BPG_Tenerife-13

Accommodation

Most hotels and apartments are concentrated in the main towns and resorts, particularly in the south of the island. The standard of accommodation is generally high, with a large number of luxury resort hotels. Styles vary from contemporary design to traditional Canarian houses, country houses (casas rurales) to country estates (fincas). Package tourism predominates but recent years have seen a growing number of hotels for independent travellers, especially in the quieter north. Prices are reasonable by EU standards and establishments are graded from one-star to five-star Gran Lujo (GL) which signifies top-of-the-range quality, but stars are not always directly reflected in the price. Santa Cruz de Tenerife and Puerto de la Cruz have a selection of lower-rated places. By law, prices must be displayed in hotel reception areas and in the rooms. Breakfast is not always included in the basic rate.

There are plenty of apartments, which are graded with one to three ‘keys’, shown with symbols, depending on their amenities. There are also ‘aparthotels’, often graded as hotels, where each room or suite has its own kitchen facilities yet retains all the trappings of a hotel.

If you are visiting during the more expensive high season (December, July and August), book accomodation well in advance and be aware that minimum stays in some hotels are 3–5 days. The official Tenerife website, www.webtenerife.com, gives details of around 200 places to stay; for country houses visit www.ecoturismocanarias.com.

a single/double room with bath/shower una habitación individual/doble con baño/ducha

What's the rate per night? ¿Cuál es el precio por noche?

Is breakfast included? ¿Está incluído el desayuno?

Airports (aeropuertos)

There are two airports on the island. Most international flights use Reina Sofía Airport (Tenerife Sur) in the south (tel: 922 75 90 00) at Granadilla de Abona, 11 miles (18km) east of Los Cristianos. Buses run to Los Cristianos and Playa de las Américas (about 25 minutes) and to Puerto de la Cruz, (1hr 40 min). Los Rodeos Airport (Tenerife Norte) near La Laguna (tel: 922 63 59 98/63 58 00) handles mainly inter-island and Spanish air traffic. For general airport information, see www.aena.es.

Bicycle Rental

Cycling is a good way of seeing the island but be prepared for hot and challenging rides in the mountainous areas. Cycling Holidays Tenerife (www.cyclingtenerife.com, tel: 922 70 07 23) offer cycling tours for all levels of fitness, cycling packages with accommodation and bike hire for individuals. for bikerafting.

Budgeting For Your Trip

Here's a list of some average prices in euros.

Accommodation: Rates for a double room can range from as low as €35 at a pensión or hostal to as much as €400 at a top-of-the-range five-star hotel. A pleasant three-star hotel will cost in the range of €90–€100. However, rates increase during the high season, beginning around late November and culminating with the Carnaval in February/March.

Apartments: For a family apartment prices per night range from around €30 for one key to more than €80 for three keys. Discounts are often available for stays of a week or longer.

Attractions: Most museums and gardens charge a minimal entry fee of around €3. More expensive (€10–30) are the larger attractions such as the Pirámides de Güímar and theme parks such as Loro Parque.

Car hire: Around €35 a day.

Meals and drinks: In a bar, a continental breakfast will cost from €4. The cheapest three-course meal, menú del día, with one drink, in a small bar/restaurant, will be around €7. Dinner in a medium level restaurant will be €20–€30 per person, including wine. Petrol: Around €0.90 a litre.

Sports: Golf green fees (per day) range from €45–85 for 18 holes. Tennis court fees start at about €6 an hour, and horse riding starts at about €20 an hour.

Taxis: A taxi journey within a town is likely to cost €4–5. The fare from Playa de las Américas to Reina Sofia airport is around €26.

Camping

Camping is not a common option on the island, and it is prohibited in the national parks. There is a site on the south coast, Camping Nauta Cañada Blanca, in Las Galletas, 2km (1 mile) from the beach (tel: 922 78 51 18).

Car Hire (coches de alquiler) (See also Driving )

Usually you must be over 21, sometimes 24, to rent a car, and you will need your passport, a major credit card and a valid driving licence that you have held for at least 12 months. Cars are generally manual transmission, and you will have to hunt around if you want an automatic vehicle.

