After 20 odd years working in the public and quasi-private sector in the UK, I had everything…great job, great man, lovely cottage, fab clothes, fast car and twice yearly vacations in exotic locations. Then I packed it all in (well not the great man) and moved to Tenerife where I live on very little money, in nearly perpetual sunshine and drive a Fiat Punto. But am I happy?
You bet your ass I am!
Working as a freelance feature writer gets me all over the island on a regular basis and I’m constantly surprised by the culture and beauty of this little known island. Not ‘little known’ in the sense that few people know about it; over 9 million visitors a year come here, but in the sense that most of those 9 million never leave their resort unless it’s on an organized whistle-stop tour to Mount Teide or Masca.
It’s so frustrating to read reports of Tenerife that dismiss it as ‘just a resort’, knowing how much beauty and diversity is out there if only people would look! That’s why we wrote ‘Island Drives’; to encourage people to get to know the ‘real Tenerife’.
Dear Andy, I’m about to move to La Gomera from Finland and find myself constantly browsing for information about Canary Islands. I was delighted to find your blog with well-written stories in not-german (which is mostly the case when it comes to Gomera). I can’t wait to get there…
I wish you all the best!
Lea
Wow, I can’t wait to read more of your blog after an introduction like this! Tenerife looks and sounds amazing, congrats on your new life.
Hi Lea,
You’ll love La Gomera, it’s a really beautiful island. It may not have the drama of Mount Teide but you can get the best views of the mountain from there (or so the Gomeros claim!). I have a friend who lives in Los Acevinos which is a stunningly beautiful valley and I’m looking forward to going back there myself which I’m planning to do in the next few weeks.
I wish you every happiness in your move and I look forward to reading your blog about your experiences!
Andy
Andy ..!
Maybe we could meet up one day … I’m in Playa de la Arena, Puerto de Santiago, just south of Los Gigantes.
Cheers from
Tony
Hi Tony!
I know Playa de la Arena well, my stepmother has an apartment there. We’d be happy to meet up one day, we go over there on a semi-regular basis.
I’ll let you know when we’re planning our next visit and if you’re around we could arrange to meet.
I look forward to it!
Andy
I hate to say this in Andy but I was not surprised to find out that you were a girl (rather than a man called Andy!) hate to be sexist but your observations and descriptions come straight from the heart and are obvious in print. Luckily I first read the ‘about Andy’ so now is more clear. It makes little difference what you write is good, it is like hearing it in real time and as if it is chat from a friend. I guess you have achieved what you intended. Keep going I will be listening in.
Hi Penedawn,
Muchas gracias for your encouraging words which I happily took to heart! If you keep listening, I’ll keep talking!
Do you have a blogsite I can find you on?
Nice to discover your blog….
I’m not 20… but I’ve got quite the same history… I left Paris and a good situation to be on the roads of the island with my PUNTO !
Nice to read you
Hi Sol en Tenerife,
Unfortunately, I haven’t seen 20 for a very long time!!
But it’s great to hear from you.
Hi.
Nice blog
Can you send me some info out climbing mount teide and seeing the sun-set. Thankyou.
Hi Rob,
Here’s a link to my website page which gives a full account of my experience of climbing Mount Teide, staying overnight at the Refuge and watching the sun rise from the summit.
http://www.realtenerifeislanddrives.com/Mount%20Teide.html
If you need more info’ email me on andymont@live.co.uk
Thanks for looking in
Andy
Maybe we can Link blogs, have a look at my Golf in Tenerife
http://golftenerife.wordpress.com/
Sir Old Golfer.
Tenerife – an Islands with eternal spring ……
what more do you want ?
Here is another enthusiastic Tenerife supporter
Hi Andy. Was reading your blog today. Great pics. Am in Spain and heading for Tenerife. Was wondering are the roads all ok now after the weather problems? Any specific advice what to avoid would be welcome. Ta. Mike
Hi Mike, thanks, nice to have you as a visitor – both virtually and in reality!
Oddly enough, I was out and about just yesterday and was amazed at just how much damage there has been up in the pine forests. But all the roads have re-opened now and there isn’t a problem anywhere…apart from the usual roadworks in the centre of towns that cause havoc!
Hi Andy, I was searching for information on ISDN prices in Tenerife and came across your blog about the “Telefonica” saga. Did it ever get resolved? It was a great read by the way!
