Canaries, La Gomera

If you want spectacular, peace and quiet, some of the nicest people you ever wish to meet then this little island is for you. Not easy to get to but not difficult either, not easy to get around but why hurry? Take your time to take in the many spleandours of this unique island and you will not be dissappointed. Not for late night clubbers except that there is a lively night life in Valle Gran Rey with excellent restaurants and al fresco music that pops up all over the place. The island is crime free, the hippy's are fine, they don't beg, but do busk with no pressure to give money even if you stop to watch some some very clever acts, the pace of life is slow and laid back. No problem with English or making yourself understood anywhere, just exchange the simple pleasantries in Spanish and you will be rewarded. There has been much publicity about the terrible fires of last August. You need not worry, just go and marvel at how nature repairs itself. The loss of some forest has left a green covering with millions of bright wild flowers starting to show in it's pace. Wonderful!

Booked a walking holiday with "New Experience" holidays (based in North Wales) for guided walks in Tenerife. After booking we were sent a list of 4 walks which started between 7:45 and 8:15 am. If we had known that this was an "alarm clock" holiday we would never have booked it. They start so early to visit other hotels. We were given a book written totally in German - why ??! They sub-contract the walks to "Bergwandern" which is a German co, who are poorly prepared. One day we spent 4 hours in a cramped minibus because they failed to notice that it was a bank holiday and all the roads to El Teide were jammed solid. Surely they should know that? (Weds 2 Feb) Also took no interest in our problems when we were stranded. Gave up on guided walks, and got a guide book and did our own thing. Avoid this type of holiday.

New Experience holidays arranged thsi for me, and it all went like clockwork, flights transfers, ferries then another transfer onto the hotel. I ws concerned that it would not work but it did. The guided wlaking they arranged was excellent good guides and good walks, some a little tough for my wife but she managed and did not look like she was struggling until she tole me afterwards. A great island for scenery, but bet to be guided as they get you to placses difficult to reach on your own with a car.