There are around 100 local car-hire companies – 25 in Santa Cruz alone – and these tend to be cheaper than the better known companies. It is also cheaper if you hire a car before you leave home, especially via the Internet. Local companies include Amigoautos (www.amigoautos.es), and Tenerife Rent a Car (www.trc-cars.com). All the big international companies (Avis, Europcar, Hertz) have offices at the airports and in the major towns.

I'd like to rent a car. for one day/week. Quisiera alquilar un coche. por un día/una semana.

Please include full insurance. Haga el favor de incluir el seguro a todo riesgo.

Climate

With the temperature a fairly steady 22°C (72°F) year-round, sunshine is the rule, but the weather in the north and eastern parts of the island can be changeable. In spring there is a cold and wet gust from the northwest, and in autumn the famous hot sirocco raises temperatures. Remember that the island is on a parallel with West Africa, and the temperatures in the southern resorts and in the malpaís can be high. Up in the hills, it becomes much cooler, even in the town of La Laguna, and the trade winds keep the northeast of the island damp for most of the year. Temperatures drop to minus figures around El Teide's snowcapped summit and in the Cañadas.

Clothing

In addition to summer clothes and beachwear, bring a sweater or jacket for evenings. For excursions to high altitudes, you will also need warmer, rainproof clothing and sturdy shoes.

Casual wear is the norm, although in five-star hotels, the best restaurants and the casinos, a jacket and tie, though not obligatory, will not be out of place for men.

Topless bathing is quite common, and is acceptable at most hotel pools. Beachwear, shorts, bikini tops and mini-skirts should not be worn when visiting religious places.

Crime

Tenerife does not have a high crime rate and theft is only really likely in tourist areas. There is some opportunistic bag snatching and pick-pocketing in busy places such as markets or at fiestas though. Never leave anything of value in your car and use the safe deposit box in your room for all valuables, including your passport. Burglaries of holiday apartments do occur, so keep doors and windows locked when you are absent. Report all thefts to the local police within 24 hours for your own insurance purposes.

I want to report a theft. Quiero denunciar un robo.

Customs and Entry Requirements

Most visitors, including citizens of all EU countries, the USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, require only a valid passport to enter Spain. Although Spain is in the EU, there is still a restriction on duty-free allowances at customs (aduana) when returning to the UK from the Canary Islands. This is: 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250g smoking tobacco; 1 litre spirits over 22 percent or 2 litres under 22 percent, 2 litres of wine and £145 worth of goods.

Driving

Driving conditions. Drive on the right, pass on the left, yield right-of-way to all vehicles coming from your right. Slow down when passing through villages and be aware that you may encounter anything from a herd of goats and donkey and cart, to large potholes.

Speed limits on the island are 120 km/h (74mph) on motorways, 100km/h (62mph) on dual highways, 90km/h (52mph) on country roads, 50km/h (31mph) in built-up areas and 20km/h (13mph) in residential areas.

Motorways are toll-free. In the main towns traffic can be heavy and one-way systems confusing, as road signs are woefully inadequate.

Parking. You are more likely to find a parking space during lunch hours (2–4pm). Consider parking at the edge of towns and taking buses or taxis to the centre.

Petrol. Petrol stations on main roads are often open 24 hours and most take credit cards. They are less frequent off the beaten track and often close at night and on Sundays. Most hire cars take unleaded petrol, which in Spain is called sin plomo.

Traffic police. Civil guards (Guardia Civil) patrol the roads on black motorbikes. In towns the municipal police handle traffic control. If you are fined for a traffic offence, you will have to pay on the spot.

Seat belts are compulsory. Children under 10 must travel in the rear.

Road signs. Apart from the standard international pictographs you may encounter the following:

Aparcamiento Parking

Desviación Detour

Obras Road works

Peligro Danger

Senso unico One way

¿Se puede aparcar aqui? Can I park here?

Llénelo, por favor, con super. Fill the tank please, top grade.

Ha habido un accidente. There has been an accident.

Electricity (corriente eléctrica)

The standard supply is 220v with continental-style two-pin sockets. North American 110v appliances will need a transformer.

Embassies and Consulates (consulados)

Santa Cruz de Tenerife: United Kingdom: Plaza Weyler, 8, 1st Floor, tel: 922 28 68 63, Mon–Fri 8.30am–1.30pm. Republic of Ireland: Calle Castillo, 8, Fourth Floor A, tel: 922 24 56 71, Mon– Fri 10am–1pm.

