Enjoy a taste of authentic Spain by visiting Santa Cruz on Tenerife holidays

Booking holidays in Tenerife is a great choice for beach breaks, but there is no reason why you should not enjoy a little authentic Spain while you are there.

Most of the resorts on the island have everything you could possibly need for a lazy break in the sun - cheap accommodation, low-cost bars and restaurants, great beaches and plenty of nightlife.

Tenerife's capital Santa Cruz can offer all of that, but it has still managed to retain the authentic feel of one of the big cities on the Spanish mainland thanks to its cultural and historic attractions.

It makes a perfect base for cheap all inclusive holidays in Tenerife, as you will be able to enjoy real variety during your break. But, even if you select another resort, it is well worth taking a day trip to Santa Cruz.

The historic quarter situated in the area around the port is likely to be your starting point when exploring Santa Cruz. You will discover a number of grand squares and lots of traditional houses here, along with the pretty 16th century church of the Iglesia de la Concepcion.

Another building you will also want to visit is the imposing Castillo Negro, which holds regular re-enactments of the Battle of Santa Cruz, which saw Lord Nelson's fleet defeated by Spanish naval forces in 1797. The city's other castle, the Castillo de San Cristobal, is now a military museum that counts Nelson's tiger canon as its star exhibit.

The Santa Cruz area has one of Tenerife's best beaches in the form of Playa de Las Teresitas, but it is far from the only place to enjoy the outdoors in the city. The botanical gardens at the Palmetum of Santa Cruz de Tenerife are a perfect place to take a stroll, while you may also enjoy a walk through the formal gardens, fountains and statues at Parque Garcia Sanabria.

Tenerife's capital is one of the best places to sample traditional Canarian cuisine. In the small restaurants in the back streets favoured by the locals, you will be able to tuck into shark, rabbit and rich stews, and wash the meal down with a bottle of local wine.

Article found here

Tenerife´s got Sound Chaser!

If you´re ever down Fannabe, near to the McDonalds on the beach front, then check out the local band Sound Chaser. These three Venezuelans are a force to be reckoned with. Screaming guitar solos, fantastic rhythm and bass lines, and even a short drum solo to finish up. They are Tenerife’s number one rock band and really seem to be going places. They can be found every night playing live music, and creating an electric atmosphere at the IN and Out bar. Its surprising to see how many different types of people really enjoy this evening out. Even if you’re not a "rocker" this band will certainly entertain you. The guitarist, is at a professional level, and would certainly stand his own ground playing next to some greats. He has his own crisp tone and flows freely in and out of his scales to produce a uniqueness of his own. He is also the lead singer, and can hit the highs and lows of any screaming metal track. Sound Chaser seem to have got it right, the set up down there is amazing for a small band. They are obviously pumping the earnings back into their sound, and they certainly care about everyone enjoying themselves. I would be extremely surprised if anyone ever left this gig and said they didn´t have one of the best nights out for a long time. The bar itself is friendly, with great service, once your sat down you won´t have to move all-night as the waiters come to you. The drinks can be a little pricey, watch the shorts as they soon mount up. I have recently read that the Tenerife Government are now backing the band, and they will also be playing at the Swedfest, in Sweden next year. All I would like to say to Sound Chaser, is Thank you, for some great nights out, and entertaining my three young boys. They are memorized by the band, and look forward to them every time we go, I do believe the band even learnt a Slayer track for them, as they we constantly requesting it. A great band, a great night out, and something Tenerife has certainly got to be proud about.

Wheres the Culture!

Even in times of recession it seems the streets of Puerto de la Cruz are still bustling with life. After a few days holiday in the north I discovered it to be as enchanting as ever. We watched as the virgin Mary was paraded around the streets, as street performers uncovered their arts and children played in the warm sunlight. The streets were constantly full of people, and reminded me of Los Cristianos 10 years ago. When herds of tourists wondered adventitiously around the streets, simply enjoying the picturesque scenes. It doesn't take long to comprehend what is so different, once you begin to stroll around and take in the culture and passion for the North of Tenerife. It has history and its buildings are full of Spanish architect that walk you through generations of time. You can feel the influences of different cultures, in both the location, and the types of constructions and design. The south is built purely for lager louts and nightclubbers, unless you´re looking for a cheap camera, you can always find plenty of out of date electronic stores. The tourist for the island has changed, but the south´s mentality hasn´t. Stores, bars and restaurants still treat people with a lack of respect and customer service is non existent, as people continue to treat people like intoxicated 18 years olds. There is no culture in this area once brimming with tourism. The cheap fags are out of date, and the booze isn´t so cheap anymore. Unless you want to stand in a down and out bar for 1 Euro a pint. The problem is, the 1 Euro a pint tourist isn't here, hes in Bulgaria, and other eastern European countries, that are able to sell the beer for 50 cents. That tourist has gone, and judging by the droves in the North, we now have people looking for culture, wanting to experience the islands way of life, and see how Canarians live. The walkers we once laughed at branding their ski style walking sticks are the people we now need to learn more about. The south has fallen behind because it has little to offer now the Euro is strong. The cheap tourism has moved on, the young found new islands, and the genuine tourist opting for education, history and something new.

