When you have decided on your preferred dates and location, just telephone us and we will make the necessary reservations, subject of course to availability. In order to confirm the booking we require a deposit or the full balance if you are booking within 10 weeks of travel. The amount of the deposit requires will depend on the airfare for your chosen holiday and will be advised at the time of booking. Once the holiday is confirmed, this deposit is non-refundable.
We accept any debit and credit cards linked to the Visa or Mastercard systems. We do not accept American Express or Diners Club. Alternatively, you may also pay by bank transfer.
We have allocations at some of the properties listed in this brochure, so we can often confirm availability instantly. However, many of the smaller hotels, apartments and individual villas work on a request basis, which means that we will need to re-confirm the availability when you come to make a booking. To request accommodation, we need to take your full details, including a debit or credit card number as a guarantee for your deposit, and will confirm the booking back to you as soon as we receive confirmation from our suppliers, which is usually within 24 hours.
We are also happy to accept bookings via independent travel agents.
What happens next?
Once we have taken your deposit we will issue a confirmation/ invoice by email (or by post on request), which you should check thoroughly as soon as you receive it. If there are any errors or omissions please advise us immediately, as any changes made at a later date will incur amendment fees. Your confirmation acts both as your contract and final invoice, so you should make a diary note of the date that your balance is due.
Tickets/travel documents will be dispatched to you by electronic mail (or by post on request) approximately 14 days before you travel.
What is included in our prices?
- Return flights from London Gatwick. (regional departures and alternative flights are available at a supplement).
- Accommodation and any meals specified.
- Return transfers between the airport and your accommodation, by taxi or minibus, unless a complimentary car is included in the cost. For holidays in La Gomera ferry transfers from Tenerife are included, as are boat transfers from Lanzarote for holidays in La Graciosa.
- Complimentary cars, where specified.
- All airport and local government taxes.
- Maid service as specified.
- Services of our local Representatives or Agents.
What about children and infants?
Most hotels offer reduced prices for children as long as they are sharing with
two adults - these prices are shown in the price list for the relevant
properties. Any relevant flight supplements apply in full.
Infants under 2 pay just £75. This charge includes the provision of cots
requested at the time of booking.
Child seats for hire cars are charged locally by our car hire suppliers. Please
indicate at the time of booking if these are required or if you are planning to
bring your own.
What local support is there?
In the Canary Islands you will be met upon arrival at the airport by a representative of our local agent, our car hire agents or a taxi driver, depending on your arrival day and on whether your holiday includes a hire car or a transfer. During your stay, our agents are just a telephone call away should you require any assistance.
What should you expect from your surroundings?
Our locations and properties are chosen to give you a relaxing and authentic holiday experience. Many of our properties are in beautiful rural areas where it is possible that you will experience the sight and sounds of some local wildlife. In many of our locations you will exist in close proximity with the local population so their way of life should be not only observed and enjoyed but also respected. In the low season and on Public Holidays some of the public facilities may not be available and during local festivals villages which are normally peaceful may be transformed. Sadly there are no seasonal building restrictions in many places and we have no control over such matters. Wherever we feel that any major construction work is close enough to your chosen property to impact on your enjoyment of that location, we will advise you accordingly and, where possible, offer the option of changing your accommodation to an alternative venue. Any short term local ‘DIY’ activities are however totally beyond our control.
What should you expect from your accommodation?
Hotel accommodation in the Canary Islands is generally of a good standard, but naturally the level of service in the smaller, rural establishments tends to be more laid-back and informal than in the larger city or resort hotels, and the range of facilities will be more limited.
Our self-catering properties range from simple apartments to luxurious villas and our brochure description should give you a good indication of the level of comfort of each property. All are equipped with linen and towels (except beach towels), as well as sufficient crockery, cutlery, glassware and utensils for preparing simple meals. Kitchen facilities do not normally include ovens, washing machines or dishwashers unless otherwise specified. Irons, ironing boards and hairdryers are also not always the norm.
Swimming pools described as "heated" or "heatable" have the facility to be heated; however this may only be in use at certain times of year, according to the weather. The mention of satellite or cable TV indicates that some international channels will be available; but this often only extends to one or two news channels in English.
