brits being pushed into wrong resorts

[austin7]

This Christams is a disaster for the British and irish businesses in Corralejo and Caleta, WHY?

The majority of British and Irish holiday makers who have bought packages through the big operators are in the South.

Corralejo and Caleta businesses are going to the wall, while English speaking tourists wander the streets of Costa Calma, Gran Tarajal etc looking for anyone who speaks English, or try to find somewhere serving British style food..  They don't exist.

German tourism to the Island has dropped drastically, so TUI, who own several of the large All Inclusive resorts in the South, are using their power to bully their subsidiaries and other smaller tour operators into sending British tourists into these complexes to take up their excess capacity.

The trouble is, that this area has been exclusively German for several decades, all the business cater fot this market, very few speak English, street signs, menus, TV, entertainment etc is all in German.

Many Brits have complained to their tour operators and asked to be transferred North, but they are told that Corralejo and Caleta have no space... roughly spherical containers!!!

Don't these people realise that not only are they killing off many well established businesses, but they are damaging their own reputations and credability.

Brits and Irish stranded in the German occupied south, will never come back to fuerteventura, they will go back to the UK/Ireland and talk to their friends, families, people they meet in the pub. "Fuerteventura, nice island, beautiful beaches, clean seas, nice hotels, but don't go there, it's full of Germans, nobody speaks English, no British food, bars close early, No English TV and nothing to do"

So all you lot out there, we all love this island and want it to prosper - so please spread the word - Tweet, facebook, blog etc, and make sure word gets out, that it is the North of this wonderful Island where there are the best facilities for British, Irish and other non German tourists.

[Voldermort]

Think you will find that most of them are ensconced in the AI places.So as long as the sea is there and there are nice clean beaches, the rest wont matter to most of them...Sad to say

[Magoo]

We have been going to the South of the island for the past 15 years. Can't say that I have been too bothered by the lack of Rose & Crown type pubs of the availability of a Full English. Maybe its even a bonus!  A few words of Spanish is all that is required to get along fine, & show some courtesy to your Canarian hosts

[peggy]

We are in corralejo now and it certainly ain.t full. What are the british tour operaters playing at sending the British and Irish tourist down south. I am not surprised they wont return to the island. The south of the island IS beautiful and worth a visit, but to stay there is a no no for us.

[ashworth]

We have been eating out in Caleta this week and the resturants we have been in have been packed. Plenty of people about and although all the hotels are full the all inclusive guests were eating out in the local resturants. The situation is a lot better than trying to run a resturant in the UK...

[Spike On Q]

I work in the hotels in south and no-one has ever complained to me - all the UK people we meet love Jandia and Costa Calma and come back year after year. The province of Pajara is stunningly beautiful and a real treat to spend a holiday, unless that is, you want "a pint of lager and a bag of crisps resort" [Monty Python 1967]. I hear Benidorm is lovely

[14yew]

Cannot agree that the South is full of British tourists. We have had our apartment in Jandia for six years and we are still surprised to hear English voices in the streets. This year is no different and there seem to be hardly any Brits about from what I have seen and heard, in the ten weeks we have been here.

[KWC]

Can't agree with the original poster.

If you care to check out TC, Thomsons, on the beach etc you will more availability for Corry and Caleta than down south.

But with regard to miss hearing English voices and food, come on your on holiday in a beautiful island. Why on earth go if you miss a natter and food that much. You really should go to Scarborough or Blackpool.

I come here for the change, the change of weather, food and to forget all the stuff that's happening in good old blighty.

Two weeks isn't a long time to hold out for a fish supper

[bedouin]

I visited the island for the first time in November, and stayed in the Jandia area.  The beaches were fantastic (much nicer than Corralejo, which I visited twice).  The hotel staff were great, and there was absolutely no problem using English.  Most of the other guests were Germans, many of whom spoke English, and who were almost without exception polite, pleasant, well behaved.  The food was "international" and very good.  In fact, unless you have a yearning for real ale and pork scratchings, it would be hard to fault.

