Canoodling in the Canary Islands: Featured in Travel Pulse

Tenerife provides your clients with an intriguing romance alternative to the Caribbean, Mexico and Hawaii.

If you sell romance travel – or are considering tapping into the niche – you would be well served to consider promoting the Canary Islands and, specifically, Tenerife, for a one-of-a-kind romantic getaway for your clients.

With an average annual temperature of 73 degrees made possible by trade winds and cool ocean currents, Tenerife, the largest and most visited of the Canary Islands, is a solid alternative to the Caribbean and Mexico. Furthermore, it rivals the beauty of Hawaii with its volcanic landscape and similar climate, but with the added benefit of being much closer and less expensive for travelers from the U.S. East Coast.

1 Eclectic Excursions

Intriguing options for romance travelers are nothing if not plentiful. For those with sea legs, booking a sunset cruise off the southern coast is a popular activity offered by many companies. Big Smile Charters in Puerto Colón offers sunset whale-and dolphin-watching yacht cruises for small, private groups, which include dinner with wine. Unlike in the U.S., where seeing wildlife is hit-or-miss in many areas, the whales and dolphins native to the waters surrounding Tenerife are nearly a guarantee to see alongside the boat.

With nine microclimates, Tenerife is an ideal destination for your wine-loving clients. At the Bodegas Monje Vineyard in El Sauzal, which has been in operation since 1750, your clients can enjoy a variety of fine vintages while dining and taking in views from 1,600 feet above sea level. Tours of the family-owned property are also available.

You can also suggest a day trip to the 47,000-acre Teide National Park for hiking, mountain biking and off-roading. Clients can take the cable car to the top of Mount Teide, the third-tallest volcano in the world.

2 Accommodations Options

For clients looking for relaxing romance, consider the 252-room Hotel Botanico. Located in Puerto de la Cruz in the north, this property has been rated the No. 1 spa in Europe by TripAdvisor. It offers a wide selection of massages and other services but also a traditional Canarian massage, which uses a combination of natural products found on the island, such as aloe vera, earth salts and hot volcanic stones.

The 624-room Hard Rock Hotel in Adeje stays true to the classic Hard Rock brand with music-themed guestrooms and amenities, and top-of-the-line customer service. Live music is a nightly occurrence in the main lobby. The hotel has four pools, a full-service spa and six restaurants.

3 Growing U.S. Visitor Numbers

Tenerife welcomed 20,352 U.S. travelers through November 2018, a 5.9 percent increase over the same period in 2017. Brits, Germans and mainland Spaniards have been the largest markets to visit the island, but traffic from the U.S. has been steadily on the rise over the past few years. In total, the island saw 5.3 million tourists from January to November 2018, which was up 1.4 percent over the same period in 2017.