque Las Palmas, Eurocanarias Oftalmologica Eye Clinic and Branemark Center.Clinica San Roque Las Palmas specialises in cosmetic surgery. Eurocanarias Oftalmológica is a top specialist eye clinic. Hospital San Roque Maspalomas is a cosmetic surgery specialist. Branemark Center is a specialist dental clinic.  To read the full article click here

For cheap Gran Canaria flights and a Gran Canaria weather forecast visit yourgrancanaria.net