The nearest US consulate is in Las Palmas, capital of neighbouring Gran Canaria, at Edificio Arca, Calle Los Martínez de Escobar 3, Oficina 7, tel: 928 27 12 59. It opens 10am–1pm weekdays. For other countries’ representations, you may have to call Madrid.

If you lose your passport, or run into trouble with the authorities or the police, contact your consulate for advice. Consulates can issue temporary passports for a fee. You will need a statement of loss or theft from the police, plus two passport-size photographs.

Where is the American/British consulate? ¿Dónde está el consulado americano/británico?

Emergencies (urgencia)

The general emergency number is 112. For the Civil Guard dial 062, for the local police dial 092, for the national police dial 091 and for an ambulance 061.

There are the following hospitals in Tenerife:

Playa de las Americas: Hospiten Sur (tel: 922 75 00 22).

Puerto de la Cruz: Hospiten Bellevue (tel: 922 38 97 00), Hospiten Tamaragua (tel: 922 38 96 50).

Santa Cruz: Hospital Universitario de Canarias (tel: 922 67 80 00), Hospital Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria (tel: 922 60 20 00), and Hospiten Rambla (tel: 922 29 16 00).

Police Policía

Fire Fuego

Help! ¡Socorro!

Stop! ¡Deténgase!

Gay and Lesbian Travellers

Major resorts in the Canary Islands have developed facilities for gay and lesbian travellers, including dedicated hotels. Check the web-site www.gayinspain.com.

Getting to Tenerife

By air: There are many scheduled and cheap flights from nearly all UK airports to Tenerife. The flight time is 3½/4½ hours, and the cost around £100–350. Check the web and the travel sections of weekend newspapers. All-in package holidays can be the least expensive way to go. British Airways (www.britishairways.com, tel: 0870 850 9850), and the national carrier Iberia (www.iberia.com, tel: 0870 609 0500) also have promotional deals in the UK.

There are no direct flights to Tenerife from the US. Airlines go via major European airports, with the Spanish state airline Iberia (tel: 1-800 772-4642) going via Madrid, from where internal flights connect to all the Canary Islands. Flights can take 12–13 hours and cost around $1,000.

By ship: Trasmediterránea (www.trasmediterranea.es) has a limited number of sailings from Cádiz and ferry connections with other Canary Islands. For further details contact: Southern Ferries, 30 Churton Street, London, SW1V 2LP, tel: 0844 815 7785, www.southernferries.co.uk.

Health and Medical Care

Tap water is safe to drink but can have a tang to it, so people generally prefer to drink bottled water: con gas (sparkling) and sin gas (still). Remember that water is scarce, so don't waste it

Non-EU visitors should have private medical insurance, and although there are reciprocal arrangements between EU countries, it is advisable for Britons to take out private insurance, too. The EHIC card, which entitles EU citizens to free health care, is available in the UK from post offices or online at www.ehic.org.uk. Before being treated it is advisable to check that the doctor is working within the Spanish Health Service.

Dental treatment is not generally available under this system, so private insurance is strongly advised.

Farmácias (chemists/drugstores) can deal with a number of health problems. They are usually open during normal shopping hours. After hours, at least one per town remains open all night. Called a farmácia de guardia, its location is posted in the window of all other farmácias nearby and printed in the local newspapers.

Where's the nearest (all-night) chemist? ¿Dónde está la farmácia (de guardia) más cercana?

I need a doctor/dentist. Necesito un médico/dentista.

an upset stomach molestias de estómago

Is this service public or private? ¿Es este servicio público o privado?

Holidays (día de fiesta)

In addition to these Spanish national holidays, many purely local and lesser religious and civic holidays are celebrated in various towns.

