Five years of planning and organising and eventually, we were living on the beautiful island of Tenerife. It doesn’t happen by accident. It is a strong will, determination and self motivation that bring people to these wonderful shores.
In 2000, my wife and I visited Tenerife and whilst walking through the streets of Los Cristianos decided that this was a place we could live. The charm of Los Cristianos, the old fishing village that exudes romance from every corner, the friendly locals who make you feel welcome, the beautiful port and the boats that invite you to explore this magical island of Tenerife.
As soon as we returned to the UK we started making plans to move here. A five year plan seemed like a good idea. We would clear out any clutter, manage our business interests to fit our plan and tell our family that we would be moving to Tenerife within five years.
We found that it was this focus that got us to where we wanted to be. Many people talk about moving to Tenerife at some point in the future. Maybe they will retire in Tenerife. Maybe, if they come into some money, they’ll sell up and live the dream.
Our view was that we should move here whilst we were still young enough to make a new life and enjoy the benefits of Tenerife. We wanted to surf, walk up mount Teide, water ski, paraglide and scuba dive! Okay, so most of this we haven’t yet done but we can if we want!
Earning a living in Tenerife
Once you have decided to move to Tenerife, you’ll possibly start thinking about how to earn a living. You will need to give this some serious thought if an income is required. Fortunately, as this is the island of eternal spring, there are many ways to make a good living.
Many people buy a bar or restaurant, some opt for businesses not connected with catering such as a water-sports or other leisure industry business. There are still other possibilities such as establishing a small rural hotel or bed and breakfast. It may even be possible to transfer an existing business to Tenerife as we did.
It is often a good idea to consider what you are good at, what did you enjoy when you were younger? What did you do before making a living in the U.K got in the way? My wife and I ran our own estate agency business in the North West of England and I was the Regional Manager for one of the North West’s largest Commercial and residential Estate Agents. We felt that we had something to bring to Tenerife, something that was not here already, something that we could improve on. This is a good place to start for anyone planning a move to Tenerife.
Finding somewhere to buy or rent
Tenerife offers a wide variety of property for sale throughout the island, so whether you want an apartment, villa, town house or farm house there will be plenty of choice.
Alternatively, you may prefer a long term rental and although demand is exceptionally high, a good letting agent should be able to help!
For information and advice on purchasing a business in Tenerife or for a comprehensive list of property available for long term rent or sale please contact Alan Royles at Canary Islands Property Group or visit our website www.canaryipg.com, follow us on Twitter @CanaryIPG or take a look at our Facebook page: Canary Islands Property Group or email info@canaryyipg.com