Our brochure is prepared and photographs taken well in advance so some of the décor and facilities may be updated. It is also impossible to describe and photograph each individual room or apartment, so whilst all the main facilities will be common the layout and furnishings may differ slightly. Maintenance and repairs may need to be undertaken from time to time in order to keep properties up the standards we require and our staff make health, safety and quality control checks. You however are responsible for any breakage or damages caused by you or any member of your party during your stay in your accommodation. It is your responsibility to either put things right or advise our local representative so that she can replace things and recharge you before your departure. Some hotels and apartments make additional charges for the use of such things as safety deposit boxes, sunbeds and sports facilities.
Maid service
In all hotels, maid service is offered on a daily basis, with towel changes at least two or three times a week. As is becoming the norm internationally, many hotels change towels on a request basis, whereby the maid will assume that you will reuse your towel if you place them back on the rack, and that you would like them changed if you leave them in the tub or on the floor. If your hotel operates this policy, there will be a notice in your bathroom explaining this procedure.
Our self-catering properties are cleaned thoroughly before each arrival, and some but not all provide subsequent maid service once or twice per week. If the frequency of cleaning is of importance to you, please ask for more details at the time of booking.
Transfers
For those properties where complimentary cars are included in the holiday
price, the car is collected from and returned to the airport, (or port, if
arriving by ferry) and we will provide you with
detailed driving instructions on how to find your accommodation. All other
properties include return transfers from and to the airport, usually by taxi or
minibus, directly to your accommodation.
For guests taking advantage of the
special car hire rates specified in the price panels of certain properties, the
hire car must also be picked up at the airport on arrival and returned on
your departure, or at the ferry port in case of holidays on La Gomera.
When is the best time for you to travel?
The climate in the Canary Islands is temperate, with relatively minor temperature variations throughout the year.The winter months are usually warm enough for al fresco lunches, whilst even in the height of summer it rarely gets too hot for walking and exploring.
Although the summer months offer the most reliable weather, winter is traditionally the peak season in the Canary Islands, especially during Christmas, New Year and Easter. May and June are the quietest months, making them ideal for exploring the countryside, whilst July to November are the best months for sea swimming. August can be a little busy as it is a popular month for Spanish Holiday makers.
The eastern Canary Islands, including Lanzarote, tend to be drier and sunnier than the western islands, and on the more mountainous islands, there are distinct microclimates: Tenerife's north owes its lush scenery to higher levels of precipitation than the arid south, and a similar split exists on La Palma, where the east coast can be cooler and wetter than the west coast. On all islands, temperatures can drop noticeably with altitude, so if you are planning on walking in the mountains, do take some warmer clothing. Walkers keen to climb Mount Tiede should also avoid the winter months between December and March, as snow cover often makes the peak inaccessible in winter. The peak summer months can be a little too hot for walking where there is little tree cover, such as on Lanzarote and inside the Teide National Park (shadier, forested areas of La Palma, La Gomera and northern Tenerife are generally fine for walking even in high summer).
Average Peak Daytime Temperature:
Lanzarote / Gran Canaria South
January: 20C / 71F
February: 22C / 72F
March: 23C / 73F
April: 24C / 75F
May: 25C / 77F
June: 26C / 79F
July: 28C / 82F
August: 30C / 86F
September: 29C / 84F
October: 27C / 81F
November: 25C / 77F
December: 21C / 70F
La Gomera / Tenerife South
January: 20C / 68F
February: 21C / 70F
March: 22C / 72F
April: 23C / 73F
May: 24C / 75F
June: 26C / 79F
July: 28C / 82F
August: 29C / 84F
September: 28C / 82F
October: 27C / 81F
November: 26C / 79F
December: 22C / 72F
La Palma / Tenerife North
January: 19C / 66F
February: 20C / 68F
March: 21C / 70F
April: 23C / 73F
May: 24C / 75F
June: 25C / 77F
July: 27C / 81F
August: 29C / 84F
September: 28C / 82F
October: 26C / 79F
November: 22C / 72F
December: 20C / 68F
What else is there to consider?
Our Booking Conditions are clearly laid out and you should read them carefully before making your booking. They should answer many of your remaining queries but please don’t forget we are approachable and available on 020 8847 8700.