To attract the tourist back, we need to rebrand the south, move it away from the cheap Tenerife holiday, and bring back cultre and passion. Not a passion for larger, a passion for the beautifull place it really is. Under the nightclubs, the cheap restaurants, the fags, the booze is a beautifull undiscovered island. Masca, Fiestas around the small villiges, street parades, the culture is here, it just needs talking about.

And the Animals Came on Two by Two...

I have never seen a full animal circus before, and I was astonished when I visited the World Touring State Circus currently visiting Santa Cruz.
I was brought up to belive that it was cruel for the animals to be kept in such conditions, but I did not see any unhealthy animals, nor unhappy. No animals were under any kind of stress or force, and all the entertainers seemed completely at ease.
It was the thought of the animals that delighted me and my family, and we travelled excitedly to the North in search of the Great State circus. You cannot miss it, if you stick to the port road, and continue into Santa Cruz towards the Auditorium. The sight of the big top in all its splendor greets every spectator as they drive into the capital.
We parked very easily, for a change, and were able to purchase our tickets from the ticket office next to the bigtop. 12 Euro for children and 15 Euro for Adults, which wasn't too bad, especially considering it was close to a 2 hour show. As we were led to our seats, the show had already started, with Indian tigers, rolling around the bigtop. The lioness in all her glory sat proudly on her stool while the trainers performed fantastic acts with her cousins. Next she leaped from her position, and danced with the trainer before leading the tigers out from the stage. Then the lights drew down as the white lion, magnificently took command. This animal was huge, and the only word to describe it is awesome. He jumped on to his pedestal, as it twirled in front of the bigtop crowd. How they manage to tame such a creature is amazing, although I didn't see any heads between its jaws, so maybe he wasn't that trusting after all.
Next came the bears, which I was a little hesitate about. I remember as a Child seeing them in turkey, with rings piercing their noses, and chains being tugged to make them dance. These bears bore no chains, no piecing and only a light muzzle. They danced and performed with what seemed to be smiles on their faces, and the bigtop roared (excuse the pun, i couldn't help that one!)
The show went on and on, trapeze artists, wildhorses, crazy motorbikes zipping with sparks and fire around the inside of a ball type cage. This was entertainment in a league of its own, it was exciting, daring and amazing. To top the show, they proudly lead in 6 20 ton Indian elephants, my children's mouth's were so wide, they had been amazed but this was too much!
How can they train these animals to perform such acts, the elephants eyes were laughing as they rolled around the floor, and performed their show. And their show it was, the crowd was overwhelmed, and applauded for what seemed like hours. The clowns were of course also on and off for the whole show, helping to distract an amazed audience while sets were arrange.
If you are looking for a good show, then get yourself to the Circus, before it leaves. Its value for money, a great day out, and an amazing show.
Two shows per day 4.30 and PM, but get there early to get your tickets.

Bigger Hard Drives and Cyber Offices!