[123456]

What planet is Austin 7 on? Brits 'wandering the streets looking for people who speak English' I would think they are busy enjoying their holiday and everything the south has to offer.
People have the choice over where they go on holiday and which resort and hotel they stay in. Most people have the facilities and intelligence to ask a question or two, or do a bit of research.
People are not plucked off the street and put into resorts they don't want to go to.
The big travel companies will try and work things to their advantage, its business, they are not stupid but neither are the holidaymakers who are parting with their money.
People who only come over for 'British style food, tv' etc are not the visitors Fuerteventura needs. 
I personally have stayed in both resorts numerous times and if anything found the south to be slightly nicer due to the lack of 'X-factor and Corrie' bars .
In fuerteventura, there is a seat for every opening at the lower end of the alimentary canal through which solid waste is eliminated from the body, whatever it is you want, you will find in one resort or another.  Another reason I think that we all love it.
As for tweeting and spreading the word that the north of the island is the only place for British holiday makers, I can only think this has been suggested as this would be of benefit to Austin 7 ?!

[woe10]

[quote
Brits and Irish stranded in the German occupied south, will never come back to fuerteventura, they will go back to the UK/Ireland and talk to their friends, families, people they meet in the pub. "Fuerteventura, nice island, beautiful beaches, clean seas, nice hotels, but don't go there, it's full of Germans, nobody speaks English, no British food, bars close early, No English TV and nothing to do"[/quote]

Oh Dear !!!   They come to Fuerteventura expecting Benidorm. Well, why didn´t they go to Bl**dy Benidorm then. No English Breakfast, Disaster, No Corrie, Disaster,  No X-Factor, Ahhhh I´m going to hang myself.

I just came back from a holiday where NOBODY speaks English, (only Spanish). No TVs, no British Bars. That´s the way I like it.

All the "Complainers" should check out where they´re going on TripAdviser before they go. It´s my Holiday Bible.

[Elite of the forum]

well said woe christ if people cant survive without corrie, emerdale ,carlberg lager and john smiths  bitter stay at home

its only manners to learn a bit of the language to get you through

[gymackem]

Sorry Austin 7 but was your original post meant to be a wind up? UNBELIEVABLE

If its not a wind up I can only imagine you have lost the plot

[Ivemovedon]

Nice beaches down there, but we have a few nice ones up north.Walked the Jandia strip a few times and found every restaurant and bar looks the same. No backstreets just a facade of boringly similar establishments. No character and no soul. Ok for a few days to see something different but the Germans are welcome to it. Only saving grace is Morro Jables which is lovely. Unless your a naturist i can't see it having much appeal for Brits wether you love egg 'n chips and Eastenders or not. If my first foray to Fuerte was down there i probably wouldn't go back so it could be he has a point.

[Spike On Q]

As the threads develop one becomes aware there are basically two types of contributors

1) Ones that need to be surrounded by their own home culture to some degree [whether they are Englsih, Scots, Germans, Italian, Greeks, Turks, Asian,etc.,etc.]
2) Those that find the local [Fuerteventuran] culture more attractive and want to integrate into the local community without changing it - and perhaps giving up their previous lifestyle and expectations

Isn't this the case all over the world, not just here?

[Ivemovedon]

If it was local Fuerteventurian culture and language you were getting Spike it wouldn't be a problem. But its not its German. If i want some of that i'll go to Hamburg. I don't know if its true whats said that British familys are being directed there but if they are they will surely be in for a surprise. If you go of your own accord knowing what its like then thats different.

[waggy]

Well, Austin7, much as I sympathise with what you see as your predicament, I can't empathise with it. The Canaries boomed on Tourism, they don't care where it comes from, they just need the akkers. GB is in the doldrums and if we don't fill their pockets someone else will have to do. It grips me off no end when I go abroad and see ghettos full of people who should really have gone on holiday in their own sub-environment in their own country instead of trying to export it abroad to the detriment of the local culture and mores, which is what some of us would prefer, having gone there expecting a flavour of the place and not a 'kiss me quick' facsimile whether it be Blackpool, Black sea, Blacken zee or otherwise.

[Spike On Q]

If you leave the eastern coastal areas like Caleta, Costa Calma, Jandia, Corralejo,etc. and avoid the likes of Villa Verde and Triquiveate you'll find that the true Fuerteventura still exists - with it's old habits and culture still intact.

I've lived in Pajara and Tuineje with Gran Tarajal nearby and can assure you there is NO foreign influences in these areas. Gran Tarajal is the second largest town in Fuerteventura, in the province of Tuineje. It has NO hotels and NO apartment complexes,how did that happen?

