Visiting Tenerife with Elderly Parents
Taking Mum or Dad on holiday to Tenerife can be a wonderful idea.
There’s the sunshine, the sea, the restaurants and the simple pleasure of spending time together somewhere different. Perhaps Tenerife is somewhere your parents have visited for years. Perhaps it’s their first holiday abroad in a long time.
Either way, a family holiday can create some lovely memories.
But if your parents are getting older, or one of them needs a little extra help, there are a few things worth thinking about before you book.
Not because a holiday has suddenly become impossible. Far from it.
It’s simply that the things which make a holiday comfortable at 75 or 85 may be rather different from the things that mattered at 45.
And with a little planning, everyone can enjoy themselves — including the family members who usually do the organising.
Start by asking what your parents actually want
This sounds obvious, but it’s surprisingly easy to forget.
When you’re arranging a holiday for an older parent, you can become so focused on practical details that you forget to ask what they’d actually enjoy doing.
Perhaps you’ve planned a week of sightseeing, only to discover that Mum would be perfectly happy sitting beside the sea with a book.
Or perhaps Dad has been looking forward to visiting Mount Teide for years and would be disappointed if everyone assumed he’d rather stay at the hotel.
Age alone doesn’t tell you what somebody wants from a holiday.
Have the conversation before you book. Ask about the resort, accommodation, activities and anything they might be worried about.
It’s their holiday too.
Choose the right part of Tenerife
For many older visitors, the southern resorts are a natural starting point.
Los Cristianos, Playa de las Américas and Costa Adeje offer a wide range of hotels, apartments, restaurants and seafront areas.
But there’s an important detail that isn’t always obvious from holiday photographs.
Tenerife has hills. Quite a lot of them.
An apartment that looks wonderfully close to the beach on a map may involve a steep climb on the way home.
For someone who struggles with walking, that can turn an otherwise excellent location into a daily challenge.
Look carefully at the precise position of your accommodation, not simply the name of the resort.
Central Los Cristianos and selected coastal areas of Costa Adeje can be convenient choices, but even within those resorts, accessibility varies from street to street.
If mobility is an issue, ask the accommodation provider specific questions about gradients, steps and access rather than relying entirely on descriptions such as “close to the beach”.
The hotel room matters more than you think
It’s easy to concentrate on swimming pools, sea views and breakfast buffets.
But when travelling with an older parent, the room itself can make an enormous difference.
Think about the ordinary things they do every day.
- 🛏 Is the bed a comfortable height?
- 🚿 Is there a walk-in shower or a bath to climb into?
- 🛗 Is there a lift to the room?
- 🚪 Are there steps or narrow doorways?
- 🪑 Is there somewhere comfortable to sit?
- 🌙 Can they reach the bathroom easily at night?
A hotel may advertise accessible rooms, but that doesn’t automatically mean every accessible room will suit every guest.
If your parent uses a walking frame, wheelchair or other equipment, explain their requirements clearly before booking.
And if they need assistance with transfers or personal care, make sure the accommodation is suitable for that support.
Don’t underestimate the journey
Flying to Tenerife from the UK is straightforward for many visitors, but travelling can still be tiring.
There are airport queues, security checks, boarding, several hours on the aircraft, luggage collection and the journey to the hotel.
For an older person with limited stamina, that’s a long day.
Consider booking a direct flight where possible and choosing an arrival time that doesn’t make the day unnecessarily demanding.
It’s also worth arranging appropriate airport assistance in advance if somebody has difficulty walking long distances or navigating the terminal.
The UK Civil Aviation Authority explains the assistance available to passengers with reduced mobility and how to request it through airlines and airports. See its guidance for passengers with reduced mobility.
Once you arrive, a direct transfer to the accommodation may be worth the additional cost.
Tenerife Carers also provides airport help in Tenerife for visitors who need additional practical assistance.
Plan less than you think you need to
One of the easiest mistakes on a family holiday is trying to do too much.
You’ve paid for the flights. You’ve booked the hotel. You’re determined to make the most of every day.
So you organise excursions, restaurant bookings, boat trips and sightseeing.
By Wednesday, everyone is exhausted.
A gentler approach usually works better.
Perhaps have one main activity on a particular day and leave the rest flexible.
A morning exploring Los Cristianos followed by a long lunch might be quite enough. A visit to another resort could be the whole day’s outing rather than the first stop on a complicated itinerary.
And there’s absolutely nothing wrong with spending a day at the hotel.
Holidays are supposed to be relaxing.
What if your parent needs personal care?
This is where some families begin to worry.
Perhaps Mum needs help washing and dressing. Perhaps Dad needs assistance with his morning routine or moving safely around the accommodation.
At home, these arrangements may already be familiar and manageable.
But holiday accommodation introduces different bathrooms, unfamiliar beds and a changed routine.
The good news is that personal care can be arranged during a Tenerife holiday.
Depending on the individual’s needs and the services agreed, support may include assistance with washing, dressing, personal hygiene and other everyday routines.
That doesn’t necessarily mean having a carer present throughout the day.
Some visitors need help at particular times, while others require more extensive arrangements.
Our elderly care services in Tenerife can be discussed and planned around the person’s requirements before travelling.
Give yourself permission to enjoy the holiday
There’s another important consideration when taking elderly parents away.
