Tenerife is the largest of the seven Canary Islands; it has an area of roughly two thousand kilometers and about nine hundred thousand inhabitants, making it Spain’s most populous island. It’s also a renowned tourist destination, with millions of tourists visiting each year; people love its beaches, attractions and natural beauties.

Most of Tenerife’s accommodation is located in the south. Resorts like Costa Adeye, Los Cristianos and Playa de las Americas host the large majority of those who visit. Each of the resorts has a somewhat different reputation: Los Cristianos is for those who prefer a quiet holiday, mostly older visitors. Playa de la Americas, on the other hand, is the center of Tenerife nightlife; the party never ends in its numerous night clubs and beach bars. Costa Adeye is a new resort, known for artificial beaches, luxurious hotels and prestige restaurants.

Tenerife also hosts the second largest festival in the world, the Carnival of Santa Cruz. That’s when the streets of Santa Cruz, the island’s capital, brim with people dancing and partying all day and night until Ash Wednesday, when the ritual of the “burial of the sardine” marks the end of the festival. But the partying starts all over again next weekend, known as the weekend of the piñata.

There are also many natural attractions. A visit to the highest mountain in Spain, the majestic Mount Teide is a must; take the cable car and enjoy the panoramic view of the island. Teide is actually an active volcano; the last eruption happened in 1909. Its lava flows produced the mineral-rich soils which support a great number of plant species; 33 of them endemic. The volcano’s unique environmental conditions and geological features earned it the status of a National Park and it was named an UNESCO World Heritage Site. One of the towns in the vicinity of Teide is Garachico, a tourist favorite, known for its beautiful plaza and lava-hewn rock pools.

Many come to Tenerife for its hiking possibilities; Macizo de Anaga, a mountain range in the northeast of the island, is the most popular hiking destination. Its humid laurel forests and archeological sites made it a source of many local legends. The clear and warm waters around the island are suitable for diving; places like Las Galletas and Puerto de la Cruz will amaze you with their underwater volcanic column and the richness and diversity of underwater life. Almost thirty species of whales and dolphins often feed in these waters and sightseeing tours are frequent, especially from Los Cristianos and Los Gigantes.

The peak of the tourist season in Tenerife is from mid-January to Easter, although, due to the island’s subtropical climate, the island is worthy of a visit the entire year; some rain is possible during March and November, but only in the island’s northeast. One thing is certain; whatever your preferences on how you want to spend your holiday, Tenerife has it all – interesting events, plenty of exciting urban centers, cultural landmarks, the warm sea and unique natural attractions – what more can you possibly ask for?

Travel Photo of the Week: The majestic Alhambra Palace

The huge Arabic fortress on the hill dominating the Spanish city of Granada – the Alhambra – is one of the world’s best-preserved Moorish palaces. Alhambra tours takes in the Alcazaba and Watch Tower dating back to the 9th Century. The Alhambra offers a great display of mosaics and examples of Muslim art. This photo sent through by a regular reader has now been set as my desktop wallpaper! I love Moorish architecture and Granada remains high on my bucket list!

Photo courtesy of Travel Tips Plus reader Lavinia.

A staple that goes well with great music is the ever popular music festival. This year, why not forgo a wet, rainy and mud-laden adventure for a drier city experience? Festivals like the Exit festival in Serbia and world-famous Reading and Leeds Festivals in the UK provide a great time, but they can also be a very muddy experience. Camping offers a good time, but just imagine how much nicer it would be to sleep in a real bed, with clean sheets and a pillow for a change?

There are many city music festivals that offer great times and comfortable accommodations in hostels. Check out a great festival accommodation guide here. Enjoying music and making friends provides memories to last a lifetime. Memories made while not having to put up with mud and rain soaked clothes are even better.

The Bilbao BBK Live Festival

This festival was nominated several times for best festival awards by the UK Festival awards. Since its first year in 2006, the Bilbao BBK Live festival in Spain, on the slopes of Mount Cobetas, has offered festival goers a comfortable and fun music enjoyment experience. The venue was built specifically for the festival. Past concerts have included names like Guns N’ Roses, Pearl Jam in 2010, and Coldplay in 2011. In fact, Coldplay broke an audience attendance record by attracting over 37,000 excited fans.

Wireless Festival in London

Wireless Festival began in 2005 and has since become one of London’s premier music festivals. Famous name acts like Depeche Mode, Counting Crows, Kanye West and more recently, Pink, Black Eyed Peas, Bruno Mars and Rihanna have been thrilling audiences on stages at Olympic Park for the past seven years. This year, the Wireless Festival features Justin Timberlake and Jay-Z.

