There’s always something to look forward to in Tenerife and with spring in the air that means Carnaval season. It all kicks off with Santa Cruz, second only to Rio in terms of size and status, after that the regional versions follow with each town trying to outdo its near neighbours.

Santa Cruz has a long lead in with qualifying events starting 10 February but the main action runs from 2 to 13 March. La Laguna takes place between 5 and 12 March, Puerto de la Cruz 3 to 12 March, Los Gigantes 17 to 21 March and Los Cristianos 18 to 28 March – to be confirmed. Different towns have different variations to the main themes but they are all about music, dance, fireworks, late nights and drinking, and everyone is invited to join in.

The key events are the election of the Carnaval Queen, every young girls dream, the Murgas competition – satirical songs sung to the backing of kazzoo trumpets, and the sardine funeral. Carnaval is steeped in tradition and is based around Lent. The sardine funeral features men dressed as female mourners following the procession of the sardine, destined to ne cremated amid much celebration. This is a direct dig at the church who turned a blind eye to their own hierarchy and the rich eating anything they liked during lent while the people had to scrap for sardines.

The road to Carnaval starts as soon as one years celebrations end, then costume designers start work on creating ever more lavish outfits for the following year. The rhythm of carnaval is infectious and one that most people cannot resist, make sure you are ready to party.

The Tenerife sea air and sunshine is always inspiring but on Sunday 12 December it will have an even greater incentive as thousands join the Walk For Life to raise money and awareness of breast cancer. Fun is the big ingredient of this walk, it’s a celebration of life and a determination to  prolong it with early diagnosis and well funded research. Everyone is welcome and you are encouraged to wear something pink to show your support.

This years event is slightly longer at 3.5 kms, starting at Salytien in Playa de Las Americas and ending at Plaza de la Pescadora at the old Los Cristianos beach. Gathering at 10 am for an 11 am start, walkers will be encouraged by comperes Katy Kennedy and Carlos and there will also be live music and dance. At the other end cheer leaders will welcome everyone as well as a blues and jazz singer. Previous years have been a spectacle and a great experience for those involved.

This years cancer charities are AMATE and AECC, sponsorship forms are available where you see the posters or you can call 600821100 for more information. All nationalities and communities will be joining together for this special morning so get invloved and make a difference.

Many think it is a talking shop or a jolly but the World Travel Market is one of the biggest travel fairs in the world and Tenerife has reaped positive rewards for their presence from 8 to 11 November at the show in the Excel Centre, near Canary Wharf in London.

The trade only show attracts all the big travel companies and all the travel media as trends are set for the year ahead. Tenerife had a large prescence as part of a huge Canary Islands stand. Tenerife president Ricardo Melchior popped over to lend his support as did Jose Manuel Bermudez, tourism councillor for the government.

The end result has been commitments from Monarch and Thomson, two of the biggest passenger carriers from the UK. Monarch has pledged to increse its number of seats for the coming winter from 264,000 to 344,000.  Thomson are also committing to Tenerife with an 18 % increase in winter seats. It all points to a healthy future for Tenerife’s position as a top winter holiday destination.

With so much uncertainty in the aviation industry it’s probably best to let the customers give their verdict on travel trends. The latest figures from skyscanner, one of the most popular internet search sites show Tenerife still flying high as the third most popular search after Malaga and Alicante.

Winter is traditionally a strong time for the Canary Islands but as summer races in people are again going with the tried and trusted. Tenerife can offer a great variety of resorts and Wimpen has something to offer in all the best places.

Los Gigantes on the west coast has the ever popular El Marques and Las Rosas, a slightly more sedate area it has a proven record as a real sun trap. Moving down the rugged west coast Sueño Azul in Callao Salvaje can offer the best of all options, a quiet location but perfectly placed for nights out in the late night party resorts of the south.

And the south still has the reputation for good old fashioned fun for all ages and tastes. That’s where you will find Los Claveles in Los Cristianos where the charming old port meets the biggest and best of beaches. It’s no wonder Tenerife is such a firm favourite, and with Wimpen taking care of the smooth running of their resorts, it’s always a reliable holiday.

It’s time to speak out against fraudulent timeshare operators that cast a shadow over a proven and popular holiday industry. That was the clear message from the Resort Development Organisation at their 29 March 2010 meeting in Brussels.

Wimpen applauds their promise of action for unhappy consumers who bring forward their complaints. The RDO is the trade body for timeshare and fractional ownership and they have consistently fought to expose and punish the bad eggs in the industry.

One of the key areas they are currently targeting are complaints from unhappy consumers invited to a presentation to discuss ways to dispose of their timeshare or to join a civil action. In some cases these presentations are used to sign people up to a holiday club with a deposit taken and no cooling off period allowed.

