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Tips 4 Tourists
Passports
Make sure you have a full valid passport and keep it safe at all times.
Health
Make sure all your vaccines are up to date for the Canary Islands you need to had polio tetanus and diphtheria. Make sure you have the E11 filled out by you and stamped at the post office before you set off. It is best to keep this on you at all times and make a few photocopies because most hospitals will want a copy anyway.
Insurance
Medical insurance is necessary for those not entitled to E111 (visitors from outside the UK) you must also carry this information with you at all times and this is also true of travel insurance.
Holiday money
Tourists should always use traveller’s cheques rather than cash for security reason. Never carry all your cheques with you it is much safer to take what you need for the day and leave the rest in your hotel safe. Be particularly vigilante with credit cards. Try to carry them separately from your other documents particularly your passport as this can be used as ID.
Emergencies
For all emergencies including police, fire and ambulance dial 112. There are operators available that speak English, Spanish and German so you should be able to make yourself understood.
Cars
Whether you hire a car on the islands or take your own you must carry your car’s documents with you at all times. The police on the islands are particularly strict on this and if they stop you and you are not carrying all the documents they can impound the car. It is expensive then to have the car released so ensure you have your insurance documents, M.O.T and driving licence on you at all times. If the car is rented make sure you check with the hire company the documents you need to have on you.
Safety
Sun
Wear the usual protective creams to protect against burning. Be extra cautious with children, who should wear creams and a hat at all times. Between 12 and 2pm is the hottest time of the day and extra precautions should be taken especially with children. Weather on the islands can be misleading and often the most severe sun burns occur when it is very cloudy and the sun does not appear to be getting through at all.
Pools.
Most of the hotels on the islands have pools and children should not be allowed to use them without supervision from their parents. Take extra care with children’s pools as they are often deeper than they look.
Swimming in the sea
Take care when swimming reefs in particular have a number of jellyfish, corals, snakes and other sea animals that can sting, poison or cause an infection. It is better to check with your hotel, tour operator or even local hospital to identify potential hazards. Familiarise your self with the safety of your chosen beach and make sure you are completely familiar with the meanings of all the different coloured beach flags.
Balcony´s
These often have surprisingly low protective walls or fences so children have to be supervised constantly. When under the influence of alcohol do not sit on balcony rails or lean over! There are an alarming number of accidents from balconies so it is best to practise the better safe than sorry method!
Electrical stuff
Everything you bring from your own country will work in the canaries but you will need an adaptor.
Water
Water is generally considered safe on the islands however most people including residents opt to drink bottled water and also use it to make ice and boil for tea and coffee. to minimise the risk of catching any water borne infections.
Food
As most people tend to get an upset tummy on holiday anyway although it is not always from food it is always better to ere on the side of caution. Never eat food that as been reheated. Avoid raw seafoods and rare meat and make sure that fruit and vegetables are peeled thoroughly before eating. Foods containing raw eggs and unpasteurised dairy products should also be eaten with caution.
Personal safety
Never walk around the major cities on your own at night particularly women. If you do get stranded and find yourself left without your group the best thing to do is to take a taxi to wherever you are going, they are cheap and you will be much safer.
Looky looky Men
You will at some stage of your holiday hear someone say “Hey looky looky” and when you turn round you will see someone from west Africa trying to sell you fake designer sunglasses chains or some other tacky holiday souvenir. They are pretty relentless, you get rid of one only to be accosted by another two minutes later .They are harmless although irritating if you are trying to enjoy an evening out. Be warned whatever you buy from them won’t last two minutes it is best to be polite but firm in refusing. However their patter is funny and they are trying to make a living. More irritating for most though are the PRs….
PR´s .
Most people slate the looky looky men and tend to leave the PR´s alone however the PR´s can be biggest pest to cope with particularly in Playa de Americas in Tenerife and Las Palmas in Gran Canaria. These are the people that sand outside restaurants, bars and clubs and accost tourists trying to get them to go into their establishment. They work on commission so it is in their interest to get as many people in as possible. You will be stopped outside every bar and restaurant along any strip and if what you want is an impromptu night with your partner or a leisurely stroll along a beach front uniterrrupted …don’t bother you won’t get it. On the plus side if you want to go out with a load of your mates and get rip roaring drunk then make the PR´s your new best friend they can promise you all sorts of discounts and invariably you get what they promise you.
Drink
Whatever anyone else tells you the drink sizes on the islands are not fake i.e. mixed with water or anything else, what you see is what you get. Spirit sizes are huge, if you order Vodka and orange you will get a triple and orange.
Haggling
The Canary Islands are supposed to have a reputation for cheap electrical goods. The truth is that you would probably find cheaper in your own country. For the English tourist you will not get a cheaper electrical product than Argos! However if you do see something you really want be prepared to haggle. It is expected. Be firm and stand your ground. The best way is to decide first what you are prepared to pay and then go lower. Let the shopkeeper set his above what he expects to take off you and then haggle away. It is all a game really they know what they will end up taking. You will not pay any less than he wants you to pay. Just bear in mind that unless he makes a profit he would not be in business. Always check that the product you want will actually work on the voltage in your own country.
Chemists
Chemists in the Canary Islands are called farmacias and they are exceptionally good. The staff are very knowledgeable and although cannot be as informative as a doctor they are extremely helpful with the correct medicines to take. Make sure you have made yourself understood look up the words you will need in a god dictionary or phrasebook before you go and you won´t go far wrong. Don’t forget that you do not need a prescription. Most drugs can be bought over the counter including antibiotics just be sure you know the correct dosage in milligrams. If you are on regular medication i.e asthma sufferers make sure you have a repeat prescription from home so that they can give you the right medicine and the right dosage. If they don’t recognise an English name for a drug they will normally look it up for you.
Language, Learn the Lingo!
Without wanting to shatter any illusions English is not the only language in the world. It does not matter how slowly or loudly you repeat something, if someone does not speak you language volume or speed of speech will not alter their knowledge. Learn the lingo! A few words and phrases go a long way when communicating with people not only will the locals respect you for a t least trying to speak but it also opens up your social circle. When in Rome…….
Car Hire
If you don’t want to get stuck in just the commercial tourist areas and want to see the rural beauty that can be found on all the islands, hire a car. It is relatively cheap to hire cars on all the islands and some of the sights that are wating to be seen just should not be missed.
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