[Blueboy7]

One question, reading through the above posts it would seem that Caleta and Jandia are full or at least very busy, if that is the
case why is'nt Corralejo??. Forget the first post, most of you have slagged that off as some nutta who does'nt no what he
is talking about, if you are all so bloody clever, how would you fill Corralejo accommodation??? The beaches are as good as,
the harbour is beautiful, the Christmas Lights are excellent,the main street (apart from the road works) is full of character,
it is not full of larger louts (only in the minds of a few). You seem to spend hour after hour being negative, why not come up
with some positive feedback on moving forward, its to everyones benefit who lives here.

The Germans (Tour Operators plus other business types) through their historical association with the Island do have far greater
influence regarding tourism than any other nationality. Everything in the first post is not poppycock, its a debate that needs to
be looked into in more detail i.e. North vs South - the difference in numbers, real reasons why?

[waggy]

I think it's been answered for you already, blueboy7. But if you want it bluntly, get rid of the Irish and British and every other kind of -ish themed bars and restaurants: Pull down the awful sprawl of kennel developments along the approaches. Give the place back it's authentic Spano-Canarian atmosphere so that people don't feel they're on a typical kiss-me-quick bank holiday in Blighty.
Me - I'm off to La Palma next, to try that out, to see if it's got what Fuerte had up to about 10 years ago.

[Ivemovedon]

I can't see how Jandia or costa calma can be that full. German bookings are in freefall the same as British according to some official figures produced on another post.

Easy answer to the Question of how to get the numbers up.... there isn't one. We may have to wait till the European financial crises eases and people are prepared to spend money. Also i would ask how the A/I are doing at the moment, maybe the ones that are here are hiding in the hotels.

[Blueboy7]

If I am honest, you are probably right Waggy, debate over.

[ashworth]

I can see no problem with Fuerteventura. Look at the North West of England. The high streets are full of empty shops, the pub trade is in free fall and the resturant business is the worst it has ever been. In my 10 years of coming here to Caleta there are more busy Hotels, Bars, Resturants and shops who look to be doing ok...   

[whyme]

This was our ninth christmas with our restaurant in Caleta and I can only say it's been the busiest christmas by a country mile. Last year was still quite busy but because of the recession the tourists weren't spending. We are very hopeful that things are on the up.

[RVEEE]

Blueboy, I may be alone here but I don't see this forum as being a PR exercise for the tourist board. I like to see real views and opinions. If they're negative, at least they might be real.

My place is near Costa Calma, I've frequented every restaurant I can find between La Pared and Morro and I've never found one where English isn't spoken - usually very well. Bahia Pared used to struggle but the last time I went there they had an English speaker.

Morro old town is comparable to Coralejo, the Jandia strip is sufficient for the wrist-band wearers. In September Jandia was noticeably quieter than previous years - so I don't know what the bottom line is.

[Can the Man]

Well said Rveee

[chrisandco]

Spike. Just seen your comment about Villaverde.
I know that our "honest guv" estate agents like to call it "the Beverley Hills of Corralejo" but it is really more like the Beverley Hillbillys!!
We are surrounded by neighbours who dry fish on their roofs, keep donkeys, sheep, goats and chickens (the last one includes us).
Traditional culture exists all over the island, not just in Pajara.

[pestcatore]

We have been going to the South of the island for the past 15 years. Can't say that I have been too bothered by the lack of Rose & Crown type pubs of the availability of a Full English. Maybe its even a bonus!

I agree, who the hell wants all the above, I go to get away from England not find it,and as for  Corralejo [i know we all have different tastes] but as long as I have a hole in my rear end that place will never see me again!

[Magoo]

We have been going to the South of the island for the past 15 years. Can't say that I have been too bothered by the lack of Rose & Crown type pubs of the availability of a Full English. Maybe its even a bonus!

I agree, who the hell wants all the above, I go to get away from England not find it,and as for  Corralejo [i know we all have different tastes] but as long as I have a hole in my rear end that place will never see me again!

Interesting you should say that. When we were planning our 1st Fuerty trip, the travel agent recomended Corralejo. However, after trawling the internet, I saw some reviews for the Sol Elite Gorriones, thought it looked good, went for it & loved it. We have returned to the area once or twice a year ever since. If we had taken the advice of the travel agent, I doubt if we would have returned at all.
Branding all Brits as beer swilling, Corrie watching folk, who want nothing more than Blackpool with sun, is just wrong. However, people should know what they are buying when it comes to a holiday, it is their cash they are parting with. These days, with the Internet, that is not difficult.

[Spike On Q]

chrisandjan - I do believe there are still a few Anglo Saxons in Bradford