Richard McIntosh, the RDO’s chairman said “Members of the public should always check with RDO if they are approached by a company they are unsure of and should walk away if they are asked to sign a contact which does not give them the right to withdraw.”

The RDO has been busy building cases against unscrupulous companies and has used an enforcement programme, headed by a former Spanish Police Inspector, to come down hard on these companies in Spain and the UK.

Wimpen are proud of their hard earned reputation and glad to see that the RDO are working hard to ensure that people aren’t driven away from the chance to enjoy great holidays on terms that suit them.

It’s not just holiday makers that are drawn to Tenerife, it is also an important centre for business and politics. From 26 March to 1 April the ACP-EU are holding their 19th annual parliament at the Magma Artes and Congress Centre In Costa Adeje.

The ACP-EU pulls together key countries from Africa, the Caribbean, Pacific and the European Union to discuss ways to work together to solve common problems. This year 400 delegates including a sprinkling of British members of the European Parliament are attending at the distinctive stone building between the Las Americas bus station and Siam Park.

Tenerife is a natural choice as it is central to all the nations involved and has  a wide selection of 4 and 5 star hotels within easy reach of the airport. On the agenda this year are climate change, trade and the global recession. Tenerife is already playing a big role in helping African countries by building the NAPWACI communication hub to provide West Africa with quicker and cheaper internet links with Europe. This hub should be finished and ready for use in 2011.

In the meantime the delegates at Magma can do their important work and hopefully have some free time to sample the many delights that Tenerife has to offer to the World.

An island of contrasts and surprises, that’s Tenerife, even as Hurricane Xynthia threatened to wreak havoc, the sun beat down brightly and temperatures nudged up into the high 20 degrees. As the storms move on and through mainland Europe, it’s business as usual in resilient Tenerife, and the snow capped peak of Mount Teide looks a picture from Wimpen head office in Playa Paraiso.

It takes a lot to throw Canarians out of their stride, even Carnaval season went on largely unaffected, a few events were moved to other days but the street parties carried on. Making provision for just a few days of severe weather each year is a tough balancing act but Tenerife makes a good job of it. The barrancos(ravines) channel the water down to the coast and as soon as the rain stops the council workers and emergency services swing into action. Santa Cruz, the northern capital, suffered quite a deluge but even on the national Carnaval holiday the street cleaners were out early in the morning to mop up.

The snow on Teide can be seen from all around the island, it’s a proud and defiant symbol of the enduring qualities of Tenerife and its people. It’s quite a feeling to lay on the beach soaking up the sun as you look up and see the snow glinting in the skyline. The rainfall will also bring its reward, the lusher, greener north of the island emerges revived from the pine forests of the La Orotava valley to the many vineyards that make Tenerife wine such an export favourite. Raise your glass and say cheers to Tenerife, there’s plenty more sunshine to come.

If you like a party, the Canary Islands are the place to be in the spring, it’s Carnaval season and everyone is invited to join in. As always it will be a riot of colour, music, dancing, and maybe the odd little drink or two.

It all kicks off with the daddy of then all, Santa Cruz , second only to Rio in size and splendour. The main events begin on Friday 12 February, and from then on it’s a constant round of competitions to find the Carnaval Queen, and the winning Murgas (musical satire) with similar competitions at childrens level. Wednesday 17 February is the night the sardine gets paraded through the city accompanied by wailing mourners, and Saturday 20 February is the big all day street party that runs into the early hours of next morning. the final day.

Then all the regional  events kick in, those staying or living at Las Rosas and El Marques will be close to the action for the Los Gigantes Carnaval. This runs from Thursday 26 February to Monday 1 March, Sardine night, with the big Coso (parade) on Sunday 28 February.

If you are lucky enough to be at Los Claveles in Los Cristianos, your dates are Friday 5 March to Monday 15 March, sardine night, with the Coso parade on Sunday 14 March.

These Carnaval celebrations really show off Tenerife at its best, they are fun, lively and very infectious. You can’t fight it so give in to the rhythm and get up and dance.

How nice to see 4 generations of a family on holiday at the  Las Brisas Gold Crown Resort in Lanzarote. Owner Mrs Joan Deacon, along with her Daughter, Grand Daughter & Great Grand Daughter, recently enjoyed some time at the Resort – now that´s what you call a real family holiday!!!!!

Looking out to the iconic cliffs of Los Gigantes on the sun trap that is the west coast of Tenerife, El Marques is always a great place to stay. Now you have the chance to dip in and enjoy a few days with our half board menu.

It couldn’t be easier, just reserve your stay for a minimum of 3 days, they don’t even have to be consecutive. Then the set menu awaits you, a full English breakfast with tea or coffee, and later, soup of the day, a choice of two main courses and a desert. All for just 13 euros per person.

We love to welcome families, and have a childrens menu at just 7.50 a child, or if you fancy something from our a la carte menu, just ask about our amazing prices. See you soon.