1 January Año Nuevo New Year's Day

6 January Epifanîa Epiphany

1 May Día del Trabajo Labour Day

15 August Asunción/Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria Assumption

12 October Día de la Hispanidad Discovery of America Day (Columbus Day)

1 November Todos los Santos All Saints’ Day

6 December Día de la Constitución Constitution Day

8 December Inmaculada Concepción Immaculate Conception

25 December Navidad Christmas Day

Movable dates:

Carnaval Week of Shrove Tuesday

Jueves Santo Maundy Thursday

Viernes Santo Good Friday

Corpus Christi Corpus Christi

Language

The Spanish spoken in the Canary Islands is a little different from that of the mainland. For instance, islanders don't lisp when they pronounce the letters c or z. The language of the Canaries is spoken with a slight lilt, reminiscent of the Caribbean, and a number of New World words are used. The most common are guagua (pronounced wah-wah), meaning bus, and papa (potato). In tourist areas German, English and some French is often spoken, or at least understood.

The Berlitz Spanish Phrasebook and Dictionary covers most situations you may encounter.

Do you speak English? ¿Habla usted inglés?

I don't speak Spanish. No hablo español.

Lost Property (Objetos perdidos)

If you lose an item, report the loss to the Municipal Police or the Guardia Civil (see Police) and retain a copy of their report for insurance purposes.

I've lost my wallet/pocketbook/passport. He perdido mi cartera/bolso/pasaporte.

Maps

Maps are generally available from hotel receptions and tourist offices, though walking maps are less easy to come by, and should be purchased before going to the area in which you plan to walk.

Media

Radio and television(radio; televisión): Most hotels have international TV channels, including English-language news.

Newspapers and periodicals: Many major British and continental papers are on sale on the day of publication. There are a number of English-language publications with Canarian news and tourist information, which are not very evenly distributed. These include Island Connections, the main English newspaper, Tenerife News, a fortnightly paper, also available on the web (www.tenerifenews.com), the online Tenerife Magazine (www.tenerifemagazine.com) and the monthly Revista Living Tenerife style magazine.

Money Matters

Currency: The monetary unit in the Canary Islands is the euro (€). Bank notes are available in denominations of 500, 200, 100, 50, 20, 10 and 5. The euro is subdivided into 100 cents and there are coins available for €1 and €2 and for 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 cent.

Currency exchange. Banks are the best place to exchange currency. Casas de cambio (exchange offices) stay open outside banking hours. All larger hotels will also change guests’ money, but the rate is less favourable than at the bank. Always take your passport when you go to change money.

Credit cards. Major cards are widely recognised on Tenerife, although smaller businesses tend to prefer cash. Visa/Eurocard/MasterCard are the cards that are most generally accepted. Credit and debit cards are also useful for obtaining cash from ATMs, which are to be found in all towns and resorts. They offer the most convenient way of obtaining cash and will usually give you the best exchange rate.

Travellers’ cheques. Hotels, shops, restaurants and travel agencies all cash travellers’ cheques, as do banks, where you are likely to get a better rate (you will need to show your passport).

Where's the nearest bank (currency exchange office)? ¿Dónde está el banco (la oficina de cambio) más cercana?

I want to change some dollars/pounds. Quiero cambiar dólares/libres esterlina.

Do you accept travellers’ cheques? ¿Acepta usted cheques de viajero?

Can I pay with this credit card? ¿Puedo pagar con esta tarjeta de crédito?

Opening Hours

Shops, offices and other businesses generally observe the afternoon siesta, opening from Monday to Saturday 9.30am–1 or 2pm and 4–8pm (some on Saturday morning only). In tourist areas many places don't open until 10am, but then stay open all day. Post offices are open 8.30 or 9am to 1–2pm. Banks are open 8.30am–2pm Mon–Fri, with some also open on the occasional afternoon or Saturday morning from Oct–June. Shopping malls are open 9.30am–10pm.

Most shops and businesses are closed on Sunday even in the most commercialised resorts.

Police (policía)

There are three police forces in Tenerife, as in the rest of Spain. The Guardia Civil (Civil Guard) is the main force. Each town also has its own Policía Municipal (municipal police), whose uniform varies depending on the town and season but is mostly a combination of blue and grey. The third force, the Cuerpo Nacional de Policía, is a national anti-crime unit whose officers wear a light-brown uniform. All police officers are armed.

Where is the nearest police station? ¿Dónde está la comisaría más cercana?

Post Offices (correos)

As well as at post offices, stamps (sellos) are sold at any tobacconist's (estancos) and by most shops selling postcards. Mailboxes are painted yellow. Slots marked extranjero are for letters abroad.

