Tenerife

A search is under way for a British man who fell overboard from a cruise ship off the coast of Tenerife.

The Spanish coastguard said it had been coordinating search and rescue efforts for the 76-year-old since 09:48 local time (09:48 GMT) on Thursday.

The incident happened on the Marella Explorer 2, operated by TUI, while it was located just north-west of the Spanish island.

TUI’s Marella Cruises said the man was “seen entering the water while the ship was on passage to La Gomera”, adding that it was supporting his family and working with local authorities.

In a statement, the coastguard said the ship participated in the search before docking in Santa Cruz de Tenerife in the early hours of Friday.

Rescue boats, two helicopters and a specialist search and rescue aircraft have been deployed to the area.

Lesley-Anne Kelly, a passenger on the ship, recalled the moment an alarm sounded while she was having breakfast with her mother on Thursday morning.

She said the alarm was followed by an announcement of “man overboard”.

Mrs Kelly said the captain told passengers the ship had to stay in place until the coastguard allowed it to leave, and later announced that the search had been stood down due to darkness.

“It was pretty sombre last night, especially after the announcement that they were standing down the search,” she said.

Passengers were told that witnesses were being interviewed, she added.

Mrs Kelly said she believed people “had clearly seen it happen”, adding: “It was breakfast time. Everybody was up and about. It was pretty bright, so yeah I can imagine if someone had gone in at that time of the day they would have been seen by multiple people.”

Local media reports say the ship was on its way back to the Canary Islands from the Portuguese island of Madeira when the incident happened.

It is believed to have departed Tenerife on 21 November for a seven-day tour around the Canaries and other nearby islands.

The Foreign Office said it has not been approached for consular assistance in this instance.

The Malta-registered Marella Explorer 2 holds up to 1814 passengers across its 14 decks and 907 cabins, according to TUI’s website.

The Cies Islands, a short boat ride from the city of Vigo in northwest Spain, are part of the UNESCO-recognised Atlantic Islands National Park, a natural environment that makes it an exceptional spot for observing wildlife

If you’re fed up with crowded beaches, overpriced drinks, and the never-ending queues of Europe’s typical island hotspots, then northwest Spain could be just the ticket. Galicia is a region that often goes unnoticed by international tourists.

Unlike the sun-drenched Mediterranean coast, it’s famed for its verdant landscapes, rugged coastline, and mild climate rather than endless beaches and nightlife. Its relative anonymity is partly due to its remoteness and accessibility – it feels a world away compared to Majorca or Tenerife – but this has helped maintain its genuine charm.

Just a quick boat trip from the city of Vigo will take you to the Cíes Islands, a place that could easily be mistaken for the Caribbean. While Vigo is known for its foggy and damp climate, the Cíes Islands, an archipelago off the coast of Galicia, are a delightful surprise, reports the Express.

Do you have a travel story to share? Email [email protected]

READ MORE: World’s most beautiful village’s new tourism rules as locals attacked and overwhelmedREAD MORE: Four airlines now ban passengers from packing AirPods

The islands are part of the UNESCO-recognised Atlantic Islands National Park, a natural habitat that makes it a prime spot for wildlife watching. Declared a Nature Reserve in 1980, its white sands, turquoise waters, and dramatic cliffs make the destination feel entirely unlike anything else on the continent.

The Cíes archipelago comprises three islands: Monte Agudo, O Faro and San Martiño.

The first two are linked by an extensive stretch of sand: Rodas Beach, amongst the jewels of the Cíes Islands. The Guardian declared this beach the world’s finest. Stretching over half a mile in length and 200 feet in width, it boasts pristine white sand, crystal-clear emerald waters, and untouched dune landscapes. Situated conveniently close to the harbour, it remains easily reachable and perfect for a day’s excursion.

Ferry transport provides the sole access to these islands, with visitor numbers strictly controlled throughout the summer period. This ensures you can wander along Rodas Beach feeling as though you’ve discovered a hidden haven, rather than battling crowds of tourists.

Towering pine woodlands, walking paths, and rugged clifftops provide an adventurous atmosphere, whilst the Atlantic seas offer the perfect cooling plunge following a morning’s hike. One visitor posted on Tripadvisor: “This is definitely a bucket list destination. A perfect little piece of unspoilt paradise with some of the best scenery and beaches I’ve ever seen.”

Another commented: “Arriving in the morning, we hiked to the lighthouse with spectacular views, then a picnic and drinking coffee at the campsite that served us remarkably, we continued to the Alto do Príncipe, ending up on the beach of Figueiras, a real paradise despite its cold waters, undoubtedly an island paradise.”

