Would all of these be suitable for a family with two youngish teens for a weeks winter sun?

It all depends on what sort of activities your family are looking for.
Jandia and Costa Calma are in the south and are rather "European" - if you like a good night out you may struggle to find the standard Brit/Irish bars (if that's your taste), however the hotels in the south are generally of a high standard and I'm sure the hotel entertainment would be good. Fantastic beaches in the south too!

Last Easter we stayed in Caleta with a 17 and 14 year old, and would definitely go again, it's a small resort with lots of nice places to go for a meal and a drink. The beach is man-made (which kind of defeats the point of going to Fuerte - the only Canary island with miles and miles of natural golden beaches) but it's very nice and the sea is shallow there, so on a hot day it will warm up a little quicker than the hotel pool - we really struggled with our hotel pool last Easter, it was freezing

Corralejo is larger than Caleta and has fantastic sand dunes with lots of watersports and there's a small waterpark.

very much for replying. Think I probably need to spend a few hours reading the forum, but haven't got the time at present.

I am getting some good prices for various 4* hotels with First Choice at the moment and would imagine if I get a decent hotel in either Caleta or Corralejo we would probably be OK for one week with either resort. All we would want would be some nice bars with a little music to walk to after we have eaten, from say 9.30pm to 11.30ish we are not looking for wild nightlife. Alternatively a half-board hotel that had good in house entertainment might fit the bill.

Day time activities would probably be just the beach, the pool and either car hire for a couple of days, or a couple of organised F Choice trips of some kind. Do they do that sort of thing in Fuert?

Thanks again, Doe

First Choice have some excursions or there is a local agent Tourventura with offices in Caleta and Corralejo which comes highly recommended and may be a little cheaper, although we had some coupons in our First Choice ticket booklet for money off their own excursions, which made it pretty much the same price as the local agent. However, I did find the organised excursions were a little limited, and if you can hire a car then that may be a better choice for you.
Try these sites for more info on the island and different resorts:
http://www.fuerteventura.com/
http://www.sunnyfuerteventura.com/

Corralejo will be your best bet

Thanks Nick, I had been leaning that way, although I did like the look of the beaches at Jandia. I guess if we had a car we could visit there for the day, as I am assuming the Island isn't too large and that the road network is OK North to South?

Cheers, Doe

Also have a browse through our resort reports for Fuert Doe Click Here

to drive down from north to south (steadily) will take around an hour and half, the roads are so easy to follow, and i think a lot of people get the impression that this island is small. well there wrong, we drove through a good couple of hours in to the mountains its quite a vast place, its actually longer than tenerife but not as wide

thanks little legs.

I think we would quite like that, as we enjoy getting out and about and seeing a place. Sounds like it would be a good day out leaving after breakfast and driving down through the Island and finally arriving in Jandia.

Hi doepsmc
We visited Corralejo for the first time in March last year. There is plenty of choice of beaches either in town or ride out to the dunes and watch the kite-surfers. The sea was okay for swimming in, a bit cold at first but okay once you are in. You can book boat trips from the harbour by just walking down there in a morning then if the sea looks a bit choppy you don't have to book. The pool might be a bit cold, depends on the hotel.

El Cotillo in the n/w of the island was a good place to go for a ride, as was Caletta.
In Corralejo there is a good choice of bars from traditional spanish, to irish and loud modern. The Rock Island Bar was our favourite. http://www.rockislandbar.com even has a live webcam if you want to check it out before you go.
Enjoy,
regards, Jean

Hi Jean

Sorry I didn't respond earlier. Thanks for the info. I am still a bit undecided as I have been to Sharm the last two Aprils and am looking for something similar but will less flying time.

Sounds like corralejo is the resort for families althought the resort reports on HT are a bit mixed. Was looking at a hotel called the Blue Bay but used to be the Atlantic Palace. Although Jandia also sound nice jsut dont know if it will be too windy to get on the beaches in April. Its all well and good having great beaches, but rather defeats the object if you cant get on them.LOL.

Doepsmc
Further to earlier comment I didn't give much info as my comp was playing up at the time.
The main reason I had suggested Corra was the fact that you have young teens so I think there will be more for them there ie the waterpark. It is also handy for a trip across to Lanzarote which is a good day out the best beaches are just South of the town. The resort is fairly cosmoplitan but mainly Brits.
Calletta is more suited to younger families and the beach is safe but man made. Its a Brits abroad resort and has the only McDonalds
We tend to go to the Southern resorts of Costa Calma and Jandia the beaches are fantastic but the areais90% German which puts some people off.
Hiring a car is a good idea as is a trip to the South the roads are good I would suggest going down the Eastern side and returning on the more spectacular Western route. It will be a long day out as has been mentioned the Island is bigger than what people think.

Thereis further info on my website and links to photos

Hi Again Nick

No need to apologise, I am having trouble getting on my puter as well!

I need to read a few more resort reports. I don't have a problem with a cosmopolitan atmosphere and find the Germans quite pleasant to holiday with as the hotels they frequent often seem to have high standards and good food. It's just sometimes difficult to strike up a conversation. (after the Russians in Sharm they will be like a breeze )

Thanks for all the links which I intend to have a look through when I have more time.

Cyber, thank you for the links that you put up as well. Everyone has been very helpful.

Doe