Recent Trip

Islas Canarias, España

August 2026

If your idea of Tenerife is beach, pool, cocktails and a big-name hotel, head south. That’s where the resorts are. You’ll have plenty of restaurants, shopping and everything else you could possibly need without having to experience much of Tenerife at all.

I stayed in Puerto de la Cruz, a bit touristy, but not resort touristy. Lots of pedestrian streets, cafés, restaurants, bars and small shops, and it’s easy to walk just about everywhere. I rented a car and drove around the island. One minute you’re looking at a volcano and lava fields, then you’re driving through something that looks like a desert, then a forest, then you’re standing on a black-sand beach. It’s like somebody couldn’t decide what kind of island to build, so they threw everything in.

Tip: Rent a car and make it small and automatic. Tenerife’s roads are steep, narrow and winding, and parking is a pain in the ass just about everywhere. This isn’t the place to brush up on your stick-shift skills. I recommend Cicar. Great local company, excellent service, and you can take their cars on the ferry to other islands. I took mine to Gran Canaria for the day.