Villa Rentals in Tenerife: Three Tips for Doing Family Tenerife Holidays on a Budget

Tenerife, though sometimes thought of as a party holiday destination, is also a wonderful place for a family getaway. Of course, bringing a family to the island can get expensive. This is one reason why villa rentals in Tenerife have become so popular.

Families can forgo some of the extras associated with hotel stays and spend more money on fun activities. It's a great way to customize your family Tenerife holidays.

The small Spanish island of Tenerife is home to just under one million regular inhabitants. Yet it attracts some five million visitors, on average, each year. In fact, tourism and the service industry generate 78 percent of the island's total yearly revenue.

Tourism is of high importance to the people and the government of this most populous of the Canary Islands. Yet the economic downturn in much of the world in recent years has hit some of its tourism-based businesses. Others, though, like villa rentals in Tenerife, have remained steady or even profited from a depressed economy.

Villa rentals in Tenerife are popular with a variety of holidaymakers, but have a special appeal to families. They're more accommodating to families in comparison to hotels.

Tenerife villa holidays come fully furnished, and this includes everything needed for cooking and living. Families can really "live" in a villa rental, something that would be a bit more difficult to do in a hotel room.

Best of all, villa rentals in Tenerife make it possible for families to save money in other areas of their holiday budgets. This leads to a more gratifying experience overall.

If you're thinking of checking out villa rentals in Tenerife for your family holiday, here are a few insider tips that will help:

1) Stick to the north end of the island. Most people's minds are immediately drawn to the high-traffic resort area of Playa de las Americas on the south island when they think of Tenerife. This area is older and more developed, and well known in the tourism industry for its night life.

However, families looking to holiday on the island are not necessarily looking for a party atmosphere. In fact, a majority of families prefer to avoid throngs of tourists and all night revelers.

Instead, families are typically looking for quiet, not-too-crowded beaches that are kid-friendly. They're also more interested in cultural activities and outdoor excursions than drinking and dancing the night away.

If this is the case, turn your sights toward Puerto de la Cruz on the north island. This area does have some night life, but is much quieter than the Playa de las Americas area.

It's a child-friendly place with plenty of things that kids enjoy. Plus, it's still just a short drive to many of the island's best natural and cultural sites.

Here, villa rentals in Tenerife tend to be less expensive than those in the southern part of the island. Not only will you have a more relaxing vacation, you'll also save even more money by avoiding higher demand areas.

2) Do most of your own cooking. As already noted, villa rentals in Tenerife typically come complete with kitchen facilities and everything needed to prepare meals. By all means, you should enjoy a few meals out (particularly in places that feature regional cuisine made with local food).

However, plan to do most of your cooking and eating in your villa rental. You'll save fifty percent or more on your overall food budget in comparison to eating all your meals in restaurants.

3) Plan to avoid weekends. Villa rentals in Tenerife book up quickly on weekend days. If you can be a bit flexible with your travel plans, book a weekday holiday. Don't be shy about asking for a discount for a non-weekend stay. Many owners will gladly cut your rent to fill vacant weekdays.