Tenerife - February

[sunny-dave]

I have a friend who is considering going to Tenerife in early spring.

A few questions :

How good is the weather?

Will everywhere be 'shut'?

Is it safe/friendly/congenial for a 50-something, solo, female, traveller?

Is the public transport any good - will it be running in February?

Does anyone know any 'guided walk' type companies on the island?

Recommended hotels (cheap but not too basic)?


Thanks

dave xx

[pixie373]

I've been in february. The weather was perfect- everything was open. I didn't use public transport though. But it felt safe and friendly. Would recommend it.

[boxtops]

Tenerife's not like mainland Spain, it's pretty well open all year round, it's so much further south. Your friend might find slightly less in the way of trips round the island/up the mountain (highly recommended) but I'd be surprised. I would recommend that she does a formal escorted tour of the west of the island (or the whole island), and the mountain trip, if nothing else - you don't miss anything that way. Shedloads of hotels to suit all tastes. Avoid like the plague Playa de las Americas, and Los Cristianos - unless she likes clubs and casinos. Los Gigantes, Fanabé are good. This might help, for things to do http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attractions-g187479-Activities-Tenerife_Canary_Islands.html

[Buenchico]

Tenerife is reasonably warm (and almost totally dry) in February, with maximum daytime temperatures of around 21C (falling to around 15C at night). However it's notoriously windy; last February's figures show many days with winds above 30mph (48kph), with even the calmest of days having a fairly stiff breeze:
http://www.tutiempo.net/en/Climate/Tenerife_Sur/02-2013/600250.htm

Bus timetables are on the TITSA website:
http://www.titsa.com/index.php?idioma=1

[sunny-dave]

Thanks pixie/boxy/chris - very helpful indeed - although my inner schoolboy is struggling with TITSA ... :)

[boxtops]

Good bus company, though :-)

[jno]

generally speaking weather in the Canaries is bettter in the south of the islands

[pixie373]

Titsa?! She won't like that! Lol!

[Gizmonster]

..... and just to rub it in - we're off to Tenerife this Sat for 2 weeks ... Xmas in the sun again :)
On a serious note though, yea the weather is nice all year round and as already suggested, the weather is generally less cloudy on the south of the island.

[hc4361]

Tenerife is very busy during the winter months with all the 'snowbirds' - retired people who stay there for 3 or 4 months to escape the weather in the UK, Germany, Holland, Belgium and of course Spaniards like to holiday there as the weather is so much better than mainland Spain.
Everything is open, all the buses and trains are running.
All the British bars will be open serving Christmas dinner, full English breakfasts and fish and chips.

Saga have hotels in Tenerife and walking holidays in Lanzarote.
http://travel.saga.co.uk/holidays/special-interest/walking/walking-in-lanzarote.aspx?bb=AI&duration=7

[sunny-dave]

Thanks giz/hc/jno - all useful info.

Dx

[malagabob]

All your questions seem to be answered But I would like to add. Buy a Bono ticket for the Titsa busses. Its pre loaded. I normally buy the 12 euro one. You get to ride at a discount, it can be entered into the machine on the bus for more than 1 passenger, and you dont have to keep looking for coins for the fare.

[sunny-dave]

Thanks malagabob - another useful bit of info

dave