Hi Carole,
Yep, I finally decided that life was too short to spend it staring at green lights and I plumped for a contract with Telefonica. I have to admit, I haven’t looked back since. I’ve had an uninterrupted Broadband signal from the day I was connected.
So I guess I’m going to have to start singing Telefonica’s praises….oh dear, I do hope I haven’t just jinxed the whole affair! 🙂
HI Andy,
I’ve come across your blog a few times on my travels now, its great to get an insight into the real Tenerife. Sometimes its hard to research the island from the UK so websites like yours are real gems. There is another one I enjoy called Living beneath the volcano which also gives an insiders pov and makes for interesting reading!
I’m just starting a Tenerife holidays website to help UK holidaymakers get good deals on the island and am enjoying reading about the island as it develops. I have visited twice myself but back when Playa de las Americas was not so good.
I’m looking forward to visiting this summer for a “research” trip and hope to get a better look at the island this time without beer tinted glasses on! Keep up the great work.
Russ Beech – ideas [at] mega.co.uk
Lol, I just had a read of the about us page on Living beneath the volcano…is he your husband?
Hi Russ,
Thank you very much for your comment and I’m glad you’re enjoying discovering the ‘real’ Tenerife on here – that means I’m accomplishing my mission lol! I’ve had a look at Tenerife Holidays and I like the chatty way you’re developing it and showing some wider aspects of the island than the usual travel agent approach.
If you want an insider voice for copywriting or to provide blogs for you, you know where to come 🙂
And yes, ‘Beneath the Volcano’ is indeed my husband and partner. Between us we promote Tenerife in words and images for a whole host of intermediaries.
Hi Andy,
Your page sounds great!!!
Last week I visited the hotel sir anthony, is a good way for enjoy a holidays.
The website is: (http://www.marenostrumresort.com/es/hoteles/sir_anthony)
see you
You are doing a great job! Yes, very frustrating when people have a holiday staying in the north of Tenerife and assume the entire island is the same. Same thing here in La Palma where I live – it is an island full of contrasts.
By the way, I found you via a Trip Advisor forum. Somebody was asking about which island they should go to next and a poster suggested looking at your site.
Thank you, Ann 🙂
Here on Tenerife it’s the south of the island that has attracted so much bad publicity in the past and, yes, it is indeed very frustrating when people don’t make the effort to discover the real thing and then go home and bad mouth the island to the world.
I can’t imagine you have such a big issue with that on La Palma. Everywhere I have been on La Palma, and I have travelled it quite extensively, I have found unspoilt beauty and the real spirit of the island.
You live on a beautiful island.
Hi Andy, I am the deputy editor of easyJet Traveller magazine in the UK. I would be very interested in you writing a one-off column for us about Tenerife. I wonder if you could drop me a line to let me know if you might be interested? My email is sarahwarwick@gmail.com (I am currently out of the office on a press trip). I look forward to hearing from you. Kind regards, Sarah
Hi Andy,
I wish I’d seen this blog before I left the island. I lived just outside La Orotava for 2 and a half years (2007-2010) and spent most of my time writing romance novels. I’ve written a series of five and now am working on trying to get them published. Such a shame I didn’t notice this blog before. Incidently, I found it because I googled ‘Agatha Christie Tenerife’.
Vicki.
Hi Andy
I live in Los Abrigos and have a couple of blogs http://thebighousebigheart.org/ and http://losabrigos.wordpress.com/. Let me know if you would like to exchange links. You’ve done a great job with yours.
Hi, I am happy to xchange links with you and will add you to my blog roll. I have had a quick look at your blogs and I think you need to add an ‘about me’ section so that people know something about who it is they’re reading and ‘talking’ to – for example, I don’t even know your name! 🙂
I look forward to hearing more about your life in Los Abrigos through your blogs.
Hi Andy,
We visit Tenerife at least once every year, staying in Palm-Mar or Las Galletas. We love hiking and discovering the ‘unseen’, merge with local people and enjoy their cuisine …
We’ll be around for Xmas and NY and we wonder if you could give us any tips concerning fiestas those days. Any good restaurants maybe?
