European budget airlines have allowed more people to fly away on holiday, and for those who already took holidays overseas changed the annual two week break to that along with some shorter breaks during the year.

And the Canary Islands have benefitted just as much as anywhere else, with more people visiting this summer, and a good number expected over the winter months due to her well known good climate while much of Europe is shivering.

Recently revealed figures show that nearly half of those people flying to Gran Canaria for their holidays chose a low cost airline, and it was over half on some of the neighbouring islands.

Tenerife for example, received six out of ten tourists embarking on their Tenerife holidays via a low cost airline - and it wasn’t dissimilar for those taking Lanzarote flights.

Of the three most popular holiday islands in the Canaries, Gran Canaria received least tourists via the low cost carriers, but it was still nearly half of the total number of passengers who took flights to Gran Canaria in the first six months of the year.

Lower airfares have helped people who might not have otherwise been able to afford a holiday during the recent economic downturn, or had been worried about the costs while unemployment was rising, and without the cheap flights from the budget airlines the number of people taking Gran Canaria holidays over the last two years could have fallen a lot more than it did.

This winter some low fares are available for those wanting to take a holiday in Gran Canaria - the island is renowned for its winter climate and northern Europeans escape their winter for a week or two to enjoy the Gran Canaria weather.

Return ticket prices on easyJet for mid November for example can be had for as little as £65 return - with flights both ways at good times, not the early hours of the morning.

Even at Christmas - in the past the time when airlines were likely to charge the earth because they knew people would pay - a return flight departing December 22 from the UK is under £250. It allows far more people the option of spending Christmas in the sun should they want to.

Located off the coast of Africa and the third largest island in the Canary Islands chain, Gran Canaria is not far from Tenerife. Though it is the third largest of the islands, it’s the most populated. But don’t let that discourage you from choosing it as your holiday getaway. When you look at a map of Gran Canaria of the 230 kilometers of coastline, over 60 consist of exquisite beaches.

If you’re visiting you’ll find it’s a treasure trove of mountains, sand dunes and ancient monoliths. The terrain is diverse and offers opportunities for sightseeing by car, bicycle and foot. It’s often called a ‘mini-continent’ because of its diverse climatology. The climate varies so much from area to area that the island seems much larger than it actually is.

For Gran Canaria flights visit yourgrancanaria.net For those considering visiting there are independent videos to view on youtube

Crete Blog

If you’re considering a holiday on one of the Greek islands for this year or next, Paxos might be worth considering for a family holiday, or for a romantic getaway for couples.

According to Greek legendy, the island was created by Poseidon when he struck Corfu with his trident in effort to gain peace and quiet. The pebble beaches of Paxos are surrounded by sheer, precipitous cliffs that create scenery that is both breathtaking and expressive.

The sea around Paxos has vivid colours; it is pleasantly clean, clear, and cool. Dramatic fauna and flora are abundant, especially in spring. Ancient olive trees line the hillsides allowing the mind and senses escape to the treasure of comfort and beauty that awaits holidaymakers.

Seeing The Island

Paxos is charming and quaint and can be seen easily in a couple of days by motorbike or car. The three main towns on the island are Logos, Laka, and Gaios. All of which exhibit the classiul ac Hellenic Ionian style with bright and colourful homes lining the promenades.

The rural area environment has a landscape that features low stone homes surrounded by bountifnd lush gardens. There is always something beautiful to see and many photo opportunities while you’re sightseeing or walking. For those who like Crete holidays it’s familiar but at the same time unique enough to enjoy.

The three main resorts all have natural harbours - Gaios being the biggest and busiest.

Travelling further inland there are old churches and buildings and many hiking or biking trails if you seek to further explore the island’s rich history.

Hotels In Paxos And Things To Do

Travel around the entire island on a day or half day cruise. Picturesque wind-carved limestone cliffs, sculptural rock formations, and caverns line the way. Crystal clear, calm waters surrounding the island only add to the exquisite beauty. The weather and climate on Paxos is similar to the weather in Crete.

A bit of history from World War II is just off the island. Inside the cave called Papanikolis, a Greek submarine found refuge and hid during the war.

There is plenty of opportunity to swim, snorkel and relax. This island is wonderful for holidaymakers seeking relaxation and to get away from the rest of the world. The locals are all very friendly and happily greet visitors. A spectacular sunset can be seen by traveling to Erimitis, a bar which sits above the cliffs of the west coast.

