Customs was a breeze, as might be expected at an airport that small, and we were greeted by some friendly reps who escorted us to the correct transfer coach and gave us hotel check in forms to fill in. The bus journey to the La Palma Princess hotel is at times scary - think hairpin bends, steep jagged cliffs, and sheer drops, but it does add to the ambience of the island. I imagine this is what the other Canary Islands looked like before mass tourism took over.

Twenty minutes into our journey I was treated to our first glimpse of the La Palma Princess’s magnificent pools. Check in at the hotel took a while, but you’re given refreshing drinks to speed things up. The entire hotel is like a village of 12 swimming pools, countless bars, a massive entertainment hall and lots of staff ready to cater to your every whim.

La Palma itself doesn’t have a huge amount of excursions to do. You can hire a car and explore the island by yourself, which is the most economical way to take in the island as fuel is so so cheap . La Palma has a huge mountainous region running down the middle of the island, so there are types of weather on different parts of the island. The south is hot and sunny, the north is more tropical rainforest, and by driving round the island (this can be done in a day) you get to experience all these different climates.

A number of countries have observatories on La Palma because of its lack of light pollution, which makes it ideal for star-gazers. Hikers are also well catered for on this island, and the hotel can arrange various different trips for you as well as organising the hire of walking boots and sticks. The island’s capital Santa Cruz is well known to the cruising set, and if you take a trip to this tiny capital you’re more than likely to see a few big name liners docked. Other trips we did included the Catamaran Safari. We floated off to sea in search of dolphins and other creatures, and were served snacks throughout the day - it was the best way to get a good tan!

La Palma is “Spain’s last hidden gem”. It is still very Spanish and full of local flavour and tradition, so if you’re expecting an island with water parks and motorways then you’ll be disappointed. However, if you’re looking for an island full of charm and scary hairpin bends and just want to relax then La Palma is for you!

My flights were with Easyjet from Gatwick which ran smoothly and on time, and the service from the cabin crew was great. After a four hour flight we landed into Tenerife south Airport where we went through passport control and baggage collection. My friend’s suitcase did not arrive so we went to the service agent who filled out a form, took our telephone number and asked us to call at 4pm to see if they have traced this.  We called at the requested time and were advised that the suitcase had been found at Gatwick and would be on the next flight out which was the next day.  Meanwhile, we arrived at our gorgeous apartments at the top of Los Gigantos which had stunning views of the Marina and the neighbouring island of La Gomera.

My friend’s suitcase did arrive the next day as promised, and we were pleased with the service we received throughout. 

In the evenings we would walk down the hill to the main town and choose from the many restaurants available. This resort is very laid-back and traditional, which is very different to the lively resort of Las Americas.

Fiestas are a big thing in Spain, and this is no different in the Canaries.  They are held in different resorts at different times of the year, but we did not have the opportunity to experience one this time around.  At La Gomera in July locals have a race to swim to the island of Tenerife.  They also have their own language called ‘Silbo’, which is commutated by whistling. This language nearly died out at the beginning of the 21st Century but the government made it a requirement for the children to learn it at school.

We did hire a car, which a local agent in Los Gigantos which offered to us at four days for the price of three. This gave us a chance to explore the island, and what the other resorts had to offer.  We went to Playa de Las Americas during the day, where we checked out the beach at local shops. We even went back in the evening to have a ‘night on the tiles’ as they say!

We also went to Aqualand which is the island’s waterpark, where there’s a wide range of waterslides and rides and also the number one dolphin show which is spectacular and worth every penny. The dolphins are well looked after, and the tricks are amazing. You have the opportunity to pay a bit extra and get up close with them.

Finally, we went to the Jungle Park in Los Cristinos – which is an animal park with parrot shows. This is a full day but you do feel like you’re in the jungle and the amongst the animals!

Tenerife has something for everyone from families who want a quiet resort with activities at their doorstep, to 18-30 clubbers.  There are also other quiet resorts for people who want to get away from it all and see spectacular views and picture perfect scenery.