Useful and practical
Pharmacy
You can recognize Spanish pharmacies by the green cross on a white background. Normal opening hours are Monday to Saturday 10:00 to 13:00 h and 16:30 to 18:30 h. If you need medication on Sundays or public holidays or at night, you will find a notice at every pharmacy with the address of the nearest emergency pharmacy. Or ask at the reception of your hotel, they will be happy to help you.
Doctor
If you need a doctor, please contact our medical officers, in an emergency also your tour guide or the hotel reception. The treatment will be billed directly. You submit the receipts (recibo) at home for reimbursement to your health insurer or travel insurance company.
Für Reisegäste auf La Gomera: In Barbalan (Valle Gran Ray) finden Sie das private, deutschsprachige Ärztezentrum direkt neben dem Spar-Supermarkt. Der Zahnarzt hat dreimal pro Woche Sprechstunde. Das Centro de Salud hat 24 Stunden geöffnet, hier allerdings wird nur Spanisch gesprochen. In San Sebastian gibt es ein Krankenhaus, in Playa Santiago können Sie über die Rezeption einen Arzt in Ihr Hotel rufen.
Baden
The beaches in the Canary Islands are public. Please note that there are dangerous currents due to the weather - especially in the north! Don't swim too far out and be sure to pay attention to the different colored flags.
Red: bathing forbidden
Yellow: Bathing at your own risk
Green: Ideal bathing conditions
Banks & Money
Banks are open from Monday to Friday during the summer months 09:00 to 14:00 h, in the winter months also on Saturdays from 09:00 to 13:00 h. Almost all banks have ATMs, the Cajero Automatico, where you can withdraw money with your credit or EC card. Cards such as Visa, MasterCard and American Express are accepted in hotels, restaurants and car rental companies.
SHOP
The Canary Islands are duty-free and luxury goods are cheaper than at home. Santa Cruz is considered a paradise for electronic devices, jewelery and hen. However, beware of cheap imitations of electronic devices and hen. Be sure to have an international guarantee issued, because that way you can protect yourself. And should one give you this
refuse, you know you'd better refuse to buy.
Filming & photography
The island's landscape and wildlife offer an infinite variety of great subjects. Even if the islanders are used to the fact that tourists like to take photos a lot, you should at least ask for permission with a small gesture - hardly anyone will refuse to embellish your subject. Photography is prohibited in churches, monasteries and military facilities. Violations can result in high fines.
Luggage
You can find your free baggage allowance on your ticket / flight confirmation. If one of your baggage items does not arrive at its destination or is damaged during the flight, claim the damage with your baggage tag to the relevant airline after arrival. Keep the luggage tags in a safe place until you have received your luggage at the destination airport.
Consulates
The German consulate is located in Puerto de la Cruz, Calle Guillermo Rahn, 4, Local 5/6 and is available on telephone number +34 922 248820 and fax number +34 922 151555 from Monday to Thursday in the period from 10:00 to 13:00 hours available.
The Austrian consulate is located in Santa Cruz, Costa y Grijalba 33. It is available by phone on +34 922 023 370 on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 15:00 to 17:to reach 00 h.
The Swiss consulate in Gran Canaria is at Urbanicacion Bahia Feliz, Edificio de Oficinas, Local 1, 35107 Playa de Tarajalillo and is open from Monday to Friday from 09:00 to 12:00 h on telephone number +34 928 157979.
Kitchen & cellar
Since we want to report in more detail on this topic, we have summarized interesting facts on a separate sheet in this folder.
tap water
The tap water on Tenerife is not drinking water, but can be used for showering and brushing your teeth without hesitation. You should use bottled mineral water for drinking and cooking.
Regular bus service
Regular buses - guaguas - go in all directions of the island. The travel times are at the bus stops, at the bus station, at your reception and at the tourist information. The departure times change often and waiting times are to be expected.
Markets
In the alleys around the Mercado de Nuestra Señora de África in Santa Cruz, a flea market and a market with a wide range of fruit, vegetables, fresh meat, fish and flowers attract many shoppers and onlookers on Sunday mornings.
In Playa de las Américas there is a large market with more than 200 stalls on Thursday and Saturday mornings, right next to Hotel Fañabe Costa Sur in the large parking lot.
On Sundays you can buy handicrafts and much more in the market at the Arona Gran Hotel in Los Cristianos.
In Puerto de la Cruz you will find a wide range of fresh, local products from Monday to Saturday mornings above the Hotel Florida in the Mercadona market hall.
Für Reisegäste auf La Gomera:
In San Sebastian on Wednesday and Saturday mornings until approx. 14:00 h below the central bus stop, local products and products are offered, such as palm honey, exotic fruits and specialties such as mojo sauce, goat and sheep cheese, wines and liqueurs from La Gomera. In Valle Gran Rey on Sunday morning until approx. 15:00 h the so-called hippie market takes place. Clothing, art, cosmetics, jewellery, junk etc. are offered here.
Post
Correos, as the post offices are called, can be found in all localities. You can also get postcards and stamps in every newspaper kiosk, souvenir shop and on the beach promenade. You can entrust your holiday greetings to the public mailboxes or, and this is sure to be faster, send them through the hotel reception.
Smoking
Cigarettes are far cheaper here than at home. But also in Tenerife, as in all of Spain, a stricter smoking protection law has been in effect since 2011. Smoking is no longer permitted in public buildings, near children's playgrounds, in hospital courtyards, in discos, bars and restaurants.
Sunbathing
The sun exposure on Tenerife is often underestimated. However, the UV rays in the Canary Islands are a lot stronger than at home. In your own interest, use high sun protection factors (from factor 30) and protect yourself with a hat.
Language
So that you can speak a few of the most important words in Spanish as a friendly gesture towards the islanders, we have summarized a few phrases in the “Little Phrasebook” article.
Beaches
The longest beaches can be found in the east and south of the island. The longest, brightest and most of all the most beautiful natural beach is that of El Médano. On the west and north coast there are beautiful, sheltered and fine sandy rocky bays, for example the Spaghetti Bay at La Caleta. The island's dream beach can be found in the far northeast corner, behind Santa Cruz: Playa de Las Teresitas. And where beach bays were no longer sufficient, attractive seawater swimming pools such as the Lagos Martiánez in Puerto de la Cruz were created. Sun loungers and parasols can be rented for a fee at every major beach.
You will only find natural beaches on La Gomera. There are no lifeguards on the beaches, bathing is at your own risk.
Taxi
At the reception of your hotel they will of course be happy to call a taxi for you if necessary. The cars are equipped with a taximeter. Please note the Sunday, public holiday and night surcharges.
Phone
If you want to call home, dial 0049 for Germany, 0041 for Switzerland or 0043 for Austria and then the area code without the first zero. Telephone calls through the hotel are more expensive than through a public telephone.
Tip
Tipping is also a welcome thank you for good service on the Canary Islands. You can give the room service about €7,00 per week and the waiters about 5-10% of the bill.
Valuables
Your valuables and papers (e.g. passport/identity card, plane ticket, credit cards, etc.) definitely belong in the safe. Every hotel can provide you with a safe for a fee. In the event of theft, report it to the local police or call the international police service (tel. +34 902 102 112). For police translations, you need an official translator.
Tariff
Although Spain is part of the EU, the Canary Islands enjoy special status. Customs regulations can be found on the “Pickup times” page (subject to change).
