Tenerife in late October, where should we stay for a relaxed, less touristy 5-day trip?
I'm planning a 5-day trip to Tenerife with my partner in late October. We're looking for sun and warm weather, but we'd really like to avoid the big tourist/resort areas and have a more relaxed, authentic feel.
Our rough plan is:
- 3 days doing very little, beach/pool, relaxing, no activities
- 2 days of excursions, definitely Teide, plus one other day trip
- We'd probably hire a car for flexibility
I've been looking at Playa San Juan and Alcalá, as they seem to offer the quieter atmosphere we're after, but I'm finding that accommodation there is mostly apartments rather than hotels, so we'd have to cook or eat out more.
I've also looked at Puerto Santiago, but I'm unsure about the water quality there.
Another possibility is Santa Cruz, which seems much more local and interesting, but I'm wondering whether we'd end up spending too much time driving to the south for our beach days. With only 5 days, I don't really want to spend hours in the car just to get some sun.
For anyone who's been to Tenerife in late October:
- Where would you recommend staying for a relaxed, less touristy atmosphere while still having a good chance of sunshine?
- Is Playa San Juan or Alcalá a good choice, or would you recommend somewhere else?
- Is hiring a car worthwhile for such a short trip?
- How difficult is parking in the different areas?
- Is Puerto Santiago a good place to stay, particularly regarding the sea/water quality?
- If you only had two excursion days, would you choose Teide + something else, and what would you recommend?
I'd really appreciate recommendations from people who've stayed in these areas, especially for a late-October trip!