For those tired of the usual Mediterranean hotspots, the Cíes Islands provide a refreshing alternative: untouched natural splendour, serene beaches, and the unique opportunity to escape Europe’s typical holiday hustle and bustle.

Dan, who documents his travel with wife Natalia on Youtube and Instagram, spent Christmas Day on the Canary Islands hotspot of Tenerife with his two scaffolder friends

A scaffolder who ditched the UK for Christmas Day in Tenerife has explained why he left his wife behind for the festive break.

Traditionally, Christmas is a time when families come together to pull crackers, exchange presents, and watch Doctor Who.

Not so for Dan, a construction worker who spent a week in Tenerife with two of his mates while his wife stayed behind in the UK. Perhaps unsurprisingly, Natalie wasn’t thrilled. However, Dan was not tempted to the Canary Islands by the promise of sun, sand, and sea alone.

“She actually did mind me going. She didn’t want me to go. But my mate’s house had been flooded and he was in temporary accommodation in a hotel room, his family had all gone away for Christmas and he had nobody left, so I said I’d go to Tenerife with him and another guy from work – as they wouldn’t go just those two,” Dan told the Mirror, when asked about his decision to fly out.

Do you have a travel story to share? Email [email protected]

READ MORE: I’m a travel expert – do one thing now before Black Friday to get the best holiday dealsREAD MORE: New £20 Ryanair route to beautiful city with 20C November weather and gorgeous beaches

Dan, who travels the world with Natalie and offers “nothing but honest opinions” as two “working class travellers from England” on YouTube and Instagram, broke down the logistics of the break.

“We travelled to Tenerife as a group of three friends, our return flights, from Christmas Eve, to New Year’s Eve cost us just £261 each. Our accommodation was on the north side of the island, where it’s much quieter and a little less expensive,” he explained.

“We stayed in a house in Los Realejos, which cost us £1,118.40 for three people, for six nights, and as three scaffolders from Essex – this side of the island helped us stick to a nice budget. To reach the tourist hotspots (Playa de Las Américas, Los Cristianos, Costa Adeje), we had hired out a car for £271.80 (for seven days). As I’m not a big drinker anymore, I was always able to act as designated driver.”

On the big day itself, the three lads enjoyed 23°C, sunshine, and “not a cloud in the sky” as they basked on Playa de Las Américas.

“We had a pint at a restaurant and spent the day relaxing in the sun, surrounded by a sea of fellow Brits, drinking and relaxing on the beach. Later on, we tried to find somewhere to have a traditional Christmas dinner, a roast, or anything resembling one,” Dan continued.

“Our efforts were futile. Everywhere was completely fully booked, we even decided to walk a couple of miles out of the hotspot area to find one, but when we arrived, it was closed. On our way back to Playa de Las Américas, we stumbled upon an Asian restaurant with little to no customers inside, the menu was substantially cheaper than most other places we had tried. As three hungry guys who absolutely love Asian food and Asia, we happily settled for that. A Thai red curry with a spectacular view of the sunset over the ocean. That was to be our Christmas dinner.”

After dinner, Dan spent some time reflecting on his festive Tenerife jaunt. As fun as it was, it lacked a certain cosiness and family feel.

“Christmas Day in the sunshine, surrounded by a sea of strangers was just not the same as being at home in the UK; where it’s cold, dark and miserable outside, but you’re in your warm home, surrounded by your loved ones, who are all in the same situation together, with seemingly endless amounts of good food available – there is something special about that,” Dan explained.

“Spending the day in the sun abroad just wasn’t really giving me that same Christmassy feeling. And that’s all coming from a scaffolder who spends six months of every year travelling vlogging abroad, without so much as a second of it being spent feeling ‘homesick’. Although the two older lads I went with would disagree with my feelings and both much prefer it in the sun, relaxing on the beach with a beer in their hand.”

In total, light-drinking Dan spent £1,200 on the trip, which included flights, accommodation, car hire, fuel, food and some drink. His two friends spent closer to £2,500 each “whilst drinking and smoking”.

“I would recommend Tenerife for Christmas if you don’t have anyone to spend Christmas with at home, or if you don’t want to spend the day with anybody at home. I would also recommend it if your family would go with you,” he continued.

“There were a lot of families there, but that’s likely going to be an expensive trip at Christmas. If however, like me, your family is all at home enjoying the day in the cosiness of a family home, I would recommend you join them and enjoy the day with them, as you might find that in your older years, you can spend the day of Christmas abroad, on the beach, without any family to miss.”

In terms of how Natalie feels about Dan’s decision now, he said: “She’s cool man. She was upset when I left, but we’ve been together for 10 years now. She knows what I’m like.”