You Can’t Say Fairer Than That

As I’m sure is the case with most people who live here in Tenerife I’m fed up of people whining that Tenerife is too expensive. Don’t get me wrong; I know that the natural inflation that has occurred since changing from the peseta to the euro has had a big impact. In fact, it is about a third more expensive again compared to what it used to be – what used to be 1,000 pesetas now costs 10 euros, when it should actually cost 6.60 euros using the conversion rate. This is a big jump up in prices by any stretch of the imagination.

But it is not Tenerife that is expensive. Simply individual businesses trying to milk visitors dry. But there are two sides to every coin. Okay, so there are some places that have the cheek to charge five euros for a bottle of Heineken, which costs about 80 cents to buy in, but then there are others that charge 1 euro a pint all day and night. Again, there are restaurants that don’t give you much change out of twenty euros for a fillet steak, but there are all you can eat Chinese buffets for six euros. It is simply a question of shopping around.

One of the age-old complaints about the Canaries compared to other tourist destinations in Europe, is the price of flights and also accommodation in some cases. I think people forget that we are twice as far away from the UK as Spain and the Balearics, but even so, air-fares are pushed up way too high in the summer, people paying up to 450 euros for a return flight in some cases.

However, proof that Tenerife is not always expensive to get to, is made all too clear by two of my regular customers in the pub, that are both here this week. One flew with the new EasyJet service from Liverpool last week and got a one-way here for £9.99 and a return for £19.99. So, for those of you always whinging about flight prices, there’s your answer.

The other couple paid £109 each for their return flights, which is still really reasonable, but even more shocking, they got one week’s accommodation in the Piramedes hotel in Playa de Las Americas for £27, (totalling less than £2 each a day!).

So there you go, prices may have gone up over the last few years, but all of the above just goes to prove that whether it be flights, accommodation or the price of your food and drink - when you are here, if you shop around you can get a good deal on anything. Or maybe, things are just looking up, who can say?

Has summer arrived already?

Everything’s pointing towards the fact that summer is here early at the moment. The calima started it, I suppose. The temperatures last weekend were unbearable. But even now, after it’s gone, the temperatures have stayed sky high, which is great. I’ve even been able to go in the pool, which is unheard of in April normally, as we have probably the coldest pool in the world in Ocean Park.

Also, I ventured into town a couple of times this last week which I haven’t done in a while and was surprised to find everywhere nice and busy, almost as much as during the summer, which is great news for everybody down there. Not to mention the fact that Tramps have announced the dates of their summer event nights, which is something to look forward to!

It’s also May now, which means the price of playing golf will sink significantly as there are no more Germans and Scandinavians left to be raped for green fees. Great news for all of us golfers.

Take these three things into account and the fact that there are flies and mosquitoes everywhere at the moment, it makes you realise that summer really is practically here already. Get those fans out of the cupboards quick.