Paxos is a worthwhile day trip if you don’t have a lot of time, but want to escape for a bit. There are many hiking and biking paths that go around the island via trails, coves, and beaches. There’s a few travel sites that have a map, often the same ones that have a Crete map.

You can easily take in the unhurried, traditional, and tranquil Greek lifestyle. Many people visit this wonderful island because of the miles of pathways that lead to unspoiled, secluded beaches and coves.

Hotels in Paxos fill quickly during peak travel season. Villa holidays are popular. Many villas have private pools and various villa companies include Paxos in their brochures, James Villas for example.

The island also has two hotels that often receive rave reviews from happy guests. The island of Paxos might be small compared to some islands like Kefalonia, but it offers an intimate charm and beauty for those who crave quiet, peaceful relaxation. Retreat from the hustle and bustle of everyday modern living and escape from it all.

More information about the Greek islands are available on social media like reddit

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.”

The Canary Islands have surprised analysts with healthy revenue projections for Q1 2010, with the islands claiming a turnover of 3.21 billion Euros, despite a small decline in visitor numbers compared to 2009 figures. The Canary Islands continue to attract more revenue than its traditional regional rivals Morocco, Tunisia and even Turkey. This includes a staggering 15% increase in sales of Gran Canaria holidays (http://www.travelsoon.com/gran-canaria-holidays.html ) during the period, with 1.5 million tourists having visited the island so far this year.

“The Canary Islands continue to perform strongly despite the global tourism crisis. With these recent figures, many on the island are starting to hope that the worst of it is over,” says Luke Nathan of travel consultants Travelsoon.com. “While visitor numbers are actually down a couple of per cent, the Canary Islands’ revenue estimates are incredibly healthy, particularly when compared to Spain itself – or any of the islands’ rival African and Mediterranean destinations.”

According to figures from January, 31.3% of all tourists to Spain are in fact visiting the Canary Islands, with week-long Tenerife holidays (http://www.travelsoon.com/tenerife-holidays.html ) proving the most popular package. The Canaries strong revenue performance can be attributed in part to its hotel base – with hotels on the islands being among some of the most profitable in the whole of Spain. According to a survey by the Partnership for Excellence in Tourism in Spain, Canary Island hotels and resorts have ranked in the top seven spots in terms of profitability.

“After last year’s figures revealed the worst year for Canary Island tourism in 16 years, things are finally starting to look up,” continues Nathan. “It’s a testament to the islands’ draw that even during the ash cloud chaos in May, sales of Lanzarote holidays (http://www.travelsoon.com/lanzarote.html ) were up 15% for the month.”

Meanwhile, the Canary Islands have been enjoying their warmest summer in years, with Spanish meteorologists placing them on a “yellow alert” as forecast temperatures rise to 38°C (99°F).

For the Gran Canaria weather visit yourgrancanaria.net and for a Lanzarote map yourlanzarote.net

Tenerife Blog

The best advertising is recommendations from previous users, and to win an award that comes about as a direct result of your guests saying you provide great service is one worth winning - and that’s what’s happened for twenty of Tenerife’s hotels.

Organised by Thomas Cook Holidays, the awards recognise excellence, and it’s judged by actual guests at hotels who share their experience with the company via a Customer Satisfaction Questionnaire.

As well as awarding the best hotels it allows the company to keep on top of which hotels they use are perhaps not performing as well as others, and being able to make sure the hotels in Tenerife they offer are the best in the travel industry.

Some of the hotels that won awards are already well known to tourists, and in Playa de las Americas for example include the Bitacora and the Hotel Sol.

Los Cristianos is another well known resort popular for Tenerife holidays, and winners include the Paradise Park, Arona Gran and the Los Alisios apartments, while the Barcelo Santiago picked up honours from their hotel in Puerto de Santiago.

The Iberostar’s two hotels in Tenerife’s Costa Adeje both were among the winners, along with the Gran, ensuring all the popular areas for tourists from the UK and further afield were well represented and showing that the island is capable of providing great accommodation in different locations and it’s not just the Tenerife weather that attracts tourists.

Thomas Cook Holidays whose clients made the nominations are one of the UK’s best known travel companies, along with First Choice and Thomson.