As the credit crunch continues its domino affects, hitting now the high street, local businesses, and the average household we see many doors closing, and more people switching to online tactics. Even car boot sales are now being conducted on line to save costs on fields and locations. So it seems even the normal everyday person can make money online, even in Tenerife. Sites like EBay have certainly dominated this market, but as they grow in size so do their administration costs, and listing fees. There are more sites out their, but finding one with the audience eBay have is very difficult. You can even open an online store from the eBay user section, if you are looking at selling specific items on a regular basis. This will reduce your eBay fees, and help to maintain all your listings. Your starting bid, is what affects your listing fee´s, it's a good tip to put a little more on the postage charges, and start the listing lower. This makes it more favorable, and also keeps your costs down. So you´ve had a good scout around the house, found some sellable items, and listed them, how can you get paid? Again, eBay´s sister site is PayPal, a very easy to use solution for online payments. It is recognized throughout the world, and many sites and online merchants use PayPal as a reliable form of money handling. The benefit of paying and receiving with PayPal, is they will always investigate a problem that may occur, and protect the victim in any case. PayPal fee´s are also expensive, and if you intend to use this service, you may need to consider the actual cost of your listing and payments to calculate you're starting figure. It's surprising what you can sell online, most things in an online auction will sell, and the postal charges from your local Correos in Tenerife, are very reasonable, and reliable. If you stick to standard certified post, it arrives to the UK with in five days. For those looking at relocating their businesses into their homes, a Website is a must. But not simply a brochure, an actual sales management Website, that controls your orders and clients. Business Pages specialize in all IT solutions for modern businesses, and have a great portfolio of sites, that will show their capabilities. Working from home can be an easy solution to overheads, and with the correct management software can run your business with ease. As we push further into the global financial crisis, we will see this as the way forward for many industries, with the capabilities of the Internet, and file sharing across the world, the need for office space, against Hard Drive space is way out of balance.

A Quest for the Surviviors

Welcome to the New Year of 2009, but what can we expect from this New Year and new beginning?. We could sit back and continue to listen to the media sharks, hacking huge lumps of meat out of the credit crunch and turning it into a fatal Crisis. We could start counting our pennies, withdrawing our cash, and start to build air raid shelters to protect us from the falling financial blocks of the world. This is exactly what the media want to see, it gives them more news. When people become desperate, they do crazy things, crazy things make front page headlines for the largest newspapers of the world. Why shouldn't they fuel the worst financial disaster since the wall street crash of the late 1920's. Before long we should be reading about great depressions, and prohibition shouldn't we?
The future is what we determine it to be, suddenly everyone understands stocks and shares, they are all concerned by the price of oil, yet they have never bought a barrel, so why do we care?. We care about the price of petrol at the pump, we care about the price of food in the supermarket, we care for today, and we care for tomorrow, and if we have enough money to get us through the next two days, then we can deal with the next two thereafter.
We have all become financial extremists over the last 12mths, and we all have become wild gypsy's reading crystal balls.
The truth is, nobody knows what the recession will hold, but if you are ready for a challenge, then there is one right in front of you for 2009. We can all turn and look for easy options, but nothing has changed, we still need to work, whatever country we are in. We still seek finical freedom, and we still have bills to pay.
I suggest we stop worrying about what might happen, and we make a resolution to worry about whats happening right now, and deal with it.
Let's take the Spanish bull by the horns, and somersault it to the ground, then lets hold it there until it runs out of air.
If 2009 wants a fight then I am ready for it, and I'm taking no prisoners,
Recession, bring it on, I love a good challenge!

Christmas is coming but wheres the goose?

As Christmas begins to touch the Tenerife doormat, what can we expect for it to hold businesses in Tenerife. Such dramatic events continue to unfold around the globe, with financial affairs making top news headlines everyday. Even our favorite high street store Woolworths, we all know so well seems to be closing its doors. Retail in the UK on the high street is at its lowest ever at a time where people always spend freely and worry about the future and debt, after the new year. But that at present is not an option, and we can only brace ourselves further for what the financial affairs of the world keep throwing in our faces.
Continuing in business at such a difficult time can be very hard. But there is one industry that will thrive through this global recession, and you are starring right into it at this very moment in time.
The internet sees no fall in retail only boom. With many more people smelling the coffee and understanding how many overheads can be lost, and sales gained reverting to online strategies. It doesn't have to be expensive to start your online business. Simple store packages can be set up and have your products online with in a few hours. Connecting them directly with the giants of the web like Ebay, and Google. Your target audience is already defined and your marketing directed to the people who are looking for your products. Never has there been an easier way to place the right advertising in the right places. But competition is fierce, and finding the right product to sell, is more the mammoth task than actually selling it.
You can work from home, your garage or spare room becomes your office, and stock room. If you are cute enough you can even buy your stock as it sells, being paid in advance via internet banking systems such as pay pal, and escrow.
If all this is so easy, why isn't everybody doing it, a question you may ask. But when sitting down to the PC for the first time all becomes apparent.
Operating the sales side of your business, online, doesn't need a competent computer operative, but it dose need the correct set up, and software to start you off.
Business Pages Tenerife offer complete set up and consultations for your new business idea. Don't sit back and hope it will be OK, the future is about survival, and relying on the sole trade in Tenerife, will only crush your business, and prevent your growth. There is a whole world out there, staring into the same screen as you are now. Be part of that audience, get your products and services marketed to the world, and survive through the difficult times.
There is a goose this Christmas, it may not be edible, but its out there in cyberspace , and the survivors are all carving it up.

