Surfing Waves

Hi I hope someone can advise as I know nothing about surfing and don't know a beach break from a point break...apart from what I've read over the last couple of days

My wife and I want a euro beach based summer holiday and will have my youngest son (17) and his mate (also 17) in tow. The two lads are keen on water sports and would like the opportunity to learn to surf and do some windsurfing. So the general idea is to get some self catering accommodation, near the beach, me and the missus chill out and the lads surf etc. during the day and then enough varied nightlife at night, some decent sports bars, music bars, restaurants etc. We are NOT looking for Magaluf nightlife

I have discounted surf hostels as its a bit too hip for me and the missus, France is probably too expensive (Hossegor etc.), so I am leaning towards either Portugal (West end of Algarve) or the Canaries (Fuertaventura - Correlajo) as it seems these will provide the surf for the lads, surf schools and a normal beachy/pool hol idayfor me and the missus and enough to do in the evening .

So if anyone can confirm or recommend a specific resort that will fit my needs.

Are the waves suitable/good enough in July & August in the canaries for a couple of learners , same question for Algarve.

Thanks in advance for any advice

Hi, I'm sorry you didn't get a reply yet and if you are still checking here is my take.

I think I'm right in saying that the main problem with trying to surf in summer is that that is the time when the waves are least good - that said, if the lads are beginners, that's not such an issue.

Lanzarote might be a possibility, though I don't know how poor the waves are in summer - I've just posted to the thread 'Which Canary Island' with our own experiences there. If your wife didn't want to get involved (!) but was happy to lounge on Famara Beach (which is pretty windy!) then that might be a possibility - I would advise staying in the beach bungalow resort at the northern end of the beach, but be sure to go for a 'luxury' bungalow as some of them are pretty basic (and therefore cheaper probably). I wouldn't stay in Famara village itself unless she really wants to spend every day on Famara beach itself (which has no facilities - no cafe, loos, shelter, etc).

The surf school we used was Tim Jones, who is British, and caters for school hols and so on - check his website. We found it efficient and effective, and pretty full on intensive. Ranges from kids to adults - your 17 years olds would be fine. The instructors are 'young' so the lads would like that!

One possibility might be to stay in Costa Tequise, which is the most upmarket resort on Lanzarote (ie, compared with Puerto Carmen) and also only about a 15 minute/20 minute drive from Famara. Even better, Tim Jones collects from Teguise (or certainly used to) so you could hand the lads over in the morning and get them back exhausted and happy at the end of the day, while you and your wife lounge around in the more 'civilised' beach area of Costa Teguise.

Another suggestion would be to base yourselves at La Santa (again, see my post above) where there is a range of accommodation - and loads of other young people for your lads as well, so they'd probably enjoy that.

As for windsurfing, that can be learnt at La Santa in their big sheltered lagoon, but it can also be down at Costa Teguise itself, from various hire/schools set up along the beach.

However, if your lads wanted to do windsurfing rather than surfing then I would unhesistatingly recommend trying out a holiday at a place like Club Vass, or possibly Neilsen. Club Vass has a great locale at Vassilike on the Greek island of Levkas, that is geared throughout the summer for family holidays. That said, the level ranges from complete beginner to total expert (wind is light onshore in the morning for learning, and usually a very reliable strong cross shore in the afternoon for the more advanced). Neilsen are also in Vassiliki (or were, a year or so ago, haven't checked recently) and are in other Greek spots too. Unlike surfing, windsurfing is OK/good in the summer months (but you have to pick your spot - do NOT learn in an offshore spot - SCARY!)

I could post loads more about Club Vass if you are interested (but bear in mind this is a surfing forum not a windsurfing one - though I can redirect you to the windsurfing equivalent of this one if you want!)