Customer Reviews

Going Native in Tenerife

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

When I heard that a writer for a famous travel publishing group had never even visited one of the countries he was paid to review, I must say I wasn't at all surprised. Over the years it has often occurred to me that the location in which I found myself bore no resemblance at all to that described in the travel guide I had bought before the trip.

Not so with this book. The detailed descriptions of locations and insights into local culture could only have been written by 'natives'. Even after living here myself for many years, I have only scratched the surface of the many facets of Tenerife explored by this writer duo. Each time I dip into the book I find a new historical fact, funny comment or hidden gem about Tenerife that I had not known. I especially like the book's gently humorous tone which seems to me to demonstrate the writers' deep affection for the island.

I would recommend this book to any holiday maker planning a trip to Tenerife but also to readers like me, who have lived on the island for many years but who would like to get to know it at a deeper level.

An interesting read, with lots of interesting sounding places. Unfortunately there are very few maps to help you locate where they are, or photos. One very basic map is all you get.

It's a nice book but you'll need a touring guide or map as well.

"Going Native in Tenerife" is the only guide book you will ever need for a real insight into everything there is to know about the island.
Written with a true and understanding knowledge of the food,the people and the hidden corners of Tenerife, this book gives another dimension to any holiday or long term visit. The Restaurant recommendations are spot on and we enjoyed many a wonderful meal of real Tinerfeno food.
If you love Tenerife, as we do, but are tired of the usual places, buy this book, you won't be disappointed.

This book contains lots of useful local information about the hidden gems of Tenerife, which you don't normally find in typical travel guides. Written by expats who obviously know their way round the island, it has information on places to visit, local customs and history. A few more detailed maps would have been a nice added extra as the only one provided lacked detail. Apart from that would recommend this to anyone wanting to find out about the real Tenerife.

We have been to Tenerife several times and probably only seen the normal tourist traps. We hoped that this guide would help to find places of real interest and beauty that we didn't know about before. It works!!

Moreover the Kindle version makes it easy to search for references to places of interest. Tip, spot the main article about a place by the fact that the Kindle search shows a double entry of the place name because the place name is the article title and the name usually starts the first sentence after the title. No map is provided however hence only 4 stars. Either buy one or use the free version given away by your resort or at the airport.

Celebrated US author Paul Auster likes to use coincidence in his novels. Critics have complained this is unrealistic and he merely employs it as a plot shortcut. However, Auster won't budge on his perception of the power of chance in everyday life. I side with Auster. For example, I currently reside many, many miles away from my London birthplace. In Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. Another person who made the same trip, independently of course, is an old university friend. What are the chances?
Co-author of Going Local in Gran Canaria Jack Montgomery still can't explain how he and his wife Andrea ended up in Tenerife. It was an island they had little interest in holidaying in, let alone living. But, much as I've found on the neighbouring island of Gran Canaria, they've discovered a whole world to explore beyond the bucket and spade. Did you know, for instance, that the tallest Spanish mountain is Mount Teide? Let Jack and Andrea, resident experts, show you another side to their adopted homeland. Away from the garish south, the interior and north of Tenerife offers hidden gems many locals haven't seen, let alone tourists.
I particularly enjoy their section on Masca. It's like I'm breathing the sweet mountain air of this isolated village when I read their description. Chance would be a fine thing.Going Local in Gran Canaria: How to Turn a Holiday Destination into a Home

Having visited Tenerife several times and visited the usual tourist destinations we wanted to find places out of the ordinary to see. Having read the book I have a renewed interest in my next visit this year as it will be like seeing somewhere new. The information given is interesting and entertaining rather than stodgy.

The book ia a good read and as first time visitors enabled us to have a fantastic touring holiday. It would be improved by incorporating simple pencil sketch maps showing the restaurants/sites that it is describing. On occasions even in small towns we could not find what we were looking for.
Ian

as a regular visitor to Tenerife, I was eager to read this. However, I was somewhat disappointed. To me, it appeared as no more than a simple guidebook

This is a good dipping in and out of book and certainly pinpointed some of the places you may miss in the building site which is South Tenerife.
We searched hard to find the 'Bounty advert' beaches described. 20 yards of grey volcanic soil with a view of nearby cranes would have been a rather more accurate description but she was spot on with some of the bar/cafe reviews.