And yes, we play bridge at the ‘Happy days’ -:)))
Hi Gilbert,
If you’re around for New Year, head to your nearest New Year’s Eve street party for a night of dancing and fireworks. I know they have a decent sized party in the plaza at Los Cristianos but they may even have one in Las Galletas. Don’t forget your 12 grapes (de-seeded) that you have to eat, one for each stroke of midnight, in order to ensure good luck for the coming year.
Here’s a link to a full calendar of events which we’ve just posted onto The Real Tenerife and there’s a link to the Arona website which lists lots of events all over the municipality: http://therealtenerife.com/posts/the-best-fiestas-festivals-and-events-on-tenerife-in-december-2012/
As for good restaurants, if you want to stay local try The Pink Parrot Cafe and Bistro Las Piratas in Las Galletas. Check out more restaurant reviews on The Real Tenerife.
Above all – have a brilliant holiday! 🙂
Great stuff Andy! I am moving to Tenerife with a friend in January and these beautiful photos on your blog are driving me crazy with impatience to see all the amazing spots on the island. I decided to start my own blog too called http://www.musictenerife.es/ but a bit of a newbie at this kind of thing. Keep up the good work 🙂
Hi Andy, Love your blog, I too had everything in the UK and sold up 8 years ago, to enjoy a carefree life in the sun. The thing I like most about Tenerife is how you can just be yourself, nobody judges,and as you say everyone says hello or ola even if you are a stranger.
Hi Jan, Thank you so much for your comment and for reading my blog. You might have noticed I haven’t written on here for a while – that’s because we have another website which I tend to write on more. So if you have time, pop over to The Real Tenerife, I’d love to see you over there 🙂 Andy
Hola Andy.
Ante todo me gustaría darle la enhorabuena por su blog.
He intentado enviarte email, pero no lo he encontrado, espero que no te moleste que te contacte por aquí.
Soy Jaime del Río, responsable de http://www.visitarcanarias.com y http://www.visitcanaryislands.org, una guía turística online realizada con la colaboración de la Escuela Universitaria de Turismo de Tenerife.
Me preguntaba si tendría algún inconveniente en colocar un enlace o banner hacia http://www.visitcanaryislands.org desde la suya, como por ejemplo desde su blogroll.
Espero su respuesta, pero ante todo muchas gracias por su tiempo.
Atentamente, Jaime del Río.
Hi Andy, Sounds like an amazing experience and not that dissimilar to mine! I have recently left my career in HR and I’m trying to live as a trips organiser – there is just so much to do and see, I refuse to be stuck in an office! I even drive a little fiat Punto! 🙂
I loved your article about Gomera and I was wondering if you would be able to advise me on any local tour providers in Tenerife? Everything I can find on google seems to be UK intermediaries…
my groups address is http://www.adventureclub.biz
Hi Kat, Tenerife Sunshine (tenerifesunshine.com) is one tour company that operates here and Disfrutare (disfrutare.com) is another. Best of luck with the trips 🙂
Hi Andy,
I’m working on a new restaurant series for channel 4 in the UK, and we’re looking for British run restaurants in Tenerife that might like to be considered. I was hoping that you might be able to help us spread the word? I’d be happy to discuss this further if you would like to rob.gillies@onepotatotwopotato.tv
Cheers,
Rob
Hello Andy,
I definitely think that you made a right choice. I visited Tenerife a couple of times and everytime I am there, I discover something beautiful, something new, something spectacular. Your blog and Real Tenerife site confirm my experience and observation of the island. I am just thinking if it was a good idea to do same thing that you did 20 years ago. To be honest I dont have lovely cottage or fast car to be left behind but it seems like I have enough of life in the big city far away from the nature and its beauty. As you surely know it is not a simple decision and many things should be considered or just checked before. Would you mind if I asked you some basic questions regarding “what to do?”, “how to do?” and first of all “if do it at all?” when going to Tenerife for good? If you would like to help me with your answers, please let me know. I promise not to ask too many, too long or too silly questions. 🙂 Thank you in advance. Best regards from Graz, Austria. Pawel bogdan_perlak@aol.at
Hi Pawel,
I really don’t think I can help you to decide whether to make the move or not, I’m afraid that is too personal a decision for anyone other than you to make. But if you want to post some basic questions on here I’ll do my best to answer as honestly as possible. But I’ll hold you to that promise! 🙂
Dear Andy, I am sorry for the delay but I was on holiday. Lucky moments far away from the internet. 🙂 Yes, I know that the decision is personal and that’s only me who can make it. But some basic information could be helpful to make it right, I think. 🙂 For example, are they any problems with obtaining the residence permit? Do you know the official website where I could find the details? In Austria for example I needed to have my job first, proofs of steady income and health insurance. Then I could get my residence permit. Are the procedures similar in Tenerife? My plan would be to get there, buy an apartment and then look for a job. But I am not sure if this is feasible. If the rules are silmilar to those in Austria, it will not work, I am afraid. 😦 As you can see, my first question is very much prosaic, however, quite important. If you could send me some link to official (gov) website dealing with these matters, it would be great. I learn Spanish at the moment but to find the right sites is quite difficult for me at this stage. Thanks a lot and best regards from Graz. Pawel
Hi Pawel, you don’t tell me if you are an EU National or not. If you are an EU National, resident in Spain and either self-employed or employed (ie paying national insurance and/or tax) then getting what used to be called a residencia is relatively straightforward. It’s now called a Certificado de Registro and is issued by the local police station in larger towns, or in Santa Cruz.