Where is the (nearest) post office? ¿Dónde está la oficina de correos (más cercana)?

A stamp for this letter/postcard, please. Por favor, un sello para esta carta/tarjeta.

Public Transport

Airlines: A number of airlines fly between the islands, and are not much more expensive than ferries. Binter Canarias (www.bintercanarias.com, tel: 902 39 13 92), a subsidiary of Iberia, runs the most flights.

Bus services: Buses (guaguas) are run by TITSA (Transporte Interurbanos de Tenerife SA, www.titsa.com, tel: 922 531 300) and are frequent, fast and cheap. They cover all major and most minor destinations on the island. Tickets can be bought on board, but if you buy a BonoVía card with either €12 or €30 credit on it from newsagents or some shops beforehand, you get up to half-price travel on all bus routes. Timetables can be obtained at bus depots, tourist offices or online.

Tram services: The tram service connecting Santa Cruz and La Laguna is clean, efficient and a good way of avoiding traffic. Ticket prices start at €1.30 for a single journey. See www.metrotenerife.com for timetables.

Ferry services: Fred Olsen Lines’ jetfoil takes 1 hour to Agaete on Gran Canaria, where there is a free connecting bus to Las Palmas, taking another hour. Fred Olsen also serves the islands of La Gomera, La Palma and El Hierro from Los Cristianos. Further information from Fred Olsen SA (www.fredolsen.es, tel: 902 10 01 07). Note that if you have bought your ticket in advance, it must be confirmed at the desk half an hour before departure. Naviera Armas (www.navieraarmas.com, call centre: 902 45 65 00) runs ferries from Los Cristianos to La Gomera, and from Santa Cruz to all the other Canary Islands. Trasmediterránea (www.trasmediterranea.es, tel: 902 45 46 45) runs ferries to Gran Canaria, taking 2½ hours for the crossing.

Taxis

The letters SP (servicio público) on the front and rear bumpers of a car indicate that it is a taxi; it might also have a green light in the front windscreen or a green sign indicating ‘libre’ when it is free. Fixed prices are displayed on a board at the main taxi rank, giving the fares to the most popular destinations. In general taxis, which are easily found in urban areas, provide an inexpensive method of transport. If in doubt about the fare, ask the driver before setting off.

How much is it to Hotel Mencey/the town centre? ¿Cuanto es al Hotel Mencey/al centro?

Telephones (teléfono)

Most phone booths (kioskos) take cards (tarjetas telefónicas) available from tobacconists. Instructions in English, along with area codes for different countries, are displayed clearly. For international direct dialling, wait for the dial tone, then dial 00, wait for a second tone and dial the country code, area code (minus the initial zero) and number. In some places there are cabinas, phone cabins where you make your call and pay afterwards.

Calling directly from your hotel room is expensive unless you are using a calling card, or a similar system, from a long-distance supplier. Find out from the supplier which free connection number is applicable to Spain (they are different for each country) before you leave, as these numbers are not always easily available once there.

Check with your service provider before leaving home to see if your mobile phone will operate from Tenerife.

Operator: The number for the international operator is 025.

Country codes: For the US and Canada dial 1, Great Britain 44, Australia 61, New Zealand 64, the Republic of Ireland 353 and South Africa 27.

Local codes: The code for Spain is +34. For the Canary Islands a prefix must always be dialled, even for local calls: Province of Santa Cruz de Tenerife (Tenerife, El Hierro, La Gomera and La Palma) 922; Province of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (Gran Canaria, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura) 928.

Time Differences

In winter the Canary Islands maintain Greenwich Mean Time, which is one hour behind most European countries, including Spain, but the same as the UK. For the rest of the year the islands go on summer time, as does Spain – keeping the one-hour difference. Winter time chart:

Tipping (propinas)

Since a service charge is often included in restaurant bills, tipping is not obligatory. Ten percent of the bill is usual for taxi drivers, bar staff, waiters and hairdressers. Also tip porters and maids a few euros, depending on your length of stay.

Toilets

The most commonly used expressions for toilets in the Canaries are servicios or aseos, though you may also hear or see WC (‘doobla-vay say’) and retretes. Public conveniences are located by most beaches. Hotels, bars and restaurants usually have lavatories and it is considered polite to buy a coffee if you do drop in to use their facilities.

