Explore Tenerife

Now listen, if you are looking for a bit of sun in 2026 without having to sell a kidney, Tenerife is still the king of the castle. While the rest of Europe is hiking up the prices of a pint and a sunbed to eye-watering levels, the Canaries are keeping it fairly steady. For us lot flying out of Cork, Shannon, or Belfast, it is even better. There is a massive amount of competition on these routes now, meaning you are not held hostage by Dublin Airport madness or their parking prices that cost more than the actual holiday. The Vibe: Tenerife is not just about the cheap neon strips of the past. It has matured a bit, like a fine Rioja you found in the back of the press. You have got the dramatic volcanic peaks of Mount Teide looming over everything, which makes you feel like you are on the set of a sci-fi flick. Down by the coast in Costa Adeje, it is all about high-end lounging. You get that five-star treatment with service that actually smiles at you. It is grand for families but equally sound for a couple who just want to stare at the Atlantic with a cold drink in hand. It is laid back, reliable, and the weather behaves itself almost every day of the week. The Value Justifier: Here is the science bit for your wallet. In 2026, a luxury suite in a top-tier Tenerife resort is coming in at about thirty percent less than what you would pay for a similar setup in the Algarve or the French Riviera. Because they have their own tax system called IGIC, things like eating out and the odd gin and tonic do not feel like a financial mugging. If you are flying from SNN or ORK, you are saving on the petrol and the stress of the M50, which is a value in itself. We are seeing more boutique hotels opening up in the north and the south-west that offer high-thread-count sheets for the price of a standard room in Marbella. You are getting more bang for your buck, or more sun for your cent, as I like to say. Local Secrets: Do not spend the whole week glued to the hotel buffet, even if the churros are top-notch. Get yourself a rental car and head into the hills to find a Guachinche. These are local, rustic spots, often in a garage or vineyard, serving up proper home-cooked food and local wine for peanuts. Also, skip the main tourist beaches for a day and head to the natural rock pools in Garachico. It is a bit of a drive, but it is spectacular. If you want a decent view without the crowds, the Anaga rural park in the north-east is like stepping into a prehistoric jungle. It is a far cry from the waterparks and it will not cost you a penny to walk through. Keep your eyes peeled for the local markets in the smaller towns too; you will get better leather goods and spices there than any of the airport shops.