Less Spending, More Coupons, This Holiday Season

Less Spending, More Coupons, This Holiday Season

According to a Harris Interactive survey for RetailMeNot.com, 45% of US online adults plan to spend less money on gifts this holiday season than last because of the state of the economy, while one in five plan to spend significantly less. 89% of online adults think coupons are a great way to save money, and 35% of those who will be spending less money on gifts this holiday season will use coupons, the study found.
Among the other shopping strategies for spending less money on holiday gifts, according to online adults who will be spending less money this holiday season:
2008 Holiday Shopping Strategies
Expectation % of Shoppers
Purchase fewer gifts 83%
Buy less expensive gifts 63
Shop at discount stores 44
Shop Online 37
Use coupons 35
Make gifts 22
Shop during Black Friday sales 19
Source: Harris Interactive, October 2008
According to the study, 80% will purchase fewer gifts this year by buying gifts for fewer people (46%), buying a smaller amount of gifts for the same number of people (43%), or making some gifts instead of purchasing them (22%). Additionally:
• Those who shop online are expecting to either to find better deals (32%) and/or to save money on gas (24%)
• 29% will shop early to avoid impulse buys
• 12% will wait until the last minute to get more discounts
Of the 83% of online adults who are willing to make online purchases, 71% say the most popular items are books followed by music and electronics
What Online Shoppers Are Planning to Buy
Purchase % of Shoppers
Books 71%
Music 62
Electronics 55
Clothing 51
Travel 50
Office supplies 39
Health & Beauty 34
Source: Harris Interactive, October 2008
85% of online shoppers use tools or websites to find good deals online. 56% of online shoppers use search engines to find bargains. In addition, they have found other ways to save:
Online Tools for Finding "Good Deals"
Tool % Shoppers Using
Price comparison websites 32%
Online coupon websites 25
Online advertisements 23
Bargain tracking websites 12
Shopping-themed social networks 5
Source: Harris Interactive, October 2008
Guy King, cofounder of online coupon website RetailMeNot.com, concludes that "... consumers are becoming more strategic in the way they look for deals... coupon use, in particular, is on the rise and more consumers are realizing tremendous savings... In addition... online tools are creating new channels for retailers to reach budget-conscious shoppers... "

Network Meeting Stronger Than Ever!

The BPBA Network meeting took place on the 17th October, and was the most interesting meet of the year. With over 50 attendees, representing around 40 companies, there were plenty of people to meet and introduce your company too.
This meeting welcomed its first "Guest Speaker", who gave a very interesting speech. Rainer Kirchner is a professional economist, and offered us his views for the future. It made for interesting thought, and I think many businesses will have gone away with the idea of a reform to their current business plan. Although the gap in Tenerife seems to always be filled with a new community of tourists and residents, our eyes were opened to the future economy and how best to prepare for its changes. Simply sitting tight and hoping for the best will not benefit your business, and as Rainer informed us, we must prepare for a rough time, and changing market.
We also opened the floor and gave everyone the chance to speak and introduce their business to the room. This helped the networking tremendously, and saved valuable time when approaching potential clients.
The Business presentation was conducted by Mike from Direct Telecom, he also had some great business incentives for fellow attendees. His presentation offered some great ways to save money within our own companies offering us some excellent products they now have on offer.
This was by far the best and most informative meeting of the year, and Business Pages Tenerife would like to thank all of the attendees. The next meeting will be planned for January 2009, to coincide with the release of our new directory. This will be the second edition for the island, and will offer us all an upto date easy to use reference for the island.
Our advertising deadline will be commencing soon, if you would like to market your products and services to the largest audience in Tenerife, then please contact us on 902 881 061.
Your directory is in the same place as all of your customers, next to the phone!