For those who haven’t been before, the Tenerife weather is often near perfect on the southern half of the island for a holiday, while the northern half offers lush greenery and beautiful vistas. The cities are always full of life, and the glorious view of Mount Tiede, Spain’s highest point, is one many tourists remember from past visits.

For specific areas, Thomas Cook Holidays offer good information on their travel site about each one, but some of the less known areas are:

Icod de los Vinos (just Icod to the locals) is Tenerife’s premier wine-growing region. Daily life in Icod moves at a more relaxed pace than some other places on the island. If you visit Icod, be sure to visit the Dragon Tree that the locals say is thousands of years old. The beautiful Playa San Marcos with its inviting black sand can be found nearby.

La Laguna is a good place to stay if you enjoy art and architecture, and is more suited for adults than family holidays. The Cathedral dates back to 1515, and there are many interesting churches to explore. The city was once the capital of the island and still bears the regal air of an important place.

Los Gigantes is a city at the foot of massive cliffs which bears the same name. The picturesque marina offers boat trips for dolphin and whale watching, while the town has a good choice of bars, restaurants and shops while out and about.

For more information including press releases visit yourtenerife.net

Could this really be right - that women spend £200 more on their holiday wardrobe than on the holiday itself?

Apparently so according to a new poll and reported on by the Daily Record.

Feel free to let us know by leaving a comment whether you spend more on clothes than your Gran Canaria holidays.

FROM flip flops to sarongs and evening dresses to bikinis, many women spend more on a holiday wardrobe than the trip itself.

It seems that heading for foreign climes, or even simply taking a staycation in the UK, is all the catalyst most women need to hit the shops.

A London Clothes Show poll revealed the average woman spends around £200 more on the contents of her suitcase than the cost of the break.

Despite the fact they probably bought the same holiday togs a year earlier, most girls will still kit themselves out with new swimwear, shoes and summer cover-ups.

We put the findings to the test with two Scots women who love their holidays but have different opinions about just how much cash they need to splash before they hit the airport.

Adele Cunningham

The Clyde 1 DJ loves shopping at the best of times but getting ready to go on holiday simply gives her even more of an excuse to hit the shops.

The 31-year-old, from Glasgow, said: “I am always shopping and, if I am honest, most of my wages go on clothes and shoes.

“I have been doing a lot of fashion shows recently as well and I always end up buying everything I see.

“I am not going on holiday next until October but I have already started buying things I see that I think will be nice for my holiday.

“It wouldn’t surprise me in the least if I end up spending far more on stuff to take on holiday with me than the holiday itself.”

When planning what to pack in her suitcase, Adele doesn’t just think about new dresses, shorts, tops and swimwear, she wants to make sure she has all the perfect accessories for when she hits the beach, the shops or the nightlife.

She said: “I have already bought lots of bikinis and maxi dresses. I am loving maxi dresses at the moment and I am thinking about the usual kaftans, sandals and jeans.

“But I also think it is important to have the perfect beach bag, the right sunglasses, evening bag and even things like scarves and things for my hair.

“I just feel it is important to look and feel nice when you are away, especially if you are with your boyfriend.”

Given that Adele takes a bulging suitcase with her full of brand new clothes, shoes and accessories, you would think that when she has finally arrived at her destination she would take a break from buying.

Not Adele though - a holiday is simply another opportunity to shop.

She said: “I went away with the girls for a week to Gran Canaria earlier this year and ended up buying another eight pairs of shoes. They were just sandals and wedges but I had to pay an extra £30 just to get them home because my suitcase was so heavy.

“I know I will be bad when I go to Florida as well, even though I will have spent a fortune before I go.

“I will probably ask my boyfriend Callum to take a half-empty suitcase with him so I can fill it up.

“I know it is all a bit silly, too, because I know I will never wear half of it while I am over there.”

At least Adele admits she is pretty good at clearing out her clothes and giving away lots to charity.

She said: “We are just moving into a house with three bedrooms and each one has mirrored wardrobes which I know I will fill with clothes and shoes.

“I do clear out quite often and give stuff away, even if it has never been worn.

“I am bad for buying something then finding myself going back and looking at it hanging in my wardrobe and thinking it is too good to wear, which I know is daft.” To read the full article and another example click here

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.

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.”

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

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