Where are the lavatories? ¿Dónde están los servicios?

Tourist Information

Obtain information on the Canary Islands from www.spain.info or from Spanish NationalTourist Offices, which include the following:

Canada: 2 Bloor Street West, 34th Floor, Toronto, Ontario M4W 3E2, tel: (416) 961-3131, email: toronto@tourspain.es.

UK: 6th floor, 64 North Row, London W1K 7DE, tel: 020 7317 2010 (visits by appointment), email: londres@tourspain.es.

Ireland: 1, Westmoreland Street, Dublin 2, tel: 0818 462960 for information and brochure requests, email: dublin@tourspain.es.

US: Chicago: Water Tower Place, Suite 956 East, 845 North Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611, tel: (312) 642-1992, email: chicago@tourspain.es.

Los Angeles: 8383 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 960, Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, CA 90211, tel: (323) 658 7188, email: losangeles@ tourspain.es.

New York: 666 Fifth Avenue, 35th Floor, New York, NY 10103, tel: (212) 265-8822, email: nuevayork@tourspain.es.

For questions on Tenerife you can call the official tourist helpline 00-800-100-101-00 free of charge. Information is available in English, German and French (9am–5pm Mon–Fri).

The main office for the whole island is the Cabildo Insular in Plaza de España, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, tel: 922 23 95 92, Mon–Fri 8am–6pm (5pm July–Sept), Sat 9am–1pm (noon July–Sep). The Tenerife tourist board has three websites: www.webtenerife.com, www.tenerife.es and www.todotenerife.es.

Information may also be obtained from the following local tourist information offices:

Aeropuerto Tenerife-Norte (Arrivals Terminal): tel: 922 63 51 92; Mon–Fri 10am–2pm, 3–6pm.

AeropuertoTenerife-Sur Reina Sofia (Arrivals Terminal): tel: 922 39 20 37; Mon–Fri 9am–9pm, Sat–Sun 9am–5pm, July–Sept Mon– Fri 9am–7pm, Sat–Sun 9am–5pm.

Costa Adeje: Avenida Rafael Puig 17, tel: 922 79 33 12; Mon–Fri 10am–5pm, July–Sept Mon–Fri 10am–4pm.

La Laguna: Calle La Carrera 7, Bajo, Casa de Alvaredo Bracamonte, tel: 922 63 11 94; daily 9am–5pm.

La Orotava: Calle Calvario 4, tel: 922 32 30 41; Mon–Fri 8.30am–6pm.

Los Cristianos: Centro Cultural (Casa de La Cultura), Plaza de Pescador, tel: 922 75 71 37; Mon–Fri 9am–3.30pm, Sat 9am–1pm.

Playa de las Américas,Arona: Avenida Rafael Puig 19, tel: 922 79 76 68; winter Mon–Fri 9am–9pm, Sat–Sun 9am–3.30pm, summer Mon–Fri 9am–8.30pm, Sat–Sun 9am–3pm.

Puerto de la Cruz: Casa de la Aduana, Calle Las Lonjas, tel: 922 38 60 00; Oct–Jun Mon–Fri 9am–8pm, Sat–Sun 9am–5pm, July– Sept Mon–Fri 9am–7pm, Sat–Sun 9am–5pm.

Santa Cruz de Tenerife: Cabildo Insular (Plaza de Espana), tel: 922 23 98 11; Mon–Fri 9am–6pm, Sat 9am–1pm, July–Sept Mon–Fri 8am–5pm, Sat 9am–noon.

Travellers With Disabilities

Tenerife is well adapted to the needs of travellers with disabilities. There are wheelchair ramps at the major airports and many larger apartments and hotels make provision for disabled guests. Some of the more modern resorts also provide ramps to cross pavements. The facilities at Los Cristianos are renowned among disabled travellers. Access Travel (www.access-travel.co.uk) in the UK (tel: 01942 888 844) offers holidays for the disabled.

Wheelchairs can be hired from Ortopedia Hospitalaria Lero, Puerto De La Cruz (tel: 922 75 02 89) or Orange Badge (www.orangebadge.com, tel: 922 79 73 55).

Websites

There are Internet cafés in the main towns and resorts. The following websites have useful, up-to-date information about Tenerife: