Apr 29
Long time ago, around the 1960’s, Tenerife was known as one of the poshest paradisiacal islands of the entire world. Naturalists like Von Humboldt were astonished by the views of ‘El Valle de La Orotava‘ and el ‘Puerto de la Cruz‘, ships and planes were coming and going with high class tourism who stayed in grand hotels like the ‘Casino Taoro’ in Las Arenas and every single one of the tourists knew they were in a special place and thus respected it. It was another time…
Current tourism in Tenerife, specially when it comes to the English, not so with the Scottish, is absolutely disgusting. If several days ago we were criticizing what the Brits are doing in Salou (Catalonia), it is time to denounce what they have been doing in the Canary Islands since the 1990’s.
Las Américas and Los Cristianos are in the south of the island and for the locals it is the city of the foreigners. I would bet that at least 90% of the bars are English or Irish, and they open at 21:00 p.m every single day getting packed with drunks and tramps, who can easily get in.
The main difference between the Spanish bars and the English ones is that if the Spanish bouncers see you are drunk you won’t get in until you prove them to be wrong but, the English ones, seem to like having the inebriated inside their pubs, as if they gain something by having them inside. I’ll tell you a story:
A friend and I were up to going dancing to a club in Las Américas called ‘El Faro’ which is absolutely fantastic but before that we had the stupid idea of having a couple of pints where the English were, next to a disco called Tramps. We sat down and ordered two big ones. As the waiter came with the Stellas’ I could see two different groups of Brits that seemed to be looking strangely at each other. As my friend and I looked to ourselves thinking that both groups were deciding to get us out of ‘their bar’, a fight broke out between both groups of Brits.
First it was all about kicking and punching but then as one of the groups decided to back off and run away the others persued them not before throwing tables to the ones who were running away. It was only 11 o’clock and every single English lad was completely drunk, some of them had already been sick on some street and most of them had already gone home, because they start drinking since they get up in the morning, with what they call a ‘Bloody Mary‘.
The strange thing is that the English don’t get in trouble with the locals of the Island, as if they already knew it wouldn’t be worth it but, instead they decide to fight with each other, as savages. I’ve always thought that fighting or at least provoking is something innate for the Brits, or at least for the garbage ones that come to the island, because every single night somebody tells me that there has been a fight between the English. We have to stop this.
34 Responses for "Bad tourism in Tenerife"
[...] of Tenerife needs a change. As we all know the southern parts of all the Canary Islands have been invaded by the Brits since the 1960’s, thus attracting the worst kind of cheap English tourism [...]
Everything you’ve written is so true.
These Brits are always drunk and fighting and they need to do something about these idiots in Tenerife.
The local people have to put up with all this abuse and bad behaviour.
I never go to these areas because of the Brits, they ruin the islands for us.
I have never read such a load of rubbish in all my life…. you are obviously not English and have a pet hate towards us.
You state that the Canarian boucers never let anyone who is drunk into their establishments, is el Faro not a Canarian owned and run establishment with Canarian bouncers?????
I think you need to check your facts before making such comments on one night that you experienced on this beautiful Island, and running down the English. Go to any holiday resort worldwide and this type of thing will be happening somewhere and it won’t only be the English involved
Complete rubbish. I live in a Spanish town and let me tell you that the Spanish (or Canarians) sit in some pure grot holes all day filling their greedy faces with Reina (cheap nasty beer) for 1€ for half a litre.
They then slur and spit and annoy other people who are out for a quite drink.
This happens all the time – in fact it happened this evening. I was in a bar in Las Galletas. I had a whiskey and coke before some of the local Canarian losers (no jobs, little money, semi-alcoholics) decided to start shouting at each other – a common occurrence.
I left, picked up some beers from the 24 hour shop and headed home.
As for Brits fighting each other – again, spend some time in the Canarian towns and guess what? They get drink and fight each other! There are some bars here I won´t go back to because of violent aggressive Canarians. I was punched in the face by a Canarian in January for no reason – he was drunk and off his head on cocaine. He kept telling the bar man over and over he wanted to fight the English man (me) and then smacked me in the face. I won´t go into details on what happened next suffice to say – he´ll never hit a stranger in a bar again.
Like for like comparisons in your articles please or don´t bother. Highlighting one specific sector of Tenerife and one nationality smacks to be of bile-filled narrow-mindedness. Get to the know the place and deliver a balanced opinion. You´ll earn a lot more credibility that way than simply jumping on a very old bandwagon of bashing Brits.
This is what I mean about these people.They come here and think they can colonise the island.
The last poster is complaining about Canarian people,so what are you doing here if you hate them so much.Get off our island and go somewhere else with your colonial attitude.The empire finished ling time ago and you need to stop thinking you own countries.
They think they can come here and force their culture and language on the local people.What idiots.
They should force all the Brits to learn the language and to wash twice a day.
I have found Canarians in general to be narrow minded and racist. Xenophobia runs deep in the Canarian mentality so your comments are no surprise Yesenia. “Get off our island” – typical ill-informed Canarian bluster – true colours shining through as they say. Oh and I say this as someone who is married to a Canarian…
I´ll tell you what, me and every other non-Canarian will leave and every Canarian around the world can come back – hows that? Any idea what kind of overcrowding problem you would have in such an event? Your entire economy would have evaporated long ago without the wealth of non-residents and non-Canarians – biting the hand that feeds you… fool.
Typical Brit attitude and remark.
Go home idiot and stop putting down Canarian people.
Bite the island that feeds you…..fool.
That photos isn’t Tenerife
Dear Andy-Tenerife:
First of all I need to tell you that Im half Spanish and half English and I love England as my second country.
I’ve even lived in England and adored it.
The truth is I am from Tenerife, so I think I know the island a bit.
We’ve been experiencing problems with the brits since the beginning, but that doesn’t mean that you are one of them. In fact, it seems that you had a problem with some stupid canary islander.
I know my island is full of nasty people as well, but I can’t do anything about it because I can’t get them away from here, because they belong here.
But when it comes to tourists, I know that we can do something to give the island better atmosphere. You have to be with me when I say that the south of tenerife is becoming some kind of infernal place, specially because of the combination of your lot and mine (we can both be very savage), so my intention is to get into the minds of the people who bring them here (politicians, hoteliers…) to make them understand that cheap tourism wont give us any good.
I am absolutely with you abou the xenophobic minds of some of the islanders, but don’t forget that if they are like that it is because history. Remember that since the XVII century the Brits have tried to conquer these islands, like when the unbeatble Nelson tried to enter Sta Cruz and lost his right arm in battle. Hawkins, Drake and many others tried the same, the same way as we tried to conquer some parts of South America that never surrundered.
All I wanted to say, perhaps in a high tone, is that I cant take the cheap Brits no more, because believe me, I have seen many things over here. It’s been 26 years of experience.
Honestly, only by the way you write I know you are not one of them, but a simple working man who is trying or succeding in making a life in the islands. To you, I saay “Bienvenido” and hope you succeed even more.
Remember I am also half English and It has nothing to do with Xenophobia or Racism, it’s just common sense, the same common sense that makes me hate the canary islander that tried to fight you only for being English.
Hope you are well, and Yesenia, thank you for defending me, and for being a Spaniard you write very good English. Cheers to everyone, lets make a better Island together!
Interesting topic this but I just want to mention a few facts.
I find it quite unusual for anyone to be attacked for no reason and to me it sounds like this Andy fella must have insulted the canarien after have one too many himself.
I live in Las Galletas and have heard about the incident but one word of advice for the gentleman,
Never run away from a fight but and what I heard the man had every right to go for this Andy.
Better to keep your trap shut if you can’t fight.
Jason – what are you going on about? If you would like speak to the bar owner who witnessed the whole event I´ll introduce you. You obviously are not aware of the incident in question, nor where you there so where are you getting information from? Rumours?
What a silly, silly comment. I knew the man who attacked me – we used to be neighbours and there was no provocation on my part. He was going on for a good hour or so beforehand. So the whole “he had every right” spiel tells me you are talking out of your arse.
Thanks for the sensible replies to my comments – probably best to ignore the proletariats who are talking nonsense
So you knew the man.All the more reason for him to attack you for no reason.
You really are digging yourself into a hole lad.
You’re not in sales/timeshare are you?
Hmm struggling to follow the logic in that statement – in fact I dont believe there is any. My business is none of yours and has no relevance to the blog post, comments or general tone of the conversation.
I believe what has happened here Jason is you have waded in with nothing intelligent or even vaguely useful to say, been caught out and are now clutching at straws – trying to pigeon hole me into some particular career or niche.
Add something useful or give it a rest – lad…
I also believe you got a whipping you can never forget and since January you have been wallowing in self pity so you decided to come on here and tell us the story so that we all pity you.
We’re not interested in who beat you up,get a hold lad.
Well that confirms beyond doubt you have no idea of the incident i question and are simply talking bollox – just as I thought.
People I take it all back – us British really are the dumbest people on the planet! I have to apologise on behalf of the British nation for Jason, he is a fine example of what happens when a baby is deprived of oxygen for too long at birth and then has to battle its way through our crumbling education system… my sincerest apologies for feeding this belligerent little troll.
I shall feed him no more as he is a sad act looking for attention.
Reminds me of another “keyboard warrior” with the same initial….
To patriotic Andy and all the vomiting, scabrous Brits in Los Cristianos/Playa de las Américas he ably represents, let me give you a fact. The street cleaners in Las Américas have to spend an extra hour every Saturday, Sunday and Monday morning on cleaning the streets of pools of vomit donated to the town/towns by the visiting Britons. As a character says in Antony and Cleopatra, “That truth should be silent I had forgot”
And please do not blame the British education system for the performance of uneducated young Brits. The lady’s idea of leaving them stranded on the Cape Verde islands is good, and should be transmitted to Cameron/Clegg immediately.
Speak for yourself Andy. Having unresolved issues is a real problem in Tenerife.
Good luck with wherever you end up lad,I’ll take no offence from your dimwit comments.
Jason – you havent actually addressed the topic at hand meaning you are nothing but a troll – best thing to do with a troll is ignore them
Dean – I couldn’t care less what the street cleaners have to do in that area. I never go there and it is a tiny part of the island. If you want to base your entire opinion of British people on one street then go right ahead. I take a more macro view of the topic at hand and make informed opinions rather than simply jumping on a very old (and factually incorrect) bandwagon.
Well, the surprising thing about all this is that it seems that Jason and Dean are both Brits as well !
Yeah – sorry about all the clutter – I guess us Brits do like a good fight!
Yesenia, de dónde eres? La verdad es que me has impresionado, aunque también pareces bastante cabreada con los ingleses de la isla!
Hoy en día parece que no se puede caminar por el sur sin que vengan a venderte algo en su idioma. Aunque hable perfectamente inglés, siempre les digo lo mismo:
We are in Spain, speak to me in Spanish for Christ Sake!
déme su email Christian.
Wow it seems that the true canary Islanders from Tenerifeforum.com have something to say about me and my article…
I wish they posted their comments in here… after all, it is me who you are talking about right?
Come on fellas, lets have some fun… stop hiding in your ex-pat site… talk to a true Spaniard and canary Islander for once… but of course… in your language… we wouldnt want to spoil your brains by speaking Spanish right???
I think Im ging to write about all you lot… yeah
La colonia de Inglés de Tenerife. (Edited by admin)
What’s the point of this forum??? Are we all agreeing that there are parts of the island that need change?
For me, no matter where in the world, there are problems when there is a high level of multiculturalism in a same place. I think that the british have a right to be living here if that is what suits them, I have also lived abroad.
