As any parent knows, once small children are in the picture, going on holiday takes on entirely different proportions. Instead of worrying about how many sarongs to pack, you’re more concerned with whether your accommodation has too many stairs for a pushchair or if they show English cartoons on the TV!
Choosing the right destination is the most important factor, of course, and if you’re looking for somewhere in The Canaries that’s not only suitable for toddlers and younger children but also still has the ‘wow’ factor for adults, I’m happy to say I think I’ve found the perfect place: Tenerife’s fabulous Costa Adeje.
Choosing your Base
The southern coast of Tenerife is well known as being family friendly, with a high density of theme parks and safe beaches, but Costa Adeje has the added bonus of being just a little bit more upmarket and ‘cool’, which I loved – after all, the holiday’s not just about catering to the kids!
It’s a pretty compact resort and if you stay on the beachfront you’ll be smack bang on the doorstep of the biggest children’s playground of all. Anywhere around the Playa del Duque will give you access to the most popular beach, but if you’ve got younger children you might want to consider staying closer to Playa Fañabe. Wherever you choose will only be around 10 minutes away by car or taxi from the waterparks of Aqualand and Siam Park, but you might also want to consider being within walking distance of the shopping centre and cinema complex.
Grand Sur shopping centre is located at Calle Lisboa, 2
Getting Around
Children and public transport don’t always make great companions, especially if you’ve got a pushchair, so I recommend hiring a car or using a taxi for shorter journeys if you’re going further than walking distance. I was happy to find that, as it’s all quite newish here, the pavements and streets are very pushchair friendly.
Hire cars – All the main rental companies have desks at the airport but many also have stations around Costa Adeje, including Avis, Alamo, Europcar, Hertz, Auto Reisen and Goldcar – so you can hire a vehicle just when you need it. A child’s seat can usually be provided free of charge and prices start from around €50 a day, with good discounts for weekly rentals.
Taxis – Taxis in the resort are very efficient for short journeys, including to Aqualand or Siam Park.
Radio Taxi Villa de Adeje offer a 24/7 service +34 922 71 44 62. Prices are very reasonable and a taxi to Aqualand will cost around €6. If you don’t have your own child seat you’ll have to book ahead.
Train – There’s also a free and fabulous tourist train that the kids just loved (and so did I), which runs every hour around central area to Fañabe. This is a great way to fill in some time and entertain the kids, even if you don’t really have anywhere to go!
Child Friendly Attractions
Even for toddlers and very young children there are loads of suitable attractions. We managed to work our way through all of these – and the kids loved them all!
- Aqualand – They’ve thought of everything for kids of all ages here, and even young kids can safely go on most of the rides. There are wave pools, slides, a water castle for littlies, safe wading pools and the fabulous dolphin show, which was the highlight of our visit. Open every day 10.00-1700. Adults €25, children 5-10 €17.50 and €9 for 3-4 years.
- Siam Park – An exotic Thai-themed fun park with something exciting for the kids around every corner, including the Lost City – a children’s play centre with 120 games! Some of the rides are more suited to older kids, but the Lazy River is fantastic for little ones. Open every day 10.00am-17.00pm. Adults €25, children €20 – 100-130cm height.
- Ten-pin bowling – The Mega Bowl lives up to its name and we chose this place for our youngest’s third birthday with a themed Bowling Birthday Party. Great state-of-the-art bowling facilities and fabulous fun food options. Mega Bowl is located at Lower level CC Playa Fañabe.
- Miki Park – Miki Park is fabulous, safe fun for the kids and I got a break as well in the bar/restaurant! This excellent indoor play centre has everything from crazy golf to mini go-karts, to a huge soft play centre. Situated on the top floor of the Shopping Centre El Duque, Fañabe.
- Best beaches for kids – There are a plenty of fantastic Blue Flag beaches around the area, with Fañabe and El Bobo being my best recommendations if you’ve got younger children. The water at Fañabe is virtually flat as it’s in a protected bay, while El Bobo is also very calm and really central. El Duque and Torviscas were somewhat of a novelty for the kids with their black sand, and they’re both also ideal for safe swimming in the shallows.
Eating Out
Like everything here, the cafes and restaurants tend to be a little bit more upmarket than fast-food or cheap and cheerful, but it’s still a family resort so there are usually children’s options and simple fare available for the fussier little ones. They’ll also often offer things that aren’t on the menu for young kids if you enquire. The main tip is to eat early (as soon as they open around 5.30-6pm) to miss the crowds of adult diners – less stress all round!
But my best tip for a great family dining experience is the Gastro Market El Duque. This is such a fantastic and colourful place, full of international food stalls, music, children’s shows, and even a kids’ play area! The children had so much fun choosing what they wanted from all the stalls and we had a great time choosing a drink from the cocktail bar.
Situated at Av. Bruselas 14, open daily from 11.00am-23.00pm.
How to Get to Costa Adeje
Getting to Costa Adeje with young children can be fairly stress free. It’s around four hours flying time from the UK to Tenerife South Airport, and the proximity of the resort means you can be at your accommodation soon after you land – in around 20 minutes. There is a bus from the airport (number 111), which leaves every 30 minutes or so if you’ve got the energy for public transport, but a far more convenient option is a shared or private airport shuttle.
I recommend you book one of the budget-friendly Tenerife airport transfers and you’ll be met by a child-friendly driver and taken directly to your accommodation in Costa Adeje – no waiting around for public transport and no having to deal with a crying youngsters and luggage at the end of the flight.
If you’re travelling to Tenerife from mainland Spain, there are two ferry routes with regular services operating between both Cadiz and Huelva.
Where to Stay
Laguna Park 2 – The ideal budget accommodation when you’re travelling with small children. The bright and modern Laguna Park 2 makes life easy with full kitchen facilities and a spacious lounge and terrace area so youngsters won’t feel cooped up. With everything onsite to keep children happy, including a games room, playground and huge swimming pool, there’s also a complimentary bus to get you to the beach.
Sol Sun Beach Apartments – Right on the beachfront and close to shops and restaurants so you won’t have to worry about public transport with toddlers, the mid range Sol Sun Beach Apartments offer spacious tiled apartments with balconies or convenient ground floor options close to the pool. With a safe wading pool and plenty of sun loungers, you can relax while the young ones paddle in the sun.
Hotel Baobab Suites – The striking contemporary décor and fun indoor beach foyer of the Hotel Baobab Suites will put a smile on children’s faces, while the luxurious amenities will put a smile on yours. Entertain young ones in the onsite leisure centre and multiple pools, and enjoy the convenience of breakfast brought straight to your suite. Who says a holiday with children can’t be relaxing?