Heading into the Final Quarter

As we head into the final quarter for 2008 its no lie to say the economy has seen better times. But working through a recession, can help us to improve the business services and products we offer. Remember, the customer service that we tend to loose as our companies grow, is of critical importance through trying times. Business Pages Tenerife is constantly working to improve its services to its clients. We now offer business support from 9-5 every Monday to Saturday. If you are in need of help, or ways to maximize your businesses potential, then call the operators on 902 789 925, the call is local rate and we will arrange for a business adviser to visit you and help maximise your business goals. A consultation with our advisors, if you are a member of the directory, is free of charge, and is another great service we offer our premium listed members. Advice can be taken or simply heard, but it won’t cost you anything to listen. Take advantage of the offers available to you, as a premium members of the directory, these services are part of your package.

We are now the only business directory in Tenerife, and will constantly work towards helping your company succeed. Marketing your business with us, places your company directly into the hands of over 25’000 potential customers. Our directories are delivered once a year in Tenerife, keeping the island up to date with your business details.

It is also free to list your business in our directories, with your lineage insertion. But you must register your company through the website and enter your details. Registration is simple, log on to Tenerife’s biggest business directory www.bptenerife.com, register by clicking and follow the instruction in the top right hand corner of the homepage. If you would prefer an operator to take you details then telephone the call centre on 902 789 925, we will be happy to assist you.

Restaurants in Tenerife

Its no lie to say there must be over 5000 restaurants in Tenerife, some good and many bad. Finding a good place to eat on the island can be hit and miss. There are many "Good looking restaurants" but service, presentation and attitude can fall foul to many of them. Eating good food, is my specialty, I love it and I can probably bet you do too. Its what every human being is good at, we all have excellent pallets and we all know a good dish when we see, smell and taste one. A restaurant in Tenerife can present itself well, but the waiters and service must also be top class to win my vote (unless I'm eating out in a local bar and expect a local bar meal). I find in Tenerife, you can certainly not go by price, the most expensive restaurant is not necessarily the best, as with the wines. It is all about establishment, recommendations and proof in the pudding.



The Business Pages Directory has some great restaurants listed, all reviewed by the team. If we say the restaurant is rated 5 stars its because it ticked all of our boxes. Attitude, service, presentation and taste. Restaurants in Tenerife must meet our standards to premium list on the website, it is important to us that our consumers only find the best from Business Pages.
Take a look when you are next looking to eat out in Tenerife.

Where to advertise in Tenerife

A good question, one that starts with "Who are you looking for?"
Advertising and marketing are two of the most crucial fields to business success. In-fact it has been said they are more important than the product or service itself. There are thousands of highly marketed products lying in the “ideas graveyard” due to poor marketing. The ratio should be around 60 - 40. That’s 60% on marketing and 40% on your idea.
Firstly lets look at Tenerife, its not the "normal" market place. The people here are different, there needs are different to what we are used to. People come here to retire, to find a better life, to recover their family values. Selling to the masses, in mass, with unneeded products or services, is not going to work. So how do you know what will?

Research is crucial; asking the people if they think your idea is valid. Using the local communities may take you a week or so to socially get around, but this can save you lots of money in the long run. If you feel your product does have a place, then you can begin to research how you would get this visible. But a word of advice, I have seen many people think something will work because they need it themselves, but that is not solid enough for you to then begin in business, the research aspect of an idea is crucial to its survival.
There are many ways you can advertise, but the question is who do you want to reach? The older generation tend to read the newspapers, but do the older generation spend money? The new world message across the globe is "GREEN", and the more papers you see piled high local stores is not displaying that message. The younger working class generation see this, and are more inclined to source the internet for things they need. These targets of people are also the people spending money, the power of the internet in Tenerife is hugely underestimated. Statistics show us it is growing everyday. Even the older generation use the internet indirectly, ever heard the expression? "My grandson has the tinternet, I'll see if he can find one for his grandad" that’s now how they use the web.
So if you want to be seen by the biggest spending group in the world, it makes sense to advertise here and have a presence. The internet can also save you a fortune on overheads, you can work from home, you don't need a local, and you can still be visible.
We also have the original search engines, directories, only one in English which is Business Pages Tenerife. This directory is the most used on the island. It is a working product with everyone’s number listed. You don't have to pay to be visible, as the product works much like the yellow pages, just ensure they have your details.
The local magazines are also a good choice as they have what’s called a coffee table lifespan, meaning an ad placed here can go on working for you for months. These magazines are often found in the local doctor’s surgery or dentist, where people browse through them to kill time.
There are many options available, and all boil down to research, simmer your ideas before jumping into the fire. Who are your customers, where are they, what do they really need.