You deserve a holiday too.
If you normally help your parent with everyday activities, you may find yourself doing exactly the same things in Tenerife, only in unfamiliar surroundings.
Sometimes that’s perfectly manageable.
But if you’re also organising meals, transport, excursions and everybody else’s arrangements, the holiday can begin to feel like an extension of your usual responsibilities.
A little outside support can help.
For example, arranging assistance with a morning routine might give you time to enjoy breakfast without rushing.
Or companionship for an afternoon could allow different family members to enjoy different activities.
It’s not about excluding anyone.
It’s about making sure the holiday works for the whole family.
Not everyone wants to do the same things
Imagine you’re staying in Costa Adeje with three generations of the family.
The children want to visit a water park. Their parents fancy a boat trip. Grandma would prefer coffee, a gentle stroll and lunch somewhere overlooking the sea.
There’s no reason everyone has to follow the same itinerary.
In fact, allowing people to do different things can make a family holiday considerably more enjoyable.
For an older visitor who would benefit from company or practical assistance, companionship support may make it easier to enjoy an alternative outing.
That could mean going for coffee, visiting a favourite place or simply spending a pleasant afternoon together.
Think about transport before you need it
Tenerife’s southern resorts have taxis and public transport, but the easiest journey isn’t always the cheapest one.
If your parent finds walking difficult, taking a taxi for a short journey can make perfect sense.
It might save a tiring uphill walk or allow them to enjoy an evening restaurant that would otherwise feel too far away.
When booking excursions, check how much walking is involved and whether there are steps or uneven surfaces.
A coach excursion may sound comfortable, but that doesn’t necessarily mean every stop will be suitable for someone with limited mobility.
If wheelchair-accessible transport is required, confirm the vehicle and arrangements before booking.
Medication and healthcare arrangements
If your parent takes regular medication, plan ahead.
Make sure they have enough for the trip, along with any necessary documentation and a sensible way of carrying and storing it.
Medication should generally be kept in hand luggage where appropriate, with essential supplies readily available during the journey.
If somebody has a medical condition, check any relevant advice from their healthcare professional before travelling.
Travel insurance is also important, particularly when pre-existing conditions need to be declared.
A UK GHIC or valid EHIC may provide access to medically necessary state healthcare under the applicable arrangements, but it doesn’t replace comprehensive travel insurance.
And remember that ordinary holiday care services aren’t automatically the same as nursing or medical treatment. Specialist clinical requirements should be discussed separately with appropriately qualified providers.
What about food and everyday routines?
One of the pleasures of Tenerife is eating out, but three restaurant meals every day aren’t necessarily ideal for everyone.
Some older visitors prefer familiar breakfasts, lighter evening meals or the flexibility of preparing food at their accommodation.
If you’re staying in an apartment, think about how easy it will be to shop for groceries.
A supermarket that looks close on a map may involve a difficult walk home with heavy bags.
For longer stays, practical support with shopping, food preparation or domestic tasks can make everyday life much easier.
Tenerife Carers provides food preparation support and other practical services where suitable arrangements can be made.
Talk about what happens if plans change
Even the best holiday plans sometimes need adjusting.
Someone may be more tired than expected after travelling. A planned excursion may involve more walking than anticipated. Or an older parent may simply decide they’d rather spend the day resting.
It’s worth discussing these possibilities before the holiday.
Make sure everyone understands that changing the plan is perfectly acceptable.
If a family member needs regular care, consider how arrangements would work if their needs changed and who should be contacted for assistance.
For unexpected medical problems, use appropriate local healthcare services rather than relying on a non-medical care arrangement.
The aim isn’t to anticipate every possible difficulty.
It’s simply to avoid making every small change feel like a crisis.
Independence still matters
Perhaps the most important thing to remember is that getting older doesn’t mean somebody wants every decision made for them.
Your parent may need help with particular activities while remaining completely capable of deciding how they’d like to spend their holiday.
Ask rather than assume.
Offer support without taking over.
And wherever possible, organise assistance in a way that allows them to maintain their normal preferences and routines.
After all, the point of arranging help is to make the holiday more enjoyable, not to turn it into a series of instructions.
Arrange any extra support before travelling
If you think your parent may need assistance during the holiday, it’s sensible to discuss it in advance.
Useful information includes the dates of travel, accommodation location, mobility requirements, daily routines and the specific tasks for which help is needed.
Not every service or specialist requirement can necessarily be accommodated, so early enquiries allow time to establish what’s appropriate and available.
Our holiday planning services can help families think through the practical arrangements involved in travelling with an older or less mobile relative.
Make the memories, not just the arrangements
Taking an elderly parent to Tenerife doesn’t have to be complicated.
Choose somewhere comfortable. Allow plenty of time. Plan outings around what everyone actually enjoys and arrange help for the things that would otherwise be difficult.
Then concentrate on the good parts.
Breakfast in the sunshine. Watching the boats in Los Cristianos. A long lunch beside the sea. Finding a favourite café and going back three times because everyone liked it.
Those are the things people remember.
Not how many attractions they managed to visit before Thursday.
If you’re planning a Tenerife holiday with an older parent and would like to discuss practical assistance, personal care or companionship, you can request support from Tenerife Carers before travelling.
Sometimes the smallest amount of extra help makes the biggest difference to a family holiday.