I could say if they come here they should adapt, but for me that is a subtle form of racism. Rather than multiculturalism i’d prefer interculturalism, which is when cultures interact and live together peacefully. At the end of the day, we should learn to respect what is different, but this doesn’t always mean we should tolerate what is considered disruptive in many countries not just the south of Tenerife.
Obviously there are nasty people no matter where you go, no matter what nationality. I believe we should distinguish those british residents and those that come here on holiday. I thought the way the british drank in the south had something to do because they were on holiday, but the truth is how they act here is how they act at home too. I’m obviously talking about a certain profile of tourists, not british people in general.
So as Cristian says the reflection should be made not so much on ‘what nationality do we want our tourists to be’ but what sort of tourism do we want??
I think we could still have the same debate but without having to mention nationalities, and if nationalities is what creates the debate, then I believe we’re lost in translation.
This is the biggest load of “Codswollop!” I have ever read in my Life, I have lived in Tenerife for the last eight years, around the South, and have never heard of anything so ridiculous before, it is obvious this person is out to cause damage to Tenerife, but people who go there love it, so is this “Person” I will use the term loosly working for a Travel Agent trying to promote, somewhere else, or trying to destroy Tenerife.
Fortunately, the people who seem to have their agenda on this subject are very much in the minority, and having been unable to formulate any kind of realistic argument have descended into the kind of xenophobic views that you would expect to come from intellectually challenged individuals!!
Jason, just another tough guy who no doubt pretends that his life is fun and fanciful when in fact it is more likely he is one of the sad losers who do in fact give the wonderful Island of Tenerife a bad name!
Myra, I bet after spending 8 years in Tenerife you are not capable of writing in Spanish…
I am from Tenerife, born in Tenerife and live in Tenerife, so don’t come to me saying that I dont know my island when I’ve always known that the real problem in the south has always been the cheap Brits…
I’ve never had problems nor seen fights between the germans, scandinavians or else, it is always the effing hooligans in the south!
And Im not generalizing, cos I have many English friends in the south, of course they aren’t all like that, but some of them need to be banned from coming again.
If you don’t agree, it is because either you haven’t been in Las veronicas at night or you are just one of them…
I must apologise to those of you who are English and have integrated well in the island, know the island, love it, speak or try to speak the language and respect the locals, which is what you have to do when you come to a different country.
It seems that Christian is from Tenerife and all you lads are just not reading…
I also live in the south and I am also fed up with some Brits who come here and destroy everything.
Most of them stay drinking in their hotels or apartments since they wake up and then go out at night completely pissed. They don’t want to get to know the island, because they couldn’t care less.
Mi español es malo pero al menos hablo un poco y estoy aprendendo a escribir…
Forget about this guys Christian, they are all the same…
Thank you Alexander.
I am not bothered or anything. I just don’t understand how these guys think I am the one who is harming the island when I am from here and Im only giving my opinion on the kind of tourism we receive.
Exactly. I myself work for a Spanish company in the south for more than 6 months. All my work mates are from the Canaries and we all think the same…
And they are the xenophobic ones. I’ve never seen a group of English guys trying to talk to te locals. They just join together with all the other Brits so that they feel comfortable, I guess…
[...] to the multifarious reactions that followed the article on “Bad tourism in Tenerife” and “Changes in South Tenerife“, I have decided to put some questions to an Ex- [...]
My message goes to Mr Andy.
You should have more respect with your comments towards canarian people, don’t ever forget that the mayority of people who causes trouble in Tenerife south are british people! Like it or not thats the real situation we find in Touristic areas in Spain.
Maybe you should consider the act like is, as it is not the normal bevaviour british( but not all of course) have when they are inBritain. I know lots of good british people here and in England, but YOU CANNOT denied that some of their bevaviour when they are partying in Tenerife is HORROROSO!!!!
THE STATISTICS ARE THERE, WE ARE NOT MAKING ANYTHING UP!
[...] en varias webs y sobre todo en el blog de Hotel Search en una noticia publicada con el nombre de Bad Tourism in Tenerife, que cada vez hay más personas que denuncian el hecho de que los políticos están haciendo todo [...]
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