You won’t find it easy getting work here without a very good working knowledge of Spanish, unless you intend to do casual work in the purpose built resorts of the south, in which case you’re unlikely to be paying tax and NI. You’ll also find official websites tricky – they’re tricky enough for those of us who are comfortable in Spanish, let alone for learners! But there is a website that is very good at giving advice and here’s a link.
If you’re not an EU National I’m afraid I have no idea how you go about getting a Certificado de Registro – sorry! Maybe you should ask on the site I have linked you to.
A lot of people just arrive here and work on the Black Market but it does make life difficult if you want to get a mortgage, buy a house or any large purchase or if you want to claim benefits of any kind, including health care.
I hope you manage to get the answers you need and I wish you the very best of luck, whatever you decide to do 🙂
Dear Andy, Thanks a lot for your reply. It really shed some light on the situation there. It is hard to say if it made me closer to Tenerife or not; the fact is that I keep on improving my Spanish and I dont want to stop it. It might come in handy sometimes. I lost my documents in April somewhere in Teide National Park. I went to Guardia Civil in La Orotava and I got what I wanted via Spanish only. I would not call it good Spanish, however, it is nice to see that it works. 🙂
It looks like the Tenerife dream is still in me. I am an EU citizen and your news sounds quite good. I have at least some card up my sleeve. The other side of the story is that I have also quite good and legal job (chemist) at the university in Austria. So, what I want to find there must be also legal. I am not interested in a blackmarket job. Perhaps it sounds crazy but I would like to pay taxes, too. 🙂 From what you say, Spanish is mandatory there. However, my impression of Puerto de la Cruz, for example, was that this town is at least bi- or even trilingual (E, UK, D). I know taht it is a silly question but how far the fluent knowledge of English and German could help in getting started? Once again thanks a lot for your answer and the link. Now I have something interesting to read. Please, say “hallo” and “thank you” to Janet Anscombe. 🙂
Greetings from Graz, Pawel
Hi Andy, Really interesting your blog. I’m looking for relevant information about tenerife but in the internet you can find a lot of garbage.. not your blog. I would like to animate you to get it updated…
Best regards
Hi, (brilliant blog) We are coming to Tenerife for Christmas and are staying near Longuera west of Puerto de la Cruz. (self catering) from some of your comments it seems that Christmas eve will be best spent round the TV, we have a 11 year old boy who will need some serious entertaining. Can you tell me a little more about the Fun Fair you mention,some good restaurants in the area, and availability over the festive period. Are the shops open Christmas eve. anything at all you can tell me about whats going on,opening times, good local stores, shops, will it be better to do our prezzy shopping there rather than suitcase it over. We will have a car so travel is an option,
Michael
Hi Michael, I’m afraid I don’t use this site any more so I haven’t seen this until now. That’s an awful lot of questions! The fun fair in Puerto is great, I’m sure your son will like it; the shops will be open on Xmas Eve but will close early, same with restaurants which will all close around 7pm (Except the Chinese!). For restaurants, check out the Ranilla District (here’s a link to a blog) and various reviews on our website The Real Tenerife and for more general info on Puerto, this site is not bad although it’s soon to be replaced. Have a great holiday!