Any views on the following places?

[buffymad]

Hi, does anyone have any views (good and bad!) on the following places/resorts?

Lanzarote - Costa Teguise and Puerto del Carmen

Fuerteventura - Corralejo

Costa Dorada - Cambrils and La Pineda

Costa Blanca - Benidorm

Costa Almeria - Mojacar and Roquetas de Mar

Costa del Sol - Fuengirola, Benalmadena and Torremolinos

Malta - Mellieha

Menorca - Cala'n Forcat, Cala'n Bosch and Son Bou

Tenerife - Los Cristianos, Los Gigantes, Costa Adeje and Puerto de la Cruz

Gran Canaria - Play del Ingles

Ibiza - Play d'en Bossa, Portinatx and Es Cana

Majorca - Alcudia, C'an Picafort, Cala Millor, Santa Ponsa and Cala Bona

Have already done research on these places but always prefer to hear "real life stories" where possible!!

Thanks!

[buildersmate]

What a bizarre question. Most of these are major areas of tourist development, each containing secluded areas and areas where you wouldn't take your granny after 1800hrs.
I think you'd be better off pinning a tail on a donkey to select your holiday destination.
On second thoughts, that's perhaps what happened to you.

[smurfchops]

try googling :

tripadvisor
holidaysuncovered

[NoMercy]

I lived on the Costa Blanca for 4.5 years. There are nicer places than Benidorm, as many others will attest. Moraira and Altea are the nicest spots IMO.

[buffymad]

Just looking through brochures but know what they say isn't necessarily the be all and end all! Always like to get "real" opinions.

Not one of these people who are lucky enough
to go abroad every year and not think twice about it. Which is why I'm looking at all sorts of resorts and cutting the list down as I find out more.

If I had the money I'd love to be able to close my
eyes and go wherever the pin lands! Sadly I can't so i put a bit more thought into it than most.

[Andyvon]

Hi buffymad,

My wife and I have been to most of these places. We like to spend the time quietly by ourselves touring the areas by hire car. We don't like lying on beaches and we don't drink so we usually rent an apartment, cater for outselves, and come and go as we please.
We have stayed in, or visited, most of the resorts you list. Believe me buffymad - they are all much the same. Each resort invariably consists of a long, palm-lined promenade backing an imported golden sand beach. The promenades are lined with bars, clubs, restaurants, cafes, souvenir shops, beach shops and small supermarkets. Almost all are aimed at British tourists or the legions of ex-pats. Everyone speaks English, all signs are in English and most bars or cafes invite you to watch Eastenders or 'Corrie' while you eat fish and chips or a full English breakfast. You can join in karaoke at night or watch English league football etc. Indeed, you'll hardly see anything of the local people or culture. Just imagine Blackpool or Cleethorpes transported to the sun!

Of course, many people are looking for just that - sun, sand, sea and booze, and possibly you are too. If you are, then there's little difference between all the resorts you post. However, from your list I especially enjoyed touring Majorca, the Costa del Sol and Lanzarote. Malta has few sandy beaches or bars and it is beautiful and quiet. We loved Malta but you might be disappointed if you want somewhere livelier. Other than that, my advice is to buy a medium-priced holiday (not a really cheap one) and the rest will be down to a bit of luck as to which hotel or resort is better than another.

[boxtops]

Part 1
Lanazarote - Puerto del Carmen is nice, good beaches, commercial. Take a trip of the mountain and see the geysers!
Fuerteventura - Corralejo is on the North coast, very touristy - we much prefer Calleta de Fueste on the east coast. Becoming developed but lovely beaches
Costa del Sol -we stay in Carihuela which is the stretch between Torremolinos and Benalmadena. Busy in season but not built up, where the locals tend to go to promenade and for Sunday lunch.
Menorca - those are the main resorts. We stay in Arenal - or Fornells is lovely but not a beach holiday - still busy but not so commercial as the ones you mention.
Tenerife - depends what you want, los Gigantes was nice when I stayed there some years back, we now go to the South coast near the airport. Puerto de la Cruz (last time we went) had a big swimming pooi complex. Loro Park (parrots and wildlife) is excellent, as is a must-do trip up to Mount Tiede.

[boxtops]

part 2
I stayed at Playa del Ingles on G Canaria and didn't like it, too commerical, others may feel differently
It depends what sort of holiday you want - you are identifying the main resorts where the chain and package holidays are based, which is not our sort of thing, we like to be a bit more independent and not to be tied to hotel mealtimes etc.
Good luck!

[annie0000]

buffy, why don't you tell us a bit about what you are looking for from your holiday and maybe people would be able to help you to narrrow down your choices a bit. Some of the places you have mentioned would fill me with horror, because they will be busy with lots of bars etc. However, that may be just the thing you are looking for and you would hate somewhere with a only a few cafe/restaurant type places. Also would be useful to know what type of holiday you are planning, i.e. if it is self catering, will you want access to good shops, or do you intend to eat out all the time. I have been to menorca a few times, and been to cala'n forcat though not for a few years. Medium sized place, mix of bars and restaurants, good supermarket, small waterpark - not great for beaches - has areas where you can sunbathe on platforms by the water, not far from Cuitadella - lovely old town and port. Not a big island, so reasonably easy to get from one end to the other and tranfer times are never huge.

[wheaten]

how long are you going for and who with? a 2 center break may be a good bet, 1 week relaxing in a quiet, local resort, with walks and a spa and another week on the coast with sun, sea and brits or vice versa.
have fun you lucky thing!
wheaten