Lollapalooza in Chicago

Lollapalooza music festival takes place every summer in Grant Park in historic Chicago. Begun in 1991 as a way for the alternative rock group known as Jane’s Addiction to have a final farewell tour, the show has since taken off. The idea that began small turned into a musical festival that sees fans in attendance today from all corners of the world.

This rolling expanse of land sits on 115 pretty acres and features several stages, along with a diversity in musical artists that changes every year. Fans enjoy a wealth of musical styles including alternative rock, hip-hop, electronic music, rock, roots music and reggae. Music has been featured by artists like Nine Inch Nails, The Cure, Mumford and Sons, Steve Aoki, Eric Church and Regan and Sara.

One of the best places to stay is the new guest house called Urban Holiday Lofts, in urban Chicago. Rooms are available from two person accommodations to eight person rooms, and feature either shared or private baths. This hostel also gives guests some great amenities like free continental breakfast, free transportation from the airport, train or bus station, free WiFi, free parking and a free concierge service. Unexpected amenities that are all found at hostel prices. For more hostels close to Lollapalooza visit HostelBookers.com.

Electric Zoo In New York

New York’s famous Randall Island Park features a fun, entertaining music festival called Electric Zoo with acts like Tiesto. All genres of electronic music are featured, with appearances by well-known international DJ’s. Live acts come from all over the world to play this festival. It was named by many print publications as a top American music event. Held every year over Labour Day weekend, this festival has grown substantially.
Festivals offer great entertainment, opportunities for making friends and an enjoyable time to be remembered for a lifetime. Experiencing great music in a mud free way is the best way to enjoy the festivities.

With the whole world to choose from, deciding where to go on your only summer holiday can feel impossible – how do you decide between Morocco, Majorca, Malmö or Miami? This is especially true if you have a strict budget, but don’t fancy heading to Lanzarote.

With this in mind, we’ve rounded up three of the best value holiday spots for summer and autumn 2013, focusing on destinations that offer sunshine and sand without high costs and crowds. There are plenty of cheap holiday deals to these fabulous destinations, whether you’re looking for a last minute getaway or a well-planned autumn sunshine jaunt… so have a look online, and start planning!

Montenegro

When you’re trying to stick to a strict financial plan, it’s best to avoid the most well-known places. Montenegro was almost totally unknown as a holiday spot until recently, and 2013 is looking to be its breakout year – so go before the prices jump next year.

Just south of Croatia on the Adriatic coast, Montenegro boasts fantastic weather during the summer months, with highs of around 30°C. With a mix of rock, pebble and sand beaches spread over 73km of coastline, you’ll be hard pressed not to find something to your liking. The beach at Kotor, towards the north of the country, is a beautifully secluded spot that plays host to the deepest fjord in the Mediterranean. There are two small islands a short way from the bay, Sveti Djordje and Gospa od Skrpijela, that are well worth seeing – if you want a break from the beach, hire a boat and head out to explore. Fly into Tivat airport and take a taxi to Kotor for around €7, and accommodation near the beach costs between €7 and €15 per night per person. Now that the secret is getting out, prices won’t stay so reasonable for long.

Croatia

North of Montenegro, Split, Croatia is also home to some daydream-worthy beaches. Split is slightly bigger and cheaper than the capital Dubrovnik, with loads to explore besides the incredible Adriatic coastline. History buffs shouldn’t miss the Roman ruins in the city centre; the Bronze Gate is also a must-see, with exhibitions and craft stalls at this stunning heritage site. There are a number of museums, and restaurants serving delicious Croatian specialities with fairly reasonable price tags. The fish here is a particular treat.

The Azores

If you want to get as far away as possible without blowing your budget on flights, head to Santa Maria Island in the Atlantic. Located in the Azores, about 900 miles off the coast of Lisbon, this Portuguese archipelago is an absolute haven for both adventure types and those looking to get away from it all. With a population of just 6,000 people, Santa Maria is also known as the Island of the Sun, thanks to its dry climate and yellow wildflowers. Formosa Beach is intensely sunny, with bright white sands and crystalline waters, and there are a number of nature reserves around the island with hiking trails. Incredible Giant’s Causeway-style rock formations (complete with a waterfall) and red earth are great outings, and a powerful reminder of the island’s volcanic past.