El Medano

Currency

The Canary Islands official currency is the Euro often signified by € or EUR.  One Euro is divided into 100 cents.   Money can be exchanged at bureaux de change and major hotels, but banks give the best rates.  All major credit cards and travellers cheques are widely accepted at most hotels, restaurants, and shops.   ATMs are widespread and are generally the cheapest and most convenient method of obtaining money.  The Euro is used in 12 members of the European Union.  Countries and territories using the Euro include: Belgium, Germany, Greece, Spain, France, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Austria, Portugal, Finland, Andorra, Monaco, San Marino, The Vatican, Martinique, Guadalupe, Reunion, Montenegro, and Kosovo.

Banks open mainly Monday to Friday, but some are open daily in tourist areas. ATMs are widely available in major cities and tourist areas, but Turkish ATM keypads usually do not have letters of the alphabet on their keys. Most bank branches have ATMs which accept Cirrus and Plus. Major credit cards are widely accepted; the most popular are Visa or MasterCard, but American Express is accepted in many of the more expensive places.

Travellers cheques can be exchanged at some banks and currency exchange offices, but are not as welcome as cash or credit cards. US dollars or Euros are preferred. Some pensions and hotels in the most popular destinations accept US dollars as payment.

El Medano Climate

The weather in Tenerife is one of the islands' main attractions, tempting many visitors to its shores all year long.  With its location in the Atlantic, just off the north coast of Africa, Tenerife - known as the Island of Eternal Spring - enjoys a pleasant temperature in both the summer and winter, making it an excellent choice for a holiday at any time of the year.  The coastal areas of Tenerife receive the best weather, with the south and the west enjoying the most sunshine, averaging up to 11 hours a day in the summer months.

The temperatures throughout the year vary very little on Tenerife, and the island is known for having the lowest average temperature 'difference' between the seasons anywhere in the world, with temperatures ranging from 15c in the winter up to 24c in the summer.  Even on its hottest days, the temperature on Tenerife rarely gets higher than 28-30c, making for an extremely pleasant and comfortable stay for holidaymakers.  The north-easterly trade winds ensure the temperatures on Tenerife stay constant, and add some welcome breezes, which tend to be stronger during the winter.  Tenerife does not have a rainy season, but the island does see an occasional shower between November and March.

Time

The Canary Islands are in the same time zone as the UK.  Local time is GMT in the winter (GMT +1 between the last Sunday in March and the Saturday before the last Sunday in October).

Language

Spanish is the official language, but
English is widely understood in areas frequented by tourists.

 

Electricity

Electrical current is 220 or 225 volts, 50Hz. 
European-style two-pin plugs are standard.

 

Communication

The international access code for Spain is +34.  The outgoing code is 00 followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 0044 for the United Kingdom).

Tipping

Hotel and restaurant bills usually include service charges, but additional tips are welcomed for services rendered.  In established restaurants tips of about 10% are expected.  Drivers of metered taxis expect small tips and it is customary to